Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett was slammed for his late-game play and admitted his mistake.
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On Monday night, in a 17-16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the freshman driver decided to start the clock and aim for a 64-yard field goal for the win. Kicker Brandon McManus failed at the task and his team had no choice but to admit defeat.
“In hindsight, we really should have tried to continue the offensive streak,” Hackett said at a news conference Tuesday.
At the time of the call, the Broncos were up a fourth down and five yards. They had their three stoppages in hand and there was over a minute left on the clock.
“Looking back we say to ourselves: ‘Of course we should have gone, we missed the placement. But in this situation we had a plan,” Hackett added.
Russell Wilson defends his coach
After the game against the Seahawks, quarterback Russell Wilson defended his head coach’s decision to send him off in favor of the kicker.
“We have the best player in our league for placements,” said the line runner. We were in position [de l’emporter] and it didn’t happen. I believe in Hackett’s “coaching,” in what we do, and all of that.”
“I don’t think it was the wrong decision,” Wilson said. We didn’t make it, but if we were in that situation again, I wouldn’t doubt the decision.”
It was also Wilson’s first game in a non-Seahawks uniform. However, it is very rare for a player who changes organizations to have the opportunity to play their old team from the start.
“It was a special game just because I got to see and play against a lot of my dearest friends,” Wilson said.
However, the man who led the Seattle club to Super Bowl XLVIII in 2013 did not receive a very warm welcome from fans.
“It was a hostile environment and always has been,” Wilson said. I didn’t expect to get applause from time to time. I’ve given it my all here every day and anyone who says otherwise is completely wrong.”