Where there are winners, there are losers. And while some losses are unavoidable, others can be traced to a single performance or decision. Those players and coaches earned an unfortunate distinction: Bobbleheads.
The first round of the NFL playoffs wrapped up Monday, Jan. 12, with the Houston Texans defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in what may have been Aaron Rodgers’ final professional game. Meanwhile, the NHL season continues its grind, with contenders and pretenders becoming clearer as the league passes the halfway mark.
Here are the Bobbleheads of the Week, whose mistakes came at costly moments.
Green Bay Packers: Kicker Brandon McManus
Everything was going according to plan for Green Bay in the first half of its Jan. 10 wild-card matchup against their rival, the Chicago Bears. The Packers built a 21-3 lead and appeared poised to extend it further before halftime.
That momentum vanished when McManus missed the first of two critical kicks, opening the door for a Bears comeback.
McManus struck again late, missing an extra point following a wide receiver Matthew Golden touchdown that would have pushed the lead to 28-16, but instead left the score at 27-16. Chicago responded with a touchdown and a successful two- point conversion to make it 27-24. McManus then had a chance to make it a six-point game in the fourth quarter but missed again.
Chicago scored once more, completing a stunning 31-27 comeback victory. McManus left seven points on the field, which would’ve been more than enough to send Green Bay into the second round.
Philadelphia Eagles: former Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo
A season defined by offensive frustration came to a head on Jan. 11, as the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles fell 23-19 at home to the San Francisco 49ers.
Facing a San Francisco team without linebacker Fred Warner and losing tight end George Kittle to an achilles injury in the game, Philadelphia appeared positioned to control the game. Instead, the 49ers struck first, marching down the field for an opening touchdown.
The Eagles responded with a touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert, but momentum stalled after a failed fourth-down conversion on the ensuing drive. The defense kept Philadelphia afloat, forcing stops and setting up another long drive capped by Goedert’s second score for a 13-7 lead.
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From there, the offense unraveled. San Francisco pulled within three, and costly drops began to mount. Wide receiver A.J. Brown dropped a third-and-nine pass just before the two-minute warning. After halftime, runningback Saquon Barkley dropped a wide-open pass on third-and-three.
Even after intercepting quarterback Brock Purdy, the Eagles could not capitalize, bogging down on a third-and-19. The 49ers took a 17-16 lead on a trick-play touchdown from wide receiver Jauan Jennings to running back Christian McCaffrey.
Philadelphia managed only a late field goal before McCaffrey added his second receiving touchdown of the game to seal the outcome.
The final drive summed up the night. Brown dropped another pass on third down, and on fourth down Jalen Hurts forced a throw into triple coverage that fell incomplete, ending Philadelphia’s title defense.
The Eagles’ offensive struggles ultimately led to the firing of offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, a move largely welcomed by a frustrated fan base.
New York Rangers: Goalie Jonathan Quick
An already difficult season for the New York Rangers has worsened with All-Star goaltender Igor Shesterkin sidelined.
That left Quick, a former Conn Smythe Trophy winner, tasked with stabilizing the crease, but the accolade, earned more than a decade ago, has not been translated into results.
New York opened the week by allowing 10 goals to a middling Boston Bruins team, with Quick surrendering six before being pulled. The Rangers then returned to Madison Square Garden for a brief homestand against the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators.
Against the Kraken, New York was tied late before Quick allowed a wild goal with just over seven minutes remaining, followed by an empty-netter in a four-two loss. The slide continued against Ottawa, where Quick gave up six goals in an eight-four loss before being pulled again.
Simon Reseigh is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @simon_reseigh
