Worst coaching decision (1 Viewer)

[Dr. Awesome]

Which was worse? McCarthy punting the ball on 4th and 4 with 11 minutes to go despite only 11 minutes being left in the game after SF had already piled up 500 yards and dominated time of possession?Fox kneeling with 31 seconds and two timeouts to go into overtime? Punting on fourth and inches from the 39 yard line? Not letting Manning throw before the end of the first half? Some other play? Hindsight is always 20/20 but the plays above seemed mind boggling even in the heat of the moment.

 

[DrJ]

One that certainly isn't the worst, but I didn't like was Baltimore not kicking the FG on 4th down with about 3:00 left and down by 7. They hit that, they're in basically the same position as they ended up being by missing the 4th down except they have a chance to put it away in regulation instead of sending it to OT. At the same time, I understand they needed 7 and they were clearly in a better position to get 7 on that drive than the one they actually got it on. I think I would have kicked the FG there though. Of course, now John Fox doesn't kneel down like an idiot and maybe the game goes to OT anyways.

 

[RUSF18]

McCarthy's decision was pretty bad but Fox kneeling with two TOs and Peyton Effing Manning was worse. I'm sure the game thread here showed that wasn't based on hindsight - my Twitter feed certainly blew up in agreement.

 

[DrJ]

McCarthy's decision was pretty bad but Fox kneeling with two TOs and Peyton Effing Manning was worse. I'm sure the game thread here showed that wasn't based on hindsight - my Twitter feed certainly blew up in agreement.

Yeah, this is Fox. /threadWe might as well just discuss bad decisions in general, because there's really no debate on who made the dumbest coaching decision we've seen in about forever. And I've been watching Lovie Smith for a decade who just finally learned how to use a challenge flag. Even he never made a decision that dumb.

 

[jagbag]

I have to say kneeling down with 30 seconds left with Manning at QBand 3 timeouts. Also with a kicker who can boot long ones.I was totally floored when they put the knee down.

 

[Larrywarren]

Fox wins this by a mile, wonder if he would have called it differently if he had Tebow at QB?

 

[Ghost Rider]

Fox having Manning kneel down at the end of regulation was by far the worst. Considering what had just happened, striking back quickly with the time they had was their best chance to win. Once it went to OT, they were dead meat on a stick.

 

[General Tso]

McCarthy's decision was pretty bad but Fox kneeling with two TOs and Peyton Effing Manning was worse. I'm sure the game thread here showed that wasn't based on hindsight - my Twitter feed certainly blew up in agreement.

I can't fault Fox for being conservative there. You'd have to complete 4 straight 12 yard passes and even then it's about. 30% chance the kicker makes the 48 yard FG. I think it's just as likely something bad could have happened. The momentum was all on Baltimore's side. Regroup and go into OT, where you still are the favorite to win the game.I find it ironic that what truly lost the game for Denver was turnovers, yet the Coach is being blamed for being prudent and conservative with 30 seconds left and all the energy and momentum on the other side of the ball. If he had gone for it there, and Manning throws an interception and Baltimore wins it with a FG - it would have gone down as the worst decision of all time. As it was, Denver had an entire overtime and several possessions to do what they had to do in 30 seconds, and they still couldn't get it done.Blame this one on Manning - not Fox.

 

[32 Counter Pass]

Barring some epic meltdown by another coach, Fox owns this thread.I have never understood the kneel down in those situations. This strategy is so contrary to aggressive mentality that is required to be successful in football. It reeks of a lack of confidence in the offense. And when you have Payton and 3 time outs makes exponentially worse.

 

[Ghost Rider]

McCarthy's decision was pretty bad but Fox kneeling with two TOs and Peyton Effing Manning was worse. I'm sure the game thread here showed that wasn't based on hindsight - my Twitter feed certainly blew up in agreement.

I can't fault Fox for being conservative there. You'd have to complete 4 straight 12 yard passes and even then it's about. 30% chance the kicker makes the 48 yard FG. I think it's just as likely something bad could have happened. The momentum was all on Baltimore's side. Regroup and go into OT, where you still are the favorite to win the game.I find it ironic that what truly lost the game for Denver was turnovers, yet the Coach is being blamed for being prudent and conservative with 30 seconds left and all the energy and momentum on the other side of the ball. If he had gone for it there, and Manning throws an interception and Baltimore wins it with a FG - it would have gone down as the worst decision of all time. As it was, Denver had an entire overtime and several possessions to do what they had to do in 30 seconds, and they still couldn't get it done.Blame this one on Manning - not Fox.

