Bears kicker says team put him on wrong hash mark on critical missed FG
Eddie Pineiro missed a field goal on Sunday that could have given the Chicago Bears a win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and the kicker has since indicated that the team did not put him in the best position to succeed.
Pineiro missed two field goals in Chicago’s 17-16 loss, the second of which was a 41-yarder as time expired that could have won the game. Mitchell Trubisky kneeled on the left hash mark prior to that attempt, and Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune says Pineiro admitted to reporters on Tuesday that the left hash was not his preferred spot for that kick.
Asked Eddy Pineiro directly if he wanted to be on the left hash for the final game-deciding kick Sunday. He said that was not his preferred spot.
(Pineiro immediately felt very bad for saying that out loud. But man …)
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) October 29, 2019
Wiederer noted that Pineiro immediately expressed regret for making that admission, and other reporters did not feel he was trying to make excuses.
Bears K Eddy Piñeiro not making excuses at all today, but when pressed, he says we would’ve liked the ball centered for that final FG (Bears kneeled on left hash). After talking to reporters, though, he backtracked and said left hash was a good spot.
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) October 29, 2019
Pineiro should be able to make a 41-yard kick from any spot on the field, but that is still a bad look for Chicago’s coaching staff if he preferred to kick from the middle or right hash and they intentionally had Trubisky kneel on the left. At the very least, that shows a lack of preparedness. Head coach Matt Nagy already faced criticism for a decision he made before the kick, and that looks even worse now.
