Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett threw a career Hail Mary Sunday. And like most desperation heaves, it fell incomplete. Now at 3-7 and with next to no chance to make the playoffs, Hackett sits atop our list of NFL coaches on the hot seat.
Nathaniel Hackett Is Among NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat
Hackett is in major danger of being one-and-done in Denver.
The Broncos have lost six out of seven games, a stretch that includes an overtime loss to the dreadful Las Vegas Raiders Sunday.
With their season essentially on the line, the Broncos blew a double-digit first-half lead and a three-point lead in the game’s final moments.
The offense, per usual, was an issue in Week 11 — even after Hackett surrendered play-calling duties. In Klint Kubiak’s first game as de facto offensive coordinator, the Broncos were still a mess, going 3 of 12 on third downs and managing just eight first downs on their final seven drives.
But Denver’s defense also failed Sunday, surrendering scoring drives of 71 and 67 yards in the game’s final three minutes; the Raiders needed just three plays to score their walk-off touchdown in overtime.
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The Broncos are now 3-6 in one-score games. They rank last in scoring (14.7), 31st in goal to go (53.3%) and third downs (28.2%), 28th in yards per carry (3.9), and 27th in EPA per play (-.07).
The Russell Wilson trade looks worse and worse. The Broncos gave up a ton to acquire him, and they are a worse team this year than last. Wilson is 28th in QBR (32.3), 27th in passer rating (83.3), and 26th in EPA+CPOE (.04).
And if the Broncos move on after the offseason, they would incur a staggering $107 million dead cap hit.
“[The season] is a journey,” Wilson said post-game. “Sometimes it’s an ugly one. Sometimes it’s a tough one. What hurts probably more than anything else is that these games were close, one- score games. We have to be able to find ways to win them.”
Time to figure it out is basically up.
This was a team built to win a championship. Instead, they’re a last-place team with the ninth-hardest remaining strength of schedule.
And it’s not like they even have a top-10 draft pick to look forward to. Their first-round selection belongs to the Seahawks — who have been among the league’s most pleasant surprises in 2022.
Put another way, the Broncos are stuck with Wilson for at least two more seasons.
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But the same is not true for Hackett. The marriage between coach and quarterback has failed, and the odds are high Hackett will be the one who pays the price — either in the coming weeks or when the season ends.
“For me, everything is about this team and this staff,” Hackett said late Sunday. “I’ve told you guys that before. I just want to do everything I can to help this team win. We’ve been so close, we’ve had so many opportunities. We’ve had a lot of things happen this year that are unfortunate, but we have to continually find ways to win. That’s my sole purpose. That’s all I’m looking to do.
“Whatever happens—those things I can’t control. I always communicate with everybody, talk about everything, show them all the different things that are going on so that they can have all their questions answered and go from there.”
More NFL Hot Seat Updates
Dennis Allen, New Orleans Saints
A 17-point second half against the Rams powered a come-from-behind victory and gave Allen just his second win since Oct. 9.
Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Campbell got the most impressive win of his career Sunday, thrashing the Giants 31-18 in a game that wasn’t that close. Campbell’s job is getting safer by the week.
Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals will reportedly be without Kyler Murray again Monday night against the 49ers — an unhelpful development for a club that hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record all season.
Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas Raiders
After getting the dreaded vote of confidence from Mark Davis, McDaniels did the bare minimum in Week 11. He beat the Broncos. With games against SEA, LAC, NE, SF, and KC still looming, he better savor that win.
Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars
The good news: The Jaguars didn’t lose Sunday. Of course, they didn’t win either. An improved Jacksonville better emerge from the bye, or the seat could get really warm for Pederson.
Lovie Smith, Houston Texans
After a fifth straight loss, the Texans are now the prohibitive favorites to land the draft’s No. 1 pick. The rationale for letting Smith be a part of the selection process is basically nonexistent.
Brandon Staley, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have lost three out of four and are now just 31% to make the playoffs, per FiveThirtyEight. L.A.’s next two games — at Arizona and at Las Vegas — are must-wins. Not just for the team’s playoff hopes but perhaps for Staley’s job security.
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
The Browns have lost six out of seven, and the most damning part of that slide for Stefanski is this: Cleveland is actually getting solid quarterback play. Jacoby Brissett is sixth in QBR (62.4) and ninth in EPA+CPOE (.12).