Brandon Staley Took The Worst Timeout In NFL History And Cost His Team The Playoffs

Nate1/10/2022 5:40 AM

That was quite literally the wackiest ending to a football game we've possibly ever seen. My heart is still racing a million miles a minute. As we all know, if these two teams tied, both would make the playoffs. So when Justin Herbert pulled a rabbit out of his really awesome hat and sent the game to OT, we had a big time tie scenario on our hands. The Raiders scored first, kicking a field goal to go up 3, which was then copied when DHop put one justttttt inside the uprights with about 5 minutes left on the clock. So then, right there, there was no reason for Carr to throw downfield and risk a pick 6 or a fumble or anything. Run the ball, milk the clock, etc. But they didn't. They started throwing. But it didn't matter, as they were at about the 50 with 2 minutes left. So it made perfect sense to take a few knees and waltz into the playoffs. BUT THEY DIDN'T. It was nuts, balls to the wall football. Even kicking a field goal at that point would be risky, a blocked scoop and score. But the Raiders kept going for it, but right when they were ready to concede...Staley called a Chargers timeout. And apparently that changed EVERYTHING.

Josh Jacobs busted out a 10 yard run and then against all logic, the Raiders kicked a 47 yarder to win the game and go to the playoffs, eliminating the Chargers.

Is it true? Hard to say. At first Carr says it changed the strategy, and then he goes "but we were always playing to win". Well no shit, of course you enter the game playing to win. So I'm not completely sold on the people saying it didn't change anything.

It allowed the Raiders to have fresh legs and get that 10 yard run. If the timeout isn't called, let's say he's stuffed at the line, then what? Attempt a 57 yarder? Interesting to think about.

Regardless of what you believe, hell of an effort by the Raiders and horrendous job by Staley.

PS: This is so Twitter it hurts.