posted by like_that
It's not an excuse. It was a stupid ass decision, especially since they were already being aggressive before that 4th and 1. Just like Laley, I was bummed, because I figured they were going for it and would easily get a first down. That was a gift from Tomlin. My friend did research before the game, and the browns defense before the game were 22/27 on giving up 4th down conversions the entire season. WRs were 5/5 for 99 yards. As you all already know, the Steelers were 100% on their 4th down conversions during the game. I appreciated the late christmas gift from Tomlin.
Of all the stuff for me to be pissed off about on Sunday, that is the one thing that still gets me. Not the "QB plays like shit, but still gets accolades because he got over 500 yards on his 100 pass attempts" or the "WRs taking a note from Kellen Winslow Jr. after the college natty championship game with 'they mighta beat us, but they ain't us' talk".
It's the combination of punting on 4th and 1 in that situation along with how the announcers are all bitch-asses who never call coaches out on anything less than blatantly throwing games like Pederson. All Tomlin (or about any coach) has to do is say "felt all we needed was to count on our defense there and get the ball back" and people will nod their head, say "good strategy; too bad the players didn't do their part" and that's that. Never thinking about things like:
1. It's 4th and 1; not 4th and 5.
2. Just because the Browns had like 2 straight quick 3-and-outs, that doesn't negate the whole 35 points in the first half against you guys.
3. Just because you're scoring and looking good on offense now, that doesn't negate the whole "you were turnover machines in the first half" deal.
4. Just because you were turnover machines in the first half, that doesn't negate the whole "they ran the ball down your throats and also got a couple big pass plays, too" aspect of the game, where it's stupid to just assume your defense is gonna be lockdown for the rest of the game because they had a couple good possessions.
5. You're still two possessions behind with a bit over one quarter to go. By giving up the ball in this situation, you're essentially hoping to still be two possessions behind with less than a quarter to go. Every minute you waste by pussing out gives you that less of a time frame to complete a comeback. You just went from "we have the momentum and they're getting worried" to "we gave up the momentum and they have the ball and they aren't gonna be all 'the sky is falling' because you just showed that you are NOT in 'it's destiny, bitches!!!!' mode after all".
6. And, possibly most importantly, when you do that, you're basically playing reactive football instead of proactive. Taking the ball away from your team that's loaded with offensive talent and putting it all on a defense that's suffered key injuries during the season and is missing a key member of a pretty blah secondary and hoping for the best. Yeah, they've been pretty bad in those short-yardage situations, but it's the playoffs and you need a yard. If you can't get it, you don't deserve to win. And they didn't even try to get it. And now they're done for the season.
