Booger McFarland criticizes Sean Payton, Sean McVay for not kicking FGs
By David Wasson
Published:
ESPN analyst Booger McFarland is paid handsomely to second-guess decisions made by NFL coaches, and he certainly did that Sunday night at the conclusion of both the AFC and NFC Championship Games – in both instances questioning why the Broncos and Rams didn’t settle for field goals in key situations.
Denver was first, with McFarland asking why coach Sean Payton chose to go for it deep in New England’s end in the first half instead of settling for a field goal – all while knowing points could come at a premium with the weather about to change.
“The job of a coach is to put his team in the best situation. You gotta understand situational football,” McFarland said on NFL Primetime. “Everybody knew the forecast for the game, and you knew at some point the weather would get nasty.
“At that point, you’re up 7-0 and all the momentum is with you. It’s a 31-yard field goal, shorter than an extra point – and he turned it down. I don’t care what analytics say. Sean Payton’s job was to kick that field goal and go up 10-0. … This was a poor coaching decision and poor move by Sean Payton.”
McFarland also took aim at Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay for making the same decision against the Seattle Seahawks – as McVay’s Rams went for it on 4th-and-4 at the Seattle 6-yard line trailing by 4 with under 5 minutes remaining.
“I get it, a lot of people out there will say ‘analytics say go for it’, but at some point understand the momentum of the game,” McFarland said. “Bring Mevis out there and kick the field goal, you put the pressure back on Seattle’s offense. If Seattle’s offense goes three-and-out, we don’t need to drive for a touchdown – we have a kicker who can kick a 50-yarder.
“I won a playoff game by kicking five field goals, the great Indianapolis Colts went to Baltimore and won 15-9. You can win with field goals. Don’t feel so disappointed that you have to go for everything.”
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
