Steelers/NFL
RAVENS 23 – STEELERS 20
Pittsburgh’s 23-20 overtime loss was a game the Steelers gave the Baltimore Ravens from squandered opportunities to questionable play calling at critical moments.
Two Josh Scobee missed field goals in the fourth quarter haunted the Steelers in the Ravens being able to force overtime and then the Steelers not trusting Scobee in overtime.
Le’Veon Bell gashed the Ravens for 129 yards on the ground, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, yet, the Steelers took the ball out of his hands in overtime when they needed a first down.
In four combined third down/fourth down situations, Bell touched the ball just once, and two failed fourth down conversions saw Mike Tomlin and Todd Haley put the ball in Mike Vick’s arm and legs.
On the Steelers first possession of overtime they were faced with a 4th and 2 from the 39 yard line and the ego maniac Todd Haley that he is, looked to become the story by getting cute and running a designed Mike Vick run that was squashed immediately by the Ravens.
On the failed 4th and 2 play, Bell wasn’t even in the backfield.
This after a 3rd and 2 the play before where instead of going to Bell, who two plays earlier went for 22 yards, the ball was put in Vick’s hands who threw incomplete to Brown on third down.
After Pittsburgh’s defense forced a three and out, the Steelers offense was in the same situation, a 3rd and 2 in Ravens territory.
A short throw to Le’Veon Bell gained a yard, setting up a 4th and 1 from the Ravens 33 yard line.
In what would have been a 50 yard field goal, Mike Tomlin made the right decision in not trusting Scobee to make the kick but where Tomlin and Haley deserve criticism is putting the ball in Vick’s left arm again when Vick’s biggest weakness is his lack of accuracy and from the 4th quarter on, Vick was struggling at setting his feet with balls being thrown high.
That was the case on the 4th and 1 play and not to mention a backside throw for a lefty quarterback [hide] as Antonio Brown ran an excellent route on a short out and Vick never squared his feet and threw an inaccurate ball to Brown where the star receiver couldn’t make a play on it.
It was also not a very easy throw for a lefty quarterback and that falls on the shoulders of the staff.
“When you lose, you’re open to criticism and we lost,” Mike Tomlin said. “I will take responsibility for it.”
Vick was 19/26 for 124 yards with a touchdown pass and 33 rushing yards in the loss.
“Came down to one final play for me and I didn’t convert,” Vick said.
Antonio Brown’s 5-for-50 streak came to an end as Brown finished with 5 catches for 42 yards and had just 25 yards receiving after four quarters. The receiver was frustrated at times on the sidelines.
After the game Vick said he has to get Heath Miller more involved.
“[Need] to get Heath Miller involved in the game plan,” Vick said as the veteran tight end had just one catch for one yard.
“We can find a way. We’re going to search hard for what answers are.”
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I’m rather perplexed by the grading and response to Vick’s performance in Thursday’s game, he threw for 124yds against the 2nd worst pass defense in the NFL. If the expectation of playing really well or grading out as an A- or B+ as I’ve seen alot is simple not turning the ball oer while generating next to nothing in the pass game against a horrible pass defense thenthis is going to be a very rough stretch for the Steelers and they will be going 0-4 if it continues
Stanch, thanks for bringing up the dropped TD. Although like most, you didnt mention the name, ANTONIO BROWN. Obviously guy is a top WR, but he catches that ball and this game is never close. Easy to point out the kicker, coaches, backup QB, but AB was invisible and no excuse for dropping that ball.
I’m glad I didn’t even bother watching this game. Sounds like it was a very frustrating viewing experience.
Scobee should surely be gone but yes.. the late game coaching was garbage. One bad decision after another. Michael Vick was supposed to be the reason they lost, but he performed very well. Yes, he missed a pass here and there, but he recovered the fumbled snap, was unusually accurate, did not throw a pick, and Brown missed a Brown TD. The Bengals are going to take the division this year and the Steelers will be int he mix for the WC. I think fans should only really care about the defense. They are really starting to come together. Cam… Read more »
We must have a different opinion of coming together, getting gashed for 190yds on the ground by a team that has been ineffective rushing the ball all season isn’t a good showing for the front 7.
I think Vick did good, other than the coaches calling pee wee league plays for him. Should of let Scobee kick!!!!
I like Dejan less and less but his column todays nails it. Scooby should be gone but last night’s loss is on Tomlin.
mstar…completely agree with you…I turned off the game when the offense came on the field. however in overtime I watched all of it and all I can say is that Vick is really not good. the coaching was awful you would have been better off watching the impractical jokers special. is it hockey season yet?
If he was any good, he wouldn’t have been available off of the scrap heap three weeks ago.
The coaching wasn’t great. The dropped ball in the end zone and the two missed field goals lost the game. As usual. It’s on the players.
It’s really a chicken or the egg scenario, if the players executed then the errors in coaching wouldn’t have mattered but if they coaching was better then the player execution at the end of the game wouldn’t have mattered, really neither side is right or wrong. At least no one on here is blaming the missed call on Coates like i’ve seen others do, makes me laugh that they cry about that blown call but don’t want to talk about Johnson’s bear hug and tackle that led to Bell’s td.
I didn’t watch the game last night because I don’t root for dog murders. How did he do?
That’s because you’re a pussy
But you root for accused rapists and woman beaters.
We get it, you don’t like him. Stop acting like Yoda.
Doggone!
Really mike? I was bitching about Haley from the 2nd quarter on.
Nobody’s talking about coaching if the kicker makes one of his last two FGA’s. He lost the game. Should not be a part of this roster on Monday.
Tomlin might be a great motivator and a player’s coach but his record shows he’s a terrible game manager. It’s all on tape Mike.
Don’t criticize Tomlin, that’s racist