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About an hour ago
The Steelers are 8-0, but I don’t trust them.
Coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season and is a lock on being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but I don’t trust him.
Sunday’s victory in Dallas brought those feelings to the fore.
The Cowboys are riddled with injuries. They used their No. 4 quarterback. Still, the Steelers trailed the Underdogs by 13½ points for 60 minutes before winning by just 24-19. Dallas played six games in Steelers territory to end the game. The Cowboys’ last two games were assists on the 29th and 23rd.
That last sigh was provided via a mind-boggling decision made by Tomlin.
I heard his explanation. I have heard others defend what has been done. But nothing trumps math.
The Steelers faced the fourth and 1st in Dallas ’15 with 43 seconds left. Instead of calling Chris Boswell to throw a 32-yard field goal for an eight-point lead, the Steelers gave the ball to James Conner for a 4-yard loss.
Instead of needing eight points to tie the game, the Cowboys needed six points to win, and they almost got them.
Tomlin cited previous kicking issues as causing him to avoid a basket attempt. The Steelers missed two more points. Long snapper Kam Canaday had a bad day slamming and blocking.
But doesn’t Tomlin often preach that “we don’t live in our fears?” Well, that’s exactly what Tomlin decided to do.
Since Tomlin cited a precedent earlier in the game, note that the Steelers had already been stopped in fourth and 1.
Another precedent: Boswell has 5 for 5 field goals between 30 and 39 yards this season.
Worst case scenario: Dallas blocks the basket. What are the odds of them returning it for a touchdown? Slender. So even if the kick is blocked, the Cowboys almost certainly end up where they did it, anyway: taking shots in the end zone with a chance to win.
If you’re ahead of five in this situation and have a chance to come up a par eight with a 32-yard field goal, you hit every time. It’s an easy decision unless you convince yourself to believe otherwise. It’s an easy decision unless you choose to live in your fears.
Tomlin is a good coach. Chuck Noll was a better coach and he made a similar decision in Super Bowl X against Dallas in 1976.
With a 21-17 lead and a fourth and a 9 in 41 for the Cowboys, Noll went ahead, gained two yards on a carry and returned the ball on the lows with 82 seconds left. The Cowboys ended up making three shots in the Steelers 37 end zone, but Glen Edwards intercepted to end the game.
Noll was worried that a punt might be blocked because Dallas had had a good run earlier.
It was a stupid decision then, and a stupid decision now. But the Steelers have won both times.
The Steelers are a strange 8-0.
They probably haven’t gathered a good 60 minutes yet. They averaged a measly 2.6 yards per carry in Dallas. Their slightly overrated defense conceded 144 rushing yards in this game and 220 passing yards to a fourth-string quarterback. Dallas converted 8 of 17 third downs, including a third and 10 in his last possession. The Steelers only have two sacks. It was definitely a day of rest.
The Steelers didn’t seem prepared to play an inferior enemy. It happens sometimes with all teams, but not a lot with championship caliber teams and it happens far too often with Tomlin’s teams.
Credit goes to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger – who also struggles to put up 60 minutes, and Sunday was no exception.
Roethlisberger struggled in the first half, leaving the pitch early to have his knee examined and giving way to Mason Rudolph for the final series of the half.
But Roethlisberger ultimately completed 29 of 42 passes for 306 yards, three touchdowns against zero interceptions and a score of 113.8. Either way, Roethlisberger does. I trust Roethlisberger.
Categories:
Mark Madden Columns | Sports | Steelers / NFL
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