3 Questionable Calls by NFL Coaches This Season

The 2021 NFL season is almost half complete, and there have certainly been some memorable games along the way. But, unfortunately, some of these games remind us how tough it is to be a professional football coach.

Throughout the year, some NFL coaches have made some questionable calls that may have ended up affecting your NFL bets.

Which ones stand out the most? These are three notable coaching blunders.

1. Bill Belichick Kicks a Field Goal vs. Bucs

This one may surprise many people, but one of the big blunders that I think of this year comes from arguably one of the greatest NFL coaches in history. It happened in Week 4 during the Tom Brady reunion in Foxborough against Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots on SNF.

To most people, the first coaching blunder was probably a very forgettable moment because it happened in the first quarter against the Giants. The Saints were facing a 4th and three on the Giants’ 29-yard line.

Instead of going for it, Belichick elected to send Nick Folk out to try and get the go-ahead field goal from 56 yards out. Instead, it hit the left upright, and the Bucs went on to win the game.

Most of the time, it would not be a wrong coaching decision to send Folk out there, considering that it is the only kick he has missed in 2021.

However, I had two problems with it. The first is that they were still leaving Brady 55 seconds even if he makes it. The second problem was the weather.

It was a miserable rainy night in Foxborough for that game, far from ideal conditions to kick a 56-yard field goal. So with that in mind, I think the Patriots would have been better off going for it in that situation.

2. Sean Payton Fourth Down vs. Giants

These are more fourth-down calls involving the Saints that happened in Week 4.

To most people, the first coaching blunder was probably a very forgettable moment because it happened in the first quarter against the Giants. The Saints were facing a 4th and three on the Giants’ 29-yard line.

Instead of kicking a field goal, Payton elected to go for it and ended up turning the ball over on downs. If that was not bad enough, the next drive in the second quarter, he decides to send his kicker out for a 58-yard field goal on another 4th and three, which missed wide right.

Thanks to these two errors, the Giants were able to force overtime in that game and win. If Payton had managed fourth down more appropriately, they could be leading the NFC South right now.

3. Sean McDermott Fourth Down vs. Titans

I have noticed a lot of people respecting McDermott’s decision to go for it on fourth down in Week 6’s Monday night loss vs. the Titans, but I disagree entirely.

The Bills had 4th and one at the Titans’ 3-yard line, down by a field goal with 22 seconds to go. But, instead of kicking a field goal that likely sends the game to overtime, McDermott sends QB Josh Allen out for a QB sneak where he ends up slipping and failing to convert.

The problem with this call was that the Bills had no timeouts left, so their options were limited even if they got the first but didn’t score. Also, the Bills were beating the Titans by passing the ball to the outside rather than rushing. Tennessee held them to just 82 yards rushing that game when the Bills average 127 rushing yards.

That call may end up costing the Bills the #1 seed in the AFC.

What Are Your Worst NFL Coaches’ Blunders?

These are three NFL coaches that I think made a costly call at some point this season. Do you agree that these are some of the worst, or are there more egregious calls left off?

There are plenty of other coaching blunders to come this season. So make sure that you’re on the right side of those bad calls by signing up for BetMGM’s sports betting site and placing your bets on all of this season’s NFL action today.