Steelers coach Mike Tomlin always talks about how he and his team don’t live in their fears, but on Sunday, down to scores, it appears that Tomlin decided to play it safe.
A five-yard completion to Pat Freiermuth left the Steelers with a 4th and 1 with 8:36 to play in the game on the Steelers 34-yard line. Down nine points, the Steelers decided to punt.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he didn’t have a chance to debate to go for it. Saying the punt team was already running on the field.
“You saw me,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t have a choice.”
Meanwhile in Baltimore, on Sunday Night Football, the Ravens were up by one point against Kansas City, facing a 4th and 1. Instead of making the decision for him, coach Jim Harbaugh asked his QB Lamar Jackson if he wanted to go for it.
Jackson said yes and got the first down, securing the win for the Steelers’ AFC North rivals.
So why did Harbaugh consult his quarterback and Tomlin just made the decision on his own, without consulting Roethlisberger?
Tomlin said he wanted to play the field position game and confident the defense could stop them. Tomlin noted they did end up stopping them.
And while they did stop the Raiders, it took more time off the clock and the Steelers were still down by two scores.
Of course this also could've happened:
Both plays were gambles for Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the Ravens rolled the dice and won, the Steelers, not trusting their offensive line to get one yard, decided to try to beat the house another way and it didn’t work.