Nathaniel Hackett regrets controversial field-goal attempt

Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett on FG call: 'Looking back at it, we definitely should have gone for it'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/13/22

Denver Broncos first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett is already under fire following his season-opening 17-16 loss at the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night due to his decision to allow the game clock to drain down to 20 seconds remaining in regulation before he called a timeout facing a 4th-and-5 situation at the Seattle 46-yard line.

Rather than keep the football in the hands of star quarterback Russell Wilson for the contest's make-or-break play, Hackett sent placekicker Brandon McManus out for a 64-yard field-goal try that McManus nearly made:

This close.

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Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Shannon Sharpe were among those within the football community who immediately questioned Hackett's call. Per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Hackett somewhat admitted when speaking with reporters on Tuesday he got things wrong but also insisted that he was content with reaching the Seahawks' 46-yard line before going to McManus.

"Looking back at it, we definitely should have gone for it," Hackett remarked. "Just one of those things, you look back at it and you say, 'Of course we should go for it. We missed the field goal.' But in that situation, we had a plan. We knew the 46 was the mark."

It turns out the 46 was not, in fact, the mark, and Hackett will still be looking for the first win of his tenure when the 0-1 Broncos host the 0-0-1 Houston Texans this coming Sunday.

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