NFL fans crushed Bill O’Brien for two awful decisions that led to a blown 24-point lead

Bill O’Brien and the Houston Texans were looking so darn good in the first half of Sunday’s playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, as they built a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

Then, the wheels fell off… in a hurry. Two decisions by O’Brien seemed to lead to disaster for Houston, which coughed up a 24-0 lead and headed into halftime down 28-24.

Wow.

O’Brien’s first bad call came on a 4th and 1 from the Chiefs’ 13 yard line while leading 21-0. Instead of going for it and possibly putting Kansas City away, he opted to kick a field goal. The kick was good and gave them a 24-0 lead with 10:58 left in the second quarter, which was still good, but could have been so much better.

Then O’Brien rolled the dice and called for a fake punt on 4th and 5 from his own 31 yard line later in the second quarter, which failed and led to a Chiefs TD three plays later.

Fans crushed O’Brien:

Bill O'Brien's decision to call a fake punt on fourth and 4 at his 31 with a 24-7 lead midway through the second quarter will go down as one of the worst in playoff history if the Texans blow this game as they're trying so hard to do.

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) January 12, 2020

The Texans just need to get into the locker room, fire Bill O’Brien, and re-group.

— Rob Pizzola (@robpizzola) January 12, 2020

It wasn’t Bill O’Brien’s cautious decision to take the field goal that changed the game. It was the foolish decision to fake the punt at their own 32 that sent the Texans into what seems an irreversible downward spiral.

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) January 12, 2020

Only Bill O'Brien could turn a 24-0 first half lead on the road against a No. 2 seed into a career-ending event.

— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) January 12, 2020

Bill O’Brien won’t go for it on fourth and inches, but will go for a fake punt from his own 30 on 4th and 5?

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) January 12, 2020

Bill O’Brien pressing the panic button way to early. His players can sense it. Once the players feel the panic in a coach by his decision making, the outcome is never a good one.

— Kirk Morrison (@kirkmorrison) January 12, 2020

Let’s waive the 5-year waiting period and induct Bill O’Brien’s 2nd quarter into the Bad Coaching Hall of Fame, pantheon wing, with his bust covered in gold and vomit.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 12, 2020

Do not even wait until the game is over, Texans.

Fire Bill O'Brien now.

Now. Do it now.

Do it before halftime, even.

Before he keeps killing his own team with his incompetence.

I cannot stress this enough.

FIRE BILL O'BRIEN LAST WEEK!

— Captain Schlasser: Leader of Men (@UrinatingTree) January 12, 2020

Bill O’Brien and Andy Reid letting the Chiefs and Texans decide which coach is the biggest choke. pic.twitter.com/7KAxtLy3au

— Joe Randazzo (Bronx Pinstripes crew) (@deflategator) January 12, 2020

This is Bill O’Brien’s Mona Lisa. A true masterpiece in playoff failure.

— Matt McCarthy (@MattMcCarthy985) January 12, 2020

Bill O'Brien's coaching vs. the Chiefs epic history of playoff failure

the extremely moveable object vs. the eminently stoppable force

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) January 12, 2020