Raiders' Late Field Goal Sparks Controversy, Raises Eyebrows Around Pete Carroll's Decision-Making
In a game that was all but over, Pete Carroll made a call that has NFL fans talking for all the wrong reasons.
With the Las Vegas Raiders trailing the Denver Broncos 24-14 in the final seconds of Sunday’s matchup, the outcome was essentially decided. Kenny Pickett had just connected with Tyler Lockett for a 26-yard gain, and the clock appeared ready to hit zero. But then came a curious twist-Raiders safety Brandon Jones was flagged for a delay of game, stopping the clock and giving Las Vegas one final snap.
Rather than taking a shot at the end zone or simply letting the game end, Carroll made a surprising call: he sent out kicker Daniel Carlson for a field goal attempt. Carlson knocked it through, trimming the deficit to 24-17 as time expired.
And that’s where things got messy.
The Spread, the Score, and the Fallout
Denver entered the game as 9.5-point favorites. That late field goal didn’t change the winner, but it did change the cover. Instead of a 10-point Broncos win, the Raiders’ final kick brought the margin to seven-just enough to shift the betting outcome.
That nuance wasn’t lost on fans. Social media lit up with accusations, jokes, and plenty of side-eye directed Carroll’s way. The tone ranged from sarcastic to outright suspicious.
“You cannot convince me Pete Carroll didn’t know the number,” one fan posted, echoing a sentiment that quickly gained traction. Others called for an investigation, questioning the logic of kicking a field goal in a game that was already out of reach.
Why Kick the Field Goal?
On paper, there’s a case to be made for taking the points. Coaches sometimes opt for a field goal in the final seconds to give their offense a “positive” finish, especially when a touchdown feels unlikely. There’s also the argument that point differential can matter over the course of a season-though that’s rarely the driving factor in a game’s dying moments.
But in this case, the optics were tough to ignore. Down 10 with no time left, the Raiders had no path to a win. The field goal didn’t change the outcome, didn’t extend the game, and didn’t offer any strategic value-at least not in the traditional sense.
A Season Under the Microscope
Adding fuel to the fire, there’s already been speculation about Carroll’s future in Las Vegas. Prior to Sunday’s game, reports surfaced suggesting some within the Raiders organization and around the league are questioning whether Carroll will finish out the season. That kind of chatter only intensifies when a coach makes a move that appears, at best, unconventional-and at worst, suspicious.
None of this is to say anything improper happened. The league has seen stranger decisions in garbage time. But when a meaningless field goal directly impacts betting outcomes, it’s bound to raise questions-especially in today’s NFL, where gambling is more intertwined with the game than ever before.
What’s Next?
For the Raiders, the loss drops them further out of playoff contention, and the focus now shifts to how the team finishes the season under Carroll’s leadership. For the Broncos, the win keeps their postseason hopes alive-but the conversation postgame had little to do with Denver’s performance.
Instead, it was all about one final snap, one unexpected kick, and one decision that left fans wondering: what was Pete Carroll thinking?
Whether it was a calculated move or just a head-scratching end to a frustrating game, it’s clear the NFL world won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon.