Worst coaching decision (1 Viewer)

[CalBear]

He didn't need to throw deep. They had timeouts and only needed 40 yards.

Manning couldn't even throw it 10.His arm was DONE at that point. He was simply not capable of making the fast, precision passes that would have been needed.All you people hating on Fox need to rewatch Manning at the end of the game.Of course Fox has to cover for Manning, but it's obvious that he had NO CHOICE but to pull the plug and hope for the best in OT.

What is "the best" that can happen in OT if Manning can't throw?

kick return for a TD

Denver threw on their first play of OT, and on the first play of the final drive, and overall had 6 passes vs. 7 runs in OT. Denver's go-ahead scoring drive in the fourth quarter consisted of 8 passes and 3 runs. There's no indication that Fox thought Manning was unable to throw.

 

[DropKick]

Fox pulling the plug with 30 seconds with Manning on your team and kicking in Mile High. Coaching after the fact is a lot easier but I wash scratching my head after that, just didn't feel right at the time.

I just turned on the radio in the car a few minutes before this and I literally said WTF with my wife and kids there. She didn't understand why I cared since it wasn't the Eagles. Women...

It was single digits; not sure of wind direction. They must have had a feel for their kickers range in those conditions? I think a good number of NFL teams make the same decision.

A good number of gutless coaches, sure. 3 timeouts, 30 seconds and Peyton Manning. I would at least start off with a quick slant and see how it goes. Taking a knew right away is beyond conservative. It's cowardly.

Atlanta was in a almost identical situation in perfect conditions.I think there were only 2 time-outs... and tough field conditions. Again, I don't know how much wind direction came into play but it was sub-zero with the wind chill. Manning's physical condition, aggravated by weather, could have been a factor too. You have to consider the bad things that can happen too - that doesn't make you gutless.With the new OT rules, coaches are probably more willing to go into the extra period. At least it is is far more likely you will get the ball.And Denver was in great shape in OT. Baltimore had a 3rd and long from their own 3. Denver's D gets off the field on that play and they punt from the end zone.

 

[craxie]

Denver threw on their first play of OT, and on the first play of the final drive, and overall had 6 passes vs. 7 runs in OT. Denver's go-ahead scoring drive in the fourth quarter consisted of 8 passes and 3 runs. There's no indication that Fox thought Manning was unable to throw.

I didn't say he couldn't throw it, i said he couldn't make the kind of passes required to move down the field in 30 seconds without exposing himself to a high risk of interceptionand nothing in the game log contradicts thatdenver's last scoring drive.Manning pass short right to R.Hillman to DEN 23 for 11 yardsP.Manning pass short right to J.Dreessen pushed ob at DEN 30 for 7 yardsP.Manning pass incomplete short right to B.StokleyP.Manning pass short right to J.Dreessen to DEN 45 for 11 yardsP.Manning pass short middle to M.Willis to BLT 33 for 4 yardsP.Manning pass incomplete short left to D.ThomasP.Manning pass short left to E.Decker to BLT 17 for 8 yardsP.Manning pass short right to D.Thomas for 17 yardswhat happened the next drive?5 straight runsOT drive 1.Manning pass incomplete short right to R.HillmanP.Manning pass short right to B.Stokley to DEN 30 for 9 yardsOT drive 2.Manning pass short left to R.Hillman to DEN 12 for 5 yardsP.Manning pass short left to E.Decker pushed ob at DEN 23 for 11 yardsP.Manning pass short middle to R.Hillman to DEN 38 for 4 yardsP.Manning pass short right intended for B.Stokley INTERCEPTEDwith 30 seconds to go, those short passes weren't going to cut itand if he tried going deep, well first of all i doubt he could, but even if he could, it would have a decent shot at being interceptedin OT you have more time to play dink-and-dunknot to mention maybe your defense gets lucky and returns an interception or fumble

 

[zftcg]

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.

No way. That was still in the 2nd quarter with 5:33 on the clock. You kick a fg and get something positive going and that halts the onslaught. It was an all or nothing play. You either swing momentum to your team or all the way back to Atlanta. It swung to Atlanta and they used that emotion to drive it for a TD. They kick it and make it 13-3 and Atl has to start a normal drive with normal emotion. It's not a horrible post. That play was very risky and I feel the risk outweighed the reward. Not the worst call of the week though.

Atlanta scored off of emotion? Silly me, I thought they scored by moving the ball down the field and crossing the goal line.