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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Ian Casselberry

NFL Fans Blast Panthers Coach Frank Reich’s Decision to Kick 59-Yard Field Goal

Frank Reich Panthers NFL Eddy Piñeiro Bryce Young Carolina

The Panthers lost their Thursday night matchup with the Bears, 16–13, which was as much of a slog as that final score indicates. The result came down to a game-tying 59-yard field goal attempt by Carolina’s Eddy Piñeiro, which fell short.

Coach Frank Reich may have felt that there wasn’t a better choice facing fourth-and-10 from the Chicago 41-yard line. Carolina only generated 213 yards of total offense and its touchdown came on a punt return by Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Quarterback Bryce Young had only thrown for 185 yards. 

So was there a better chance of getting 10 yards on fourth down or Piñeiro kicking a career-long field goal (his previous best was a 56-yarder) in cold, windy weather? 

“That’s my call,” Reich said in his postgame press conference. “I’ve seen us make 60-yarders in practice, felt like there a little breeze at our back. If you look at the pure percentages, the pure percentage play is to kick it.”

But Piñeiro’s attempt was short, the Panthers lost their eighth game of the season, and fans and media thought Reich made a terrible decision that possibly cost his team the game. Here’s a sampling of social media reactions: 

With the loss, Carolina dropped to 1–8 on the season. 

In the aftermath, fans continue to question whether Young is an NFL-caliber quarterback, let alone worth the No. 1 overall draft pick. Whether or not Reich will last more than one season as the Panthers’ head coach is also being debated. Judging from reactions on social media, there isn’t much faith in him at this point. 

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