Panthers' 59-yard field goal attempt was a play on percentages, Frank Reich says
It was a play that defined the game for the Carolina Panthers. Down by three, 16-13, against the Chicago Bears, Frank Reich elected to kick a 59-yard field goal on fourth-and-10. It didn't go as planned. The kick fell short, and the Panthers lost the game by the same score. “If you just look at the […]
It was a play that defined the game for the Carolina Panthers.
Down by three, 16-13, against the Chicago Bears, Frank Reich elected to kick a 59-yard field goal on fourth-and-10. It didn't go as planned. The kick fell short, and the Panthers lost the game by the same score.
“If you just look at the pure percentages, I think the pure percentage play is to kick it," Reich said. "Fourth-and-10 conversion is probably 30 percent conversion. Kicking a 60-yard field goal is higher than that.”
It was a slog for the Panthers to even get down the field. Bryce Young and the offense looked pedestrian at best. And if not for a 79-yard punt return touchdown, the Panthers wouldn't have scored a single touchdown.
So Reich's decision to kick the field goal makes sense. Hindsight is always 20-20. But in a game where the offense didn't produce many plays over five yards, it isn't shocking that the head coach opted to take the point instead of risking a fourth-down conversion that also wasn't guaranteed.
“Do I second-guess myself over it?" Reich said. "Yeah. There were mixed opinions about what we should do. That’s my call. I’ve seen us make 60-yarders in practice. Felt like there was a little bit of a breeze at our back."
At 1-8 on the year, the field goal miss is really splitting hairs on a result that doesn't change much for the dreadful Panthers.
Bryce Young says ‘frustration’ is what Panthers are feeling after 16-13 loss to Bears
It was a sleepy night for the Carolina Panthers as they took on the Chicago Bears in Thursday Night Football.
