Mike Tomlin’s defense bails him out following a Steelers’ mind-numbing fourth-down decision that almost cost them the game
Living in your fears 101.
“We prefer to die with our boots on,” said Mike Tomlin in his postgame presser in Ireland.
The new Tomlinism refers to the Steelers’ defense coming up clutch on the last drive of the game, turning the Minnesota Vikings over on downs and kneeling out a victory in the homeland of the Rooneys by a score of 24-21.
The truth, however, is that the game should have been over long before that game-winning stop. The Steelers shouldn’t have won 24-21, but built off the 24-6 lead that they had in the second half.
But part of the reason the Vikings were even in the game is because Mike Tomlin let them back in.
Mike Tomlin’s decision-making nearly cost the Steelers the game vs. the Vikings
How is it that a defense that had five sacks and forced two turnovers is called upon to win a game? Well, outside of the offense taking its foot off the gas and injuries mounting, it’s because Tomlin first decided to go for it and gave up a chip-shot field goal on fourth and one, and then, when he should have gone for it, he took a delay of game and punted the football.
If the Steelers get the first down, they will likely ice the game. It’s a similar situation to what happened against the Seattle Seahawks, when Tomlin decided to punt midfield before the game got all weird.
“We’re 3-1. That’s all that matters,” said Tomlin after the game. “We are what we are. I’ve learned not to kid myself – You are what your record says you are. And so that’s what we are going into the bye. And I can take it.”
Here’s the thing. Tomlin is completely right about the record thing. You can only play who is in front of you, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in every game and won three of their first four. But I’m not too young to remember the 11-0 Steelers team in 2020 that limped into the playoffs before getting bounced in the first round.
It’s a results-driven league and business, but the process dictates those results. And whether it’s letting off the gas on offense, communication issues on defense, or Tomlin living in his fears, the Steelers have a lot of work to do to reach their ultimate goal.
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