Kicker Eddy Piñeiro had never made a field goal longer than 56 yards.
The Panthers lost their Thursday night matchup with the Bears, 16–13, which was as much of a slog as that final score indicates. The result came down to a game-tying 59-yard field goal attempt by Carolina’s Eddy Piñeiro, which fell short.
Coach Frank Reich may have felt that there wasn’t a better choice facing fourth-and-10 from the Chicago 41-yard line. Carolina only generated 213 yards of total offense and its touchdown came on a punt return by Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Quarterback Bryce Young had only thrown for 185 yards.
So was there a better chance of getting 10 yards on fourth down or Piñeiro kicking a career-long field goal (his previous best was a 56-yarder) in cold, windy weather?
“That’s my call,” Reich said in his postgame press conference. “I’ve seen us make 60-yarders in practice, felt like there a little breeze at our back. If you look at the pure percentages, the pure percentage play is to kick it.”
But Piñeiro’s attempt was short, the Panthers lost their eighth game of the season, and fans and media thought Reich made a terrible decision that possibly cost his team the game. Here’s a sampling of social media reactions:
Frank Reich says it was his call to kick a 59-yard FG despite there being mixed opinions on his staff. He believes a 4th-and-10 conversion has a 30% chance of success, while a 59-yard FG has a higher probability.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 10, 2023
This is his full explanation:pic.twitter.com/H66qYjkgr9 https://t.co/V07f1XXgZg
The Panthers kicking a field goal to tie the game pic.twitter.com/WZjaeHzVMg
— Blake Garman (@FrostedBlakes34) November 10, 2023
Panthers fans watching them not go for in on 4th Down and proceed to miss a field goal pic.twitter.com/aNV5JUl9jt
— Blake Garman (@FrostedBlakes34) November 10, 2023
This coach need to get fired and I ain’t even a Panthers fan why the hell would you kick a 59 yd field goal?! That is not Justin Tucker ????????
— D_Meez (@d_boyyyz) November 10, 2023
Seriously a 59 yard field goal ????????♂️ can’t make this stuff up #Panthers #KeepPounding
— BeardedTechDude (@Renzo_FutureFli) November 10, 2023
With the loss, Carolina dropped to 1–8 on the season.
In the aftermath, fans continue to question whether Young is an NFL-caliber quarterback, let alone worth the No. 1 overall draft pick. Whether or not Reich will last more than one season as the Panthers’ head coach is also being debated. Judging from reactions on social media, there isn’t much faith in him at this point.