What a shock that a Patriots fan would want to blame it all on Manning. Par for the course.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

Fox dropping Manning to a knee going into the half (3 TOs, 36 secs) actually trumped Fox dropping Manning to a knee going into overtime. Amazing, believe it or not.

 

[General Tso]

McCarthy's decision was pretty bad but Fox kneeling with two TOs and Peyton Effing Manning was worse. I'm sure the game thread here showed that wasn't based on hindsight - my Twitter feed certainly blew up in agreement.

I can't fault Fox for being conservative there. You'd have to complete 4 straight 12 yard passes and even then it's about. 30% chance the kicker makes the 48 yard FG. I think it's just as likely something bad could have happened. The momentum was all on Baltimore's side. Regroup and go into OT, where you still are the favorite to win the game.I find it ironic that what truly lost the game for Denver was turnovers, yet the Coach is being blamed for being prudent and conservative with 30 seconds left and all the energy and momentum on the other side of the ball. If he had gone for it there, and Manning throws an interception and Baltimore wins it with a FG - it would have gone down as the worst decision of all time. As it was, Denver had an entire overtime and several possessions to do what they had to do in 30 seconds, and they still couldn't get it done.Blame this one on Manning - not Fox.

What a shock that a Patriots fan would want to blame it all on Manning. Par for the course.

Me being a Pats fan has nothing to do with it. I like Peyton Manning and was genuinely hoping for him to succeed in this game so we could see a Pats / Broncos AFC Championship. I am on record in here as saying that all week.Fox made the right call there.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

yeah, when the reality doesn't turn out so well, we all know the imaginary results would have been much better.I mean, what are the odds manning would turn the ball over in a playoff game like that --- he's the greatest qb of all time.

 

[Warrior]

Which was worse? McCarthy punting the ball on 4th and 4 with 11 minutes to go despite only 11 minutes being left in the game after SF had already piled up 500 yards and dominated time of possession?Fox kneeling with 31 seconds and two timeouts to go into overtime? Punting on fourth and inches from the 39 yard line? Not letting Manning throw before the end of the first half? Some other play? Hindsight is always 20/20 but the plays above seemed mind boggling even in the heat of the moment.

Nothing at all wrong with McCarthy's decision - it was the right call, no question about it.Fox's decision, on the other hand, was horrible.

 

[lbouchard]

What about Shanahan's decision to leave RGIII in on a partially torn LCL on a horrible field with a capable backup when he was clearly limited?

 

[steeler6]

Has to be McCarthy. The way San Fran was moving the ball, there was no way GB was going to stop them twice and have enough time left to score 2 tds. At least Fox could have been thinking " I've got Manning, maybe he can come through in the overtime for us". Oh.....Wait....No!

 

[badmojo1006]

What about Shanahan's decision to leave RGIII in on a partially torn LCL on a horrible field with a capable backup when he was clearly limited?

Redskins could have won that game if Shanny had gone to Cousins at halftime

 

[Chazzhawk]

Fox by a lot, Mccarthy put some trust in his defense, even though he shouldn't, that they would step up and make a stop when they needed it and get the ball back down 2 scores with around 9 minutes left. Fox made so many horrible decisions that game, and gave Peyton Manning so few chances to try to make plays to win the game, that you could make an argument that wsa the reason Peyton threw that awful pick, trying to make a play because he knew he had wouldn't get many chances to make plays.

 

[maxwelledison]

Fox making a push for a Beatlesque record of holding the 1-5 spots at the same time. All this in one game.

 

[Popinski]

McCarthy's decision was pretty bad but Fox kneeling with two TOs and Peyton Effing Manning was worse. I'm sure the game thread here showed that wasn't based on hindsight - my Twitter feed certainly blew up in agreement.

If he had gone for it there, and Manning throws an interception and Baltimore wins it with a FG - it would have gone down as the worst decision of all time.

