Imagine costing your team a chance at points right before halftime due to a simple miscalculation. That's exactly what happened, and the coach is owning up to it. But here's where it gets controversial... was it really that simple of a mistake, or were there other factors at play?
Just a day after the game, Aaron Glenn, coach for the Jets, publicly admitted he erred in his decision-making at the close of the first half. In retrospect, Glenn confessed that, instead of letting the clock expire, he should have called for a 'Hail Mary' pass – a long, desperate throw into the end zone hoping for a miraculous catch – during the Jets' narrow 13-11 defeat against the Broncos in their London face-off. For those unfamiliar, a Hail Mary is typically thrown when time is running out and the offense is far from the end zone. It's a low-percentage play, but it offers a chance at scoring points when other options are limited.
“I wish I could’ve taken the clock down to five seconds and just threw a Hail Mary, to be honest with you,” Glenn stated candidly over Zoom. He explained his reasoning at the time, saying, “But at that point I wanted no confusion, so let’s just get out of the half, we get the ball back in the second half, and let’s get ready to go.” He prioritized avoiding any potential chaos or miscommunication over taking a shot at the end zone. And this is the part most people miss... sometimes coaches prioritize control and stability over risk, even when a calculated risk might be the better play.
Glenn took full responsibility for his misjudgment, adding, “That’s a mistake that I made, and I hold myself accountable for that.” The decision not to attempt a more aggressive play at the end of the half drew criticism, particularly considering the Jets had just executed a successful fake punt on fourth-and-1 from their own 37-yard line with a minute remaining. A fake punt, for those new to football, is a risky play where the punter runs or passes the ball instead of kicking it, hoping to gain a first down. The success of this play suggested the Jets were willing to take risks, making Glenn's subsequent conservative decision even more puzzling.
Following the successful fake punt, what happened next seemed counterintuitive. Oddly, the Jets then handed the ball off to Breece Hall for a running play, which ate up valuable time without significantly improving their field position.
Glenn clarified that there was uncertainty on the sidelines after Justin Fields completed a 6-yard pass to Josh Reynolds on third down. The confusion stemmed from conflicting signals from the officiating crew; one official signaled a first down, while another indicated they were short. This uncertainty, Glenn explained, contributed to his decision to avoid letting the clock run down further, fearing a potential penalty or further loss of yardage if they were indeed short of the first down marker. But was this a legitimate explanation, or an attempt to justify a poor decision made under pressure? This is where opinions often diverge.
So, what do you think? Was Glenn's mistake a simple oversight, or a symptom of a larger issue with the Jets' game management? Should coaches always prioritize aggressive play-calling in crucial moments, or is there value in a more conservative approach? And, most importantly, could a Hail Mary have changed the outcome of the game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
