Nathaniel Hackett chooses 64-yard field goal try on 4th and 5

Nathaniel Hackett very properly might have a protracted profession forward of him as head coach of the Denver Broncos, however his tenure has began off in a head-scratchingly unhealthy means.

The Broncos traded for Russell Wilson, among the finest quarterbacks in soccer, however paid a pricey value for his providers. They gave away three gamers, three 2022 draft picks — together with a primary and a second — and a 2023 first and second-round choose.

It was a monumental commerce and fairly the haul for the Seahawks in return, who had been giving freely their franchise, Super Bowl-winning, nine-time Pro Bowler quarterback. The Broncos went all-in with the commerce for Wilson, although, however apparently, it was all for nothing. 

In the primary recreation of the season towards the Seahawks, to see Hackett take the ball out of Wilson’s arms with the sport on the road towards his previous workforce on Monday Night Football…properly, it was simply baffling.

Here’s the way it occurred:

The Wilson-led Broncos received the soccer again after a punt on their very own 22 with 4:02 to go within the recreation, down 17-16. The stage was set for Wilson to on the very least lead a game-winning field goal drive, and although that was in the end tried, the best way it went down could not have gone worse for Hackett and his workforce.

Credit the Seahawks for forcing a 4th-and-5 after stopping a swing go within the flats on third-and-14. Keep in thoughts, that the Broncos had been on the Seattle 46, that means that they had a 64-yard field goal forward of them. They additionally had two timeouts and among the finest quarterbacks within the league at their disposal, although, really easy determination, proper?

Wrong.

Hackett, who was Aaron Rodgers’ offensive coordinator in Green Bay for the previous few seasons, had the choice of letting Wilson take a shot at getting 5 yards, calling a timeout, and then persevering with the drive (with one timeout nonetheless of their pocket, thoughts you) to see if they may make it on the very least a better field goal.

The first-time NFL head coach as a substitute determined to let the clock bleed down to twenty seconds earlier than trying a 64-yard field goal on fourth down, which the Broncos predictably missed.