NFL 2025-26 Season

[Donoghus]

Pete Carroll fired.

[Moranis]

I know teams do this all the time, but I just don't understand why on a longish kick the Ravens intentionally lost 2 yards to move it to the middle. Instead of Lamar taking the knee, why not just give it to Henry to run up the middle.  Maybe he gets some space and makes it a much easier kick, but even if he doesn't he probaly doesnt lose yards.  Obviously Loop should have been able to hit a 44 yarder, but the most reliable extra point kicker in the game literally just missed one.  The conditions weren't great.  Move up don't make it longer and harder.

The chances of a fumble are higher if you run rather than kneel.

On this particular kick, I don't think there's a meaningful difference between 42 and 44 yards.  He would have missed that from 30.  He just choked.

he obviously choked, but I don't think he necessarily kicks the same from 5 yards closer.  It is a different level of pressure. 44 starts to be long, while 39 feels more than 5 yards closer.

And yes Henry could have fumbled, but he also could have broken free and scored a td.  I know a lot of this is hindsight, but when the very prior kick from Boswell was missed badly, I think every yard matters. For confidence if nothing else.

[Donoghus]

Jonathan Gannon fired.

[Vermont Green]

Pete Carroll fired.

Tough way for Carroll to end his career.  He was a very successful coach.  I get that it is a "what have you done lately" league.  I wonder if Brady had a say in this.

[kraidstar]

I know teams do this all the time, but I just don't understand why on a longish kick the Ravens intentionally lost 2 yards to move it to the middle. Instead of Lamar taking the knee, why not just give it to Henry to run up the middle.  Maybe he gets some space and makes it a much easier kick, but even if he doesn't he probaly doesnt lose yards.  Obviously Loop should have been able to hit a 44 yarder, but the most reliable extra point kicker in the game literally just missed one.  The conditions weren't great.  Move up don't make it longer and harder.

The chances of a fumble are higher if you run rather than kneel.

On this particular kick, I don't think there's a meaningful difference between 42 and 44 yards.  He would have missed that from 30.  He just choked.

he obviously choked, but I don't think he necessarily kicks the same from 5 yards closer.  It is a different level of pressure. 44 starts to be long, while 39 feels more than 5 yards closer.

And yes Henry could have fumbled, but he also could have broken free and scored a td.  I know a lot of this is hindsight, but when the very prior kick from Boswell was missed badly, I think every yard matters. For confidence if nothing else.

I tend to agree. Assuming Henry is making every effort to protect the ball, I'd send him running straight ahead for a couple yards. Play to win.

The Lamar kneeldown felt overly passive considering the distance.

[Roy H.]

I know teams do this all the time, but I just don't understand why on a longish kick the Ravens intentionally lost 2 yards to move it to the middle. Instead of Lamar taking the knee, why not just give it to Henry to run up the middle.  Maybe he gets some space and makes it a much easier kick, but even if he doesn't he probaly doesnt lose yards.  Obviously Loop should have been able to hit a 44 yarder, but the most reliable extra point kicker in the game literally just missed one.  The conditions weren't great.  Move up don't make it longer and harder.

The chances of a fumble are higher if you run rather than kneel.

On this particular kick, I don't think there's a meaningful difference between 42 and 44 yards.  He would have missed that from 30.  He just choked.

he obviously choked, but I don't think he necessarily kicks the same from 5 yards closer.  It is a different level of pressure. 44 starts to be long, while 39 feels more than 5 yards closer.

And yes Henry could have fumbled, but he also could have broken free and scored a td.  I know a lot of this is hindsight, but when the very prior kick from Boswell was missed badly, I think every yard matters. For confidence if nothing else.

I tend to agree. Assuming Henry is making every effort to protect the ball, I'd send him running straight ahead for a couple yards. Play to win.

The Lamar kneeldown felt overly passive considering the distance.

I mean, Loop was 29-for-29 within 50 yards on the season.  A 44 yard FG is a chip shot for him.  That's not on the coaching staff. 

[Donoghus]

Apparently the Raiders are now paying four ex head coaches.  Gruden, McDaniels, Pierce, & now Carroll.

[Moranis]

I know teams do this all the time, but I just don't understand why on a longish kick the Ravens intentionally lost 2 yards to move it to the middle. Instead of Lamar taking the knee, why not just give it to Henry to run up the middle.  Maybe he gets some space and makes it a much easier kick, but even if he doesn't he probaly doesnt lose yards.  Obviously Loop should have been able to hit a 44 yarder, but the most reliable extra point kicker in the game literally just missed one.  The conditions weren't great.  Move up don't make it longer and harder.

The chances of a fumble are higher if you run rather than kneel.

On this particular kick, I don't think there's a meaningful difference between 42 and 44 yards.  He would have missed that from 30.  He just choked.

he obviously choked, but I don't think he necessarily kicks the same from 5 yards closer.  It is a different level of pressure. 44 starts to be long, while 39 feels more than 5 yards closer.

And yes Henry could have fumbled, but he also could have broken free and scored a td.  I know a lot of this is hindsight, but when the very prior kick from Boswell was missed badly, I think every yard matters. For confidence if nothing else.

I tend to agree. Assuming Henry is making every effort to protect the ball, I'd send him running straight ahead for a couple yards. Play to win.

The Lamar kneeldown felt overly passive considering the distance.

I mean, Loop was 29-for-29 within 50 yards on the season.  A 44 yard FG is a chip shot for him.  That's not on the coaching staff.

