The Sunday Night Football match-up with Seahawks and Cardinals had fans cringing as both teams failed to score a touchdown ending in a 6-6 tie, lowest-scoring tie in NFL history. But to add salt to the wound, during overtime, neither team’s kicker was capable of making a twenty-something field goal…something they practice literally every day since high school.
FINAL: Seattle 6, Arizona 6. Two short field goals missed in OT. pic.twitter.com/oLyTU3IQRF
— Tacoma News Tribune (@thenewstribune) October 24, 2016
Honestly, these guys get paid an enormous amount of money to kick a ball a few times in one game a week. There is no reason to miss a simple 24-yard field goal, especially when it is a game winning kick. And while some people might make excuses, Cardinals coach, Bruce Arians does the exact opposite.
Make it. He’s a professional. This ain’t high school. You get paid to make it.
Bruce Arians on Chandler Catanzaro’s overtime miss
I’m sure someone’s used this, but Bruce Arians after that kick… #SNF pic.twitter.com/iFTJm5fQh7
— Heather Lloyd (@TheBlueMare) October 24, 2016
To say the least, Arians is not happy, and for good reason. Not only does his kicker choke under pressure, but the officials did a good job of making the game even more of a joke. Cardinal fans argue that several calls were missed during the game, most important one being when Seahawks lineman, Bobby Wagner, leaped over the center to block what would have been a game winning field goal.
Up.
And over.
And BLOCKED by @BWagz54.Wow. #SEAvsAZ https://t.co/I5aRt3kVyG
— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2016
Bruce Arians was fired up with a non-call on the Seahawks’ Bobby Wagner after the Cardinals’ tie last night: https://t.co/VoK5f4cNF6 pic.twitter.com/X9CFIKGtPI
— ESPN (@espn) October 24, 2016
Seahawks coach, Pete Carroll seemed to have less harsh feelings towards his kicker’s 28 yard missed field goal.
[Hauschka] made his kicks to give us a chance and unfortunately he didn’t make the last one. He’s been making kicks for years around here…but he’s gonna hit a lot of winners as we go down the road here. I love him and he’s our guy!
Pete Carroll on Steven Hauschka’s missed field goal
Unbelievable display of heart and toughness by our guys for 75 minutes tonight! They never give up! #GoHawks
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) October 24, 2016
He doesn’t even seem mad!
Pete Carroll reacts to Hauschka’s missed FG pic.twitter.com/SxwlFfxNsO
— The Cauldron (ICYMI) (@CauldronICYMI) October 24, 2016
Now to be fair, all the points in this game were scored by the kickers, so they are an important part. However, all this highlights to me is strong defense, disappointing offense, and atrocious special teams. Since both kickers were able to make field goals from farther away, maybe it was a simple psych-out from the last ones being too close and potentially too easy.
Unfortunately, they are being paid to make those kicks, so they should be over those nerves by now. I’ll have to side with Bruce Arians on this one, no excuses.
Start the discussion
Login to comment