Absolutely not. If he went for it and Peyton throws a pick, Peyton gets crucified, not Fox. As a coach it is easy to stand behind great players.As for this thread, Fox by a longshot. It's asinine to just throw a possession away, when there is sufficient time to get into FG range. Bottom line is, with the time and timeouts they had, the broncos had a better shot of winning the game in regulation than the ravens did, although the most likely scenario was neither team scoring. By going to OT, he was basically resigned to a 50/50 shot.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

I feel like Peyton justified Fox's caution with that junior high throw at the end.

 

[Christo]

What about Shanahan's decision to leave RGIII in on a partially torn LCL on a horrible field with a capable backup when he was clearly limited?

Redskins could have won that game if Shanny had gone to Cousins at halftime

Yep. Short and long-term ramifications.

 

[Txns8]

Gotta say, Fox kneeling in OT

Now that would be the worst call of all time.

 

[menobrown]

Fox kneeling with 31 seconds and two timeouts to go into overtime?

I go with this one and here's why.If you are a Ravens fan, player, coach or anyone with a rooting interest in them yesterday you could not have been happier to see them kneel and get you safely into OT. When you make a decision that has probably just about everyone rooting against you delighted with the call it's probably got to be worst call of the week.

 

[Ernol]

Not a terrible call I guess, but with 2 minutes left in the game and a 3d and 5(?), Fox chose to run in order to run down another 40 seconds rather than give Manning 1 shot to gain a 1st down to win the game. He took the conservative route on yet another instance.

 

[Larrywarren]

Falcs about to get ball, 31 secs to go, 2 Timeouts left and needing a FG - may be unpleasant viewing for Denver fans if they make it.

 

[Txns8]

that one

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Throwing a hail mary instead of trying a 65 yard FG.

 

[jerry jones]

Carrol...calling the damn timeout on the fieldgoal

 

[Insein]

John Fox by far. 30 seconds left, 3 to's and Peyton manning and you don't even try to get a FG? Just quit coaching then.

 

[Joe Summer]

I thought Mike Smith should have used a timeout on defense, so that they would have more than 25 seconds to get into field goal range. But I guess he knew what he was doing.

 

[Joe Summer]

John Fox by far. 30 seconds left, 3 to's and Peyton manning and you don't even try to get a FG? Just quit coaching then.

That and the fact that he forced Peyton to hand off to Jacob Hester on short yardage is proof that he doesn't trust Manning.

 

[ArbyMelt]

Why does Mike Smith kick the FG with 13 seconds left? Run it down to 3 seconds and make it the last play. Almost cost them the game.I can understand calling timeout right away and then thinking about it. With no more timeouts and 13 seconds left, then spike the ball a few times and run clock. Then kick the FG.

 

[meyerj31]

Why does Mike Smith kick the FG with 13 seconds left? Run it down to 3 seconds and make it the last play. Almost cost them the game.I can understand calling timeout right away and then thinking about it. With no more timeouts and 13 seconds left, then spike the ball a few times and run clock. Then kick the FG.

They had no timeouts. This was not possible. Spiking the ball backs the ball up ~1-2 yards and not desirable given the kicker already had a 50 yard field goal.

 

[Joe Summer]

Why does Mike Smith kick the FG with 13 seconds left? Run it down to 3 seconds and make it the last play. Almost cost them the game.I can understand calling timeout right away and then thinking about it. With no more timeouts and 13 seconds left, then spike the ball a few times and run clock. Then kick the FG.

Or why not spike the ball with ~:13 left, then run one last play to get a few more yards, THEN call the timeout? Why not do everything in your power to make life easier on your kicker?"Oh, we're 49 yards away? That's close enough."

 

[Joe Summer]

Why does Mike Smith kick the FG with 13 seconds left? Run it down to 3 seconds and make it the last play. Almost cost them the game.I can understand calling timeout right away and then thinking about it. With no more timeouts and 13 seconds left, then spike the ball a few times and run clock. Then kick the FG.

They had no timeouts. This was not possible. Spiking the ball backs the ball up ~1-2 yards and not desirable given the kicker already had a 50 yard field goal.

They had 1 timeout left, and spiking the ball does not back the ball up.

 

[shadyridr]

Mike smith calling timeout with 13 seconds left was awful

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

It's close between Shannahan and Fox for me. Shanny gets bonus points for both blowing the chance to win the game, and risking the future health of his franchise QB.Fox gets extra consideration for taking the ball out of Manning's hands twice at the end of regulation - once for running on 3rd and 7 when a first down seals the game, and then for kneeling to go to OT.

