Timeout Before Janikowski Overtime Kick (2007)

On September 16, 2007, in an overtime game between the Broncos and Raiders, an on-field strategic decision by Denver coach Mike Shanahan became pivotal. Shanahan called a timeout immediately before Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski's overtime field-goal attempt. Because the attempt was negated by the timeout, Janikowski re-kicked; his re-kick struck the upright, and the Broncos subsequently won when Jason Elam converted a later field goal. The sequence sparked controversy because the pre-kick timeout altered the pressure and execution for Janikowski and because the coaching decision had an immediate effect on the game's outcome. Coverage of the rivalry catalogs the episode as an example of coaching gamesmanship and strategic risk that influenced a divisional finish, and it sits within the rivalry's 'Coaching & Ownership Clashes' theme given Shanahan's involvement and the public attention the move received [11].

The play is significant because it illustrates how in-game coaching decisions can have outsized influence in a rivalry context, particularly when those decisions lead to a controversial or decisive outcome. The incident is often cited in discussions of gamesmanship between Denver and Oakland and in appraisals of Shanahan's strategic approach to high-leverage moments [11].

The Broncos' victory in that game contributed to the standings and reinforced Shanahan's reputation for tactical decisions in clutch situations. For the Raiders and Janikowski the sequence became a remembered misfire influenced by an opponent's timeout call, and it is referenced in later recountings of notable coaching gambits in the rivalry [11].