Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll expressed his frustration clearly following Daniel Carlson’s missed 48-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. The miss, which would have tied the game late in the fourth quarter, shifted Carroll’s normally positive demeanor to a blunt criticism of his veteran kicker.
“He wants to make every one of those. He’s gotta kick better for us.”
This miss was Carlson’s fourth of the season and second within a span of three games. Once considered one of the league’s top kickers, Carlson’s performance has noticeably declined. With a 75 percent conversion rate, he ranks among the lowest in the league. Notably, three of his recent misses occurred in one-score losses, highlighting their critical impact.
Carroll’s frustration mirrors the mounting pressure on the Raiders, a team that has lost several winnable games this season, many due to missed field goals and special teams errors. For Carroll, in his first year as Raiders head coach and an advocate for accountability, the issue goes beyond a single missed kick.
Carroll’s candid postgame remarks underscore the necessity for improved execution in crucial moments to prevent further losses.
Author’s summary: Pete Carroll openly challenged kicker Daniel Carlson after multiple costly misses, emphasizing the urgent need for improved performance to secure victories for the Raiders this season.