As is the case with every thrilling game, the ending is usually the most discussed and debated. Such is the case for the Denver Broncos following their 17-16 upset defeat to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football.
Despite fumbling twice on the goal line, the Broncos were in a prime position to leave Seattle with a road victory. Denver’s defense had completely shut the Seahawks out offensively in the second half. Trailing by only one point Russell Wilson and the Broncos offense got the ball back with roughly four minutes and all three time outs.
What transpired next was some of the most baffling clock management and decision making in recent memory. The Broncos started the drive at their 22-yard line and it took them 10 plays to advance only 32 yards. They finally faced a 4th-and-5 from Seattle’s 46-yard line and that’s all she wrote offensively speaking.
Denver arrived at Seattle’s 46-yard line with a minute left but let the clock burn until their was only 20 seconds left before calling their *first* time out, much to the chagrin of Broncos legends Peyton Manning and Shannon Sharpe.
Peyton Manning would have handled the final minute different than Denver did…. pic.twitter.com/yRqlxjFDQ3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2022
But the clock management wasn’t the most the most head scratching decision made by the Broncos. Instead of going for it on 4th down head coach Nathaniel Hackett elected to kick a *checks notes* 64-yard field goal for the win.
Going into Monday night, Broncos kicker Brandon McManus was 0-5 (now 0-6) in his career when attempting field goals of 62+ yards. According to ESPN Stats & Info, kickers since 1960 were only 2-for-42 attempting field goals of 64+ yards.
The Broncos traded two first round picks, two second round picks, a fifth round pick and willingly offered an extension worth up to $245 million dollars to obtain Russell Wilson. When push came to shove in crunch time, Nathaniel Hackett put his faith in his kicker to make a historically improbable play instead of his quarterback, who had already thrown for 340 yards, to get at least five more.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has been often criticized for seemingly taking the ball out of Wilson’s hands during crucial moments in games. Through one week, this trend has seemingly followed Wilson to Denver.
