Hackett tries to explain Broncos painful second half of missed opportunities
Sep 12, 2022, 9:52 PM
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Broncos didn’t allow the Seahawks to score a single point in the second half on Monday night.
And they still lost.
Denver dropped an absolute heartbreaker to the Seahawks, 17-16, spoiling Russell Wilson’s return to his old city and team. Where to even begin?
The Broncos fumbled twice on the one-yard line. Once by Melvin Gordon and another by Javonte Williams. They were the first NFL team to do that since 1987, making the wrong kind of history in the process. Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett was asked about the unfathomable and untimely turnovers in his postgame press conference.
“Two turnovers, it’s not a good deal. I give so much credit to the Seahawks. I give a ton of credit to our players battling, the whole night, to put ourselves in position with a potential game-winning field goal,” Hackett said. “We’ve just got to be better in that RedZone. That starts with me. I’ve got to be sure we’ve got a better plan and are able to get physical down there. And score some touchdowns instead of field goals, or nothing at all.”
Field goals almost did it for the Broncos, with Brandon McManus just missing a 64-yarder in the final moments that would’ve stolen Denver a win. But still, on fourth-and-five, why did the Broncos drain the whole clock before letting McManus try from so deep? Why not call a timeout with a minute left and let your franchise QB have a shot to get more yards? Hackett said Wilson was aware of the plan.
“He knew where we had to get. I though Javonte (Williams) made an amazing (play). I was expecting to have go for it on that down and distance,” Hackett said. “Javonte made an incredible play and put us into field goal range at the mark that we were looking for.”
Apparently that mark is 64 yards, even though McManus is now just 1-8 on kicks longer than 60 yards in his career. Williams broke a tackle to pick up nine yards on the previous play.
It’s head scratching, it’s mind boggling and it’s very disappointing. On what should have been a great night for Broncos Country, Hackett and the fumbles helped gift a win to the Seahawks. He’ll surely be asked even more questions about his questionable decision making in the coming days.
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