Raiders HC Pete Carroll Criticizes Daniel Carlson After Costly Miss
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll expressed frustration following Daniel Carlson's missed 48-yard field goal that could have tied the game late in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football.
Known for his positive approach, Carroll dropped that tone after the final whistle and directly challenged his veteran kicker. According to Silver & Black Sports Network’s Jesse Merrick, who shared Carroll’s postgame comments on X (formerly Twitter), Carroll said:
“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 in just three games. Once considered one of the league’s top kickers, his recent decline is evident with a 75 percent conversion rate, ranking among the lowest in the NFL. Notably, three of his recent misses occurred in games lost by just one score.
Carroll’s disappointment highlights the increasing pressure on the Raiders, who have dropped several winnable games this season due in part to missed field goals and critical special teams errors. For Carroll, in his first year as Raiders head coach and an advocate of accountability, this moment was about more than just a single missed kick.
Author's summary: Pete Carroll openly criticized kicker Daniel Carlson after a crucial miss, reflecting the Raiders' struggles with close losses and special teams errors this season.