Nathaniel Hackett waffles on decision for Broncos’ field-goal try
When you make a mistake, the best thing to do is fall on the sword.
Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett is in his first season running a team.
On Monday, he opted to try and have Brandon McManus attempt a 64-yard field goal rather than attempt to make a first down on fourth-and-5 late in the fourth quarter of the game with the Seahawks in Seattle.
As Russell Wilson and the Broncos’ looked on in what felt like a chaotic scene, McManus had the distance but was not able to put his kick through the uprights.
Final score: Seattle 17, Denver 16.
The big winners were second-guessers.
A day later, after having time to ponder his decision, Hackett appeared to be surprised a third-and-15 turned into a fourth-and-5.
However, he said getting to the 46 was where Denver believed it to reach for McManus to have a shot at making a game-winning field goal.
“I was expecting to have to go for it on that down and distance because I believe we were about third and 14, third and 15,” Hackett said after the game. “[Then] I thought Javonte (Williams) made an incredible play and put us in the field goal range, the mark we were looking for.”
#Broncos Hackett said they should have gone for it on fourth down #Denver7 pic.twitter.com/wRqwUB8dxW
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 13, 2022
Addressing his decision to attempt a game-winning 64-yard FG last night, Broncos’ HC Nathaniel Hackett just told reporters, “Looking back at it, we definitely should've gone for it.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2022
