The Steelers are 8-0, but I don’t trust them.
Coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season and is a lock to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but I don’t trust him.
Sunday’s victory at Dallas put those feelings in clear focus.
The Cowboys are injury-riddled. They used their No. 4 quarterback. Yet the Steelers dragged the 13½-point underdogs around for 60 minutes before winning by just 24-19. Dallas ran six plays in Steelers territory to end the game. The Cowboys’ last two plays were passes from the 29 and 23.
That last gasp was provided via a mind-boggling decision made by Tomlin.
I’ve heard his explanation. I’ve heard others defend what was done. But nothing trumps math.
The Steelers faced fourth-and-1 at Dallas’ 15 with 43 seconds left. Instead of summoning Chris Boswell to kick 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 Cowboys needed six points to win, and darn near got them.
Tomlin cited earlier problems kicking as making him eschew a field-goal attempt. The Steelers missed two extra points. Long snapper Kam Canaday had a rotten day snapping 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 precedent from earlier in the game, let’s note that the Steelers had previously been stopped on fourth-and-1.
More precedent: Boswell is 5 for 5 kicking field goals from between 30-39 yards this season.
Worst-case scenario: Dallas blocks the field goal. What are the odds they return it for a touchdown? Slim. So, even if the kick gets blocked, the Cowboys almost certainly wind up right where they did, anyway: Taking shots at the end zone with a chance to win.
If you’re ahead by five in that situation and have a chance to go up by eight with a 32-yard field goal, you kick 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 fourth-and-9 at the Cowboys’ 41, Noll went for it, gained two yards on a run and turned the ball over on downs with 82 seconds left. The Cowboys ultimately took three shots at the end zone from the Steelers’ 37, but Glen Edwards intercepted to end the game.
Noll was afraid a punt might get blocked because Dallas had mounted a good rush earlier.
It was a dumb decision then, and a dumb one now. But the Steelers won both times.
The Steelers are a weird 8-0.
They arguably haven’t yet put 60 good minutes together. They averaged a meager 2.6 yards per rush at Dallas. Their sightly overrated defense conceded 144 yards rushing in that game, and 220 yards passing to a fourth-string quarterback. Dallas converted 8 of 17 third downs, including a third-and-10 on its last possession. The Steelers got just two sacks. It was decidedly an off-day.
The Steelers seemed unprepared to play an inferior foe. That happens occasionally with every team, but not a lot with championship-caliber teams and it occurs far too often with Tomlin’s teams.
Credit goes to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger — who also has trouble putting together 60 minutes, and Sunday was no exception.
Roethlisberger struggled in the first half, leaving the field early to have a gimpy knee looked at and giving way to Mason Rudolph for the half’s final series.
But Roethlisberger ultimately completed 29 of 42 passes for 306 yards, three touchdowns vs. zero interceptions, and a passer rating of 113.8. Whatever’s required, Roethlisberger does. I trust Roethlisberger.
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Mark Madden Columns | Sports | Steelers/NFL
