Raiders Coach McDaniels defends controversial field goal choice, shocks announcers and fans.
Is Being an NFL Coach Really That Easy?
When it comes to being scrutinized, few professions face as much viewer scrutiny as an NFL coach. With millions of dollars on the line, these seasoned professionals are usually given the benefit of the doubt. But every now and then, a coach makes a decision so baffling that viewers start questioning their own abilities. This was exactly the case during a recent game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders found themselves trailing by eight points with just 2:25 left on the clock. They had a promising drive, but it stalled out inside the Steelers’ 10-yard line. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels faced a tough choice on fourth-and-four:
- Kick an easy field goal and cut the lead to five.
- Go for it on fourth down, score a touchdown, and attempt a 2-point conversion to tie the game.
McDaniels chose the first option, leaving viewers, pundits, and even the NBC announcers questioning his decision. Social media exploded with comments from shocked fans and experts alike.
Listen to the shock of Chris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico after seeing Josh Mcdaniels attempt a second field goal. They said what the whole NFL world was thinking #snf #joshmcdaniels #raidernation#PITvsLV pic.twitter.com/z4QWPOYYbI
— DFA Anthony Rendon (@neverwasrendon) September 25, 2023
This was and will be the most sad field goal of the season, Josh McDaniels Galaxy brain pic.twitter.com/eAEtV86jVp
— Alex Micheletti (@AlexMicheletti) September 25, 2023
One Twitter user summed it up perfectly, calling it “the most sad field goal of the season.” However, to be fair to Coach McDaniels, his decision wasn’t completely unfounded. By kicking the field goal, the Raiders would have cut the lead to five points and still had a chance to win with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. McDaniels believed that they would have enough time to get the ball back and make a comeback.
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Unfortunately, the Raiders did get the ball back, but with only 12 seconds left and no timeouts. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who had been hoping for a heroic comeback, threw his third interception of the game, sealing the Steelers’ victory.
On the other hand, if the Raiders had gone for it on fourth down and converted, they would have had four chances to score a touchdown from the four-yard line. It’s a decision that could have potentially changed the outcome of the game.
Conventional wisdom and advanced analytics both suggest that going for the first down and attempting a touchdown would have been the better play. According to ESPN, the Raiders’ win probability would have been 15.8 percent if they went for it, compared to just 10.2 percent if they kicked the field goal.
When asked about his decision, McDaniels defended it, stating that he wanted to make it a five-point game and give his team a chance to win with a touchdown. He denied any lack of confidence in his offense.
However, the questions about McDaniels’ decision-making and confidence in his offense will likely continue until the Raiders’ next game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Only time will tell if this controversial choice will have any lasting impact on the team.
Source: The Western Journal
PAA Questions:
In the high-pressure world of the National Football League (NFL), few professions face as much scrutiny as an NFL coach. With millions of dollars on the line, these experienced professionals are expected to make calculated decisions that give their team the best chance of winning. However, there are moments when even the most seasoned coach makes a decision so baffling that viewers and experts start questioning their abilities. A recent game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Las Vegas Raiders highlighted this very issue.
During the game, the Raiders found themselves trailing by eight points with just 2:25 left on the clock. They had a promising drive but it ultimately stalled out inside the Steelers’ 10-yard line. Raiders head coach, Josh McDaniels, faced a tough choice on fourth-and-four: kick an easy field goal and cut the lead to five, or go for it on fourth down, score a touchdown, and attempt a 2-point conversion to tie the game.
To the surprise of many, McDaniels chose the first option, leaving viewers, pundits, and even the NBC announcers questioning his decision. Social media exploded with comments from shocked fans and experts alike, with one Twitter user calling it “the most sad field goal of the season.”
However, to be fair to Coach McDaniels, his decision wasn’t completely unfounded. By kicking the field goal, the Raiders would have cut the lead to five points and still had a chance to win with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. McDaniels believed
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