There may be no such thing as dumb questions, but when it comes to analyzing NFL games, there are dumb opinions. Troy Aikman was in full supply of those towards the end of the Vikings 36-28 win over the Steelers Thursday.
With the Steelers furiously trying to erase a 29-point deficit, Mike Tomlin was faced with a couple of crucial coaching decisions in the fourth quarter. During both instances, Aikman’s commentary was off the mark. Surely, the three-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Fame quarterback once possessed better game awareness than he displayed last night.
Early in the fourth quarter, Ben Roethlisberger found James Washington in the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to nine. After that, Tomlin made the correct call and lined up for two. The Steelers were going to have to attempt a two-point conversion at one point, and it made more sense to do it earlier in the quarter. But Aikman preferred the strategy of delaying the inevitable.
“I don’t like that approach,” he said. “I like you kick the extra point, you make it an 8-point game, and then it’s a one-possession game, and you put real pressure on Minnesota. They get to relax a little bit, knowing that Pittsburgh needs two possessions now.”
The Vikings didn’t wind up relaxing, as Kirk Cousins connected with K.J. Osborn for a 62-yard strike. The Steelers got the ball back down by 16, and that’s when Aikman spouted his most confounding take.
With 9:03 left in regulation, the Steelers lined up to go for it on 4th-and-3rd. But Roethlisberger couldn’t get the play off in time, forcing the Steelers to take a delay of game penalty, setting up 4th-and-8 from their own 35-yard line.
Strangely, the 5-yard setback persuaded Tomlin to run out his punting unit, even though the Steelers were down two possessions with less than 10 minutes remaining. It was a bad call, especially considering how much Pittsburgh’s defense was struggling.
Yet, Aikman was all for it.
“That might’ve been a good thing for Pittsburgh that they’re now going to punt,” he said. “There’s still time if their defense can come up with some stops.”
The Steelers’ defense did come up with a stop, thanks to Kirk Cousins finding Ahkello Witherspoon on a 3rd-down slant route instead of receiver Osborn. But the Vikings’ drive took nearly four minutes off the clock.
The Steelers still had a chance to win, thanks to Roethlisberger immediately finding Pat Freiermuth for a touchdown on the next possession, and then forcing Minnesota to punt. On the final play of the game, Roethlisberger delivered another perfect strike to Freiermuth, only to have Harrison Smith break it up in the end zone.
But still: the Steelers could’ve used more time. Unfortunately, they punted away their chance.
Aikman the quarterback probably would’ve quibbled with the call. Yet, Aikman the broadcaster endorsed it.