In the face of significant criticism in Chicago, Bears coach Marc Trestman is standing by his decision to attempt a 47-yard field goal on second down in overtime on Sunday -- an attempt that missed and set up the Vikings’ game-winning field goal.
Most coaches would have had the offense try to get more yardage on second down and make the field goal easier, but Trestman said he thinks he made the right call at the time.
“The decision is not anything that I regret,” Trestman said, via the Chicago Tribune.
That’s hard to believe: Although the Bears have an excellent kicker in Robbie Gould, a 47-yarder isn’t a chip shot for anyone. And although it’s possible that another offensive play would have resulted in lost yardage or a turnover, it’s much more likely that it would have gained at least a couple yards and made the field goal a little bit easier.
But Trestman says he has so much confidence in Gould that he didn’t think he needed to make the field goal a little bit easier.
“I didn’t do it from an analytics standpoint,” Trestman said. “I did it from being around Robbie.”
Having confidence in your kicker is fine. But Trestman should have had some more confidence in his offense.