Peyton Manning and Shannon Sharpe question Broncos' decision to go for game-winning 64-yard FG

Penalties, fumbles and a questionable field goal attempt cost the Broncos a victory in Russell Wilson’s return to Seattle. 

Denver had an opportunity to win the game in the closing moments of the 4th quarter. However, rather than letting Wilson drive the Broncos farther downfield, rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett decided to run the clock down and attempt a 64 yard field goal; kicker Brandon McManus missed the kick with 15 seconds left.

“I thought he had plenty of distance on that one and we were gonna be able to make that,” Hackett said in a Monday news conference after the game. “If we have to put him in that situation again, I think he’ll be able to make it.” 

If McManus made the kick it would’ve been the second longest in NFL history, his career long was 61 yards, so it was a big ask. The Broncos had three time outs, running the clock down and not relying on Wilson to make one more play on fourth-and-5, puzzled former Broncos.

“If I’m paying 200-plus million for a QB, I’m not trotting my kicker out to kick a 64 yard field goal,” said Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe on Twitter. 

ESPN’s Adam Schefter also tweeted fellow Hall of Famer Peyton Manning pleading the Broncos to call a timeout and run one more play, during Monday’s Manning cast on ESPN2.