 

[Steeler]

Not a terrible call I guess, but with 2 minutes left in the game and a 3d and 5(?), Fox chose to run in order to run down another 40 seconds rather than give Manning 1 shot to gain a 1st down to win the game. He took the conservative route on yet another instance.

I can certainly see the argument for trying to get the first down. But I don't think it should be considered a bad call to run time off the clock because the Ravens were out of timeouts and they needed a TD to tie the game.

 

[To commish is my wish]

Honorable Mention:Seattle going for it (and losing a yard) on 4th and 1 on the Falcons' 11 yard line mid-way through the 2nd quarter, versus taking the sure 3 points.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I think what surprises me the most is that people are surprised by Fox's horrific over the top conservative approach.This is a guy who punted last year and 4th and 7 when down by 4 points with just over 2 minutes left and one timeout. True story, he actually punted there.

 

[mphtrilogy]

Not to mention not going for it on 3rd down, with a conservative run play.. Super bowl winning coach mike Tomlin threw the ball against he nyj 2 years ago in a similar situation..There are competent coaches which fox is, and there are elite head coaches which he is not...

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Why does Mike Smith kick the FG with 13 seconds left? Run it down to 3 seconds and make it the last play. Almost cost them the game.I can understand calling timeout right away and then thinking about it. With no more timeouts and 13 seconds left, then spike the ball a few times and run clock. Then kick the FG.

They had no timeouts. This was not possible. Spiking the ball backs the ball up ~1-2 yards and not desirable given the kicker already had a 50 yard field goal.

That's not true. He called his last timeout with 13 seconds left, when he could have let the clock run down instead. That was bad clock managment, but not even in the same universe as John Fox.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Honorable Mention:Seattle going for it (and losing a yard) on 4th and 1 on the Falcons' 11 yard line mid-way through the 2nd quarter, versus taking the sure 3 points.

Horrible post. Going for it in that situation was absolutely the right decision, and kicking the FG instead would have been poor. The particularl choice of plays was bad, but the decision to go for it was good.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Throwing a hail mary instead of trying a 65 yard FG.

Carrol...calling the damn timeout on the fieldgoal

Yeah, these two seemed pretty awful at the time of the call. Didn't understand either one.

 

[Finatic]

Honorable Mention:Seattle going for it (and losing a yard) on 4th and 1 on the Falcons' 11 yard line mid-way through the 2nd quarter, versus taking the sure 3 points.

Horrible post. Going for it in that situation was absolutely the right decision, and kicking the FG instead would have been poor. The particularl choice of plays was bad, but the decision to go for it was good.

30-28 nopeAlways take the points, always.....

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Honorable Mention:Seattle going for it (and losing a yard) on 4th and 1 on the Falcons' 11 yard line mid-way through the 2nd quarter, versus taking the sure 3 points.

Horrible post. Going for it in that situation was absolutely the right decision, and kicking the FG instead would have been poor. The particularl choice of plays was bad, but the decision to go for it was good.

30-28 nopeAlways take the points, always.....

No. I'll admit that I haven't done any mathematical analysis of this, but it's impossible for me to believe that going for it on 4th and 1 and your opponent's 11 yard line doesn't have an EV of more than 3 points.Edit: Assuming the FG is good 100% of the time.

 

[Sea Duck]

Seattle left too much time on the clock for Atlanta at the end of the game. They had timeouts left and did not need to be in such a hurry.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Seattle left too much time on the clock for Atlanta at the end of the game. They had timeouts left and did not need to be in such a hurry.

Some of you people need to have your Shark Pool posting privileges revoked. If you have the opportunity to score a necessary go-ahead TD with less than a minute to go, you take it. Sheesh.

 

[menobrown]

John Fox by far. 30 seconds left, 3 to's and Peyton manning and you don't even try to get a FG? Just quit coaching then.

I had already mentioned this decision by Fox being the worst of the week but after the Falcons comeback it only made it that much worse. In similar field position with similar amount of timeouts the Falcons got into position to make a game winning FG. Yes of course the Falcons had no choice but to open it up but I think that obscures the point about how little you have to do to put yourself in a position to win the game versus allowing it to go to OT.