Boswell hadn't missed an extra point in 4 years and yet he literally just missed one.  The season on the line on a cold windy night in Pittsburgh.  Every yard matters. 

Maybe 5 yards wouldn't have mattered, but maybe it would have.  Here is Loop on the kick. 

"It was a great situation, exactly what we wanted, and unfortunately, I just mis-hit the ball," Loop said. "We call it hitting it thin. It spins fast and goes off to the right.

"The second it made contact with my foot, I felt it lower. We talk about hitting on the fourth lace of the shoe. It felt a little lower down the foot and hit it thin."

Perhaps a bit closer and he hits it better and makes it. 

Also, Loop hadn't hit a FG from at least 40 yards since November 16th before the game.  He hit one from 40 earlier and then missed the 44 yarder.  He only hit 9 FG's from at least 40 yards all season (including the Steelers game) and had only hit from 44 or longer 4 times all season.  The first game of the year against the Bills he hit from 52 and 49.  He then didn't have a 44 yarder again until November 9th and then November 16th (so his last 2 kicks from 40+ were actually from exactly 44).  So he had hit just 4 FG's in his entire NFL career from 44 yards or more.  It most certainly wasn't a chip shot for him.

So the Ravens rolled out their rookie kicker on a cold windy night with basically the most pressure a kicker can have from a distance he had very little experience from.  In that situation, every yard matters.  You hand the ball to Henry and let him pound a few yards closer.

[Roy H.]

Boswell hadn't missed an extra point in 4 years and yet he literally just missed one.  The season on the line on a cold windy night in Pittsburgh.  Every yard matters.

Boswell's kick got blocked. 

And, if your kicker can't hit a 44 yard field goal, he shouldn't be in the NFL.  There's no need to risk a fumble to gain another yard or two.  And, again, that kick would have missed from 30 yards.  He would have missed from 42, or 40, or 38.  He choked.

But that choke had real consequences, as Harbaugh has been fired.

[SparzWizard]

Boswell hadn't missed an extra point in 4 years and yet he literally just missed one.  The season on the line on a cold windy night in Pittsburgh.  Every yard matters.

Boswell's kick got blocked. 

And, if your kicker can't hit a 44 yard field goal, he shouldn't be in the NFL.  There's no need to risk a fumble to gain another yard or two.  And, again, that kick would have missed from 30 yards.  He would have missed from 42, or 40, or 38.  He choked.

But that choke had real consequences, as Harbaugh has been fired.

About time they fired him. Now Mike Tomlin is the longest tenured head coach in the NFL for a single team. Yikes.

[SparzWizard]

He could be hired within the week.

Harbaugh to the Falcons? Titans? Cardinals? Browns? Wild possibilities

[Moranis]

Boswell hadn't missed an extra point in 4 years and yet he literally just missed one.  The season on the line on a cold windy night in Pittsburgh.  Every yard matters.

Boswell's kick got blocked. 

And, if your kicker can't hit a 44 yard field goal, he shouldn't be in the NFL.  There's no need to risk a fumble to gain another yard or two.  And, again, that kick would have missed from 30 yards.  He would have missed from 42, or 40, or 38.  He choked.

But that choke had real consequences, as Harbaugh has been fired.

About time they fired him. Now Mike Tomlin is the longest tenured head coach in the NFL for a single team. Yikes.

Tomlin has been longest tenured coach since Bill left NE. He was hired 1 year before Harbaugh was.

Harbaugh's agent has said within 45 minutes of the news 7 teams reached out, there are only 6 other openings at moment.

[Moranis]

Boswell hadn't missed an extra point in 4 years and yet he literally just missed one.  The season on the line on a cold windy night in Pittsburgh.  Every yard matters.

Boswell's kick got blocked. 

And, if your kicker can't hit a 44 yard field goal, he shouldn't be in the NFL.  There's no need to risk a fumble to gain another yard or two.  And, again, that kick would have missed from 30 yards.  He would have missed from 42, or 40, or 38.  He choked.

But that choke had real consequences, as Harbaugh has been fired.

your assuming everything is the same from closer and you just can't do that.  Closer changes everything about the kick and takes some pressure off.  That was as much pressure as you can have in a kick. Every yard matters especially for a rookie who made just 4 kicks all year from that distance. 

And Harbaugh is out because Lamar wanted him out.  Nothing more nothing less.

[Donoghus]

. 

And Harbaugh is out because Lamar wanted him out.  Nothing more nothing less.

Harbaugh is out because he grew stale, the team has taken steps backwards, & the clock is ticking on the prime of their generational talent QB.

He was riding the coattails of a ridiculous Flacco run for years.

[Phantom255x]

Personally I'm with Moranis, I was also stunned that with 12 seconds to go, they just let Lamar go back two yards and take a knee, then let 8 seconds run off the clock before calling a timeout.

Yes in this age of kicking, kickers seem to be automatic even from 55-60 yards. But still, Acrisure Stadium is a tough place to kick for anyone and you also have to account for the pressure in that situation. A potential game winner, where a miss also loses you the game on the road? Not easy for a young kicker. And this is a young kicker, not Justin Tucker in his prime.

Sure, it's still a 44 yarder that should be made, and there is the risk of a fumble. But I mean, there's 12 seconds. It's not like there's less than 7 seconds and a risk that the time will expire. Plus I'm sure Ravens fans remember the Billy Cundiff moment very well. It was a 42 yarder before Lamar kneed two yards back, so in theory a few more yards and carry by Henry and it's probably a 35-37 yard attempt instead of 44 if you factor that all in.