VS 
Atlanta Falcons/Philadelphia Eagles
Posted on 01/23/2005 8:59:45 AM PST by CounterCounterCulture
VS
VS 
ATL at PHI, Sat, 3:00 p.m. EST
NE at PIT, Sat, 6:30 p.m. EST
The Steelers could COUNT ON only 2 possessions at that point against a team as good as the Patriots, NOT "at least 2 possessions". That means the Steelers would have to score every time they got the ball (how often does that happen?), and at the same time pray that they could stop the great Patriots. No, the Steelers should have gone for it right then and there. Cowher (and his staff) did the wrong, cowardly, safe-coach thing. It was too safe, chicken-sh*t coaching, and it ensured the loss. Cowher did the same gutless thing most conservative pro coaches do, and he was wrong once again.
It is no surprise that Cowher came up under Marty Schottenheimer years ago -- Schottenheimer, the epitome of that lame type of game day conservative coaching! Look at Schottenheimer's playoff (big game record). Even worse then Cowher's. (By the way, the Steelers were behind by 11 even after the field goal, not "10" as you wrote above.)
I like Bill Cowher as a coach and as a man, I've met him a few times and don't want him to leave Pittsburgh, he's a pretty decent coach, he just does this kind of thing way too often. And it's a slight to all the players who worked so hard.
Bill Cowher did the wrong thing, not the right thing, as you proclaim. I really feel that if you did the numbers on that particular game situation and that particular game, the intelligent (mathematical) and emotional thing to do was to try to jam it in there.
Remember the guy's words from the Post Gazette in post # 1819: "Yes, we all know that Bill doesn't throw or run, but really, to call for a field goal from the 2, when trailing the defending world champions by 14 at the start of the fourth quarter, with the team having its best momentum of the game, was absurd."
Even if the Steelers failed, leaving the Patriots at the 1 or 2, both the crowd and the defense would have still been going crazy, not to mention that the Steelers might actually have scored. Instead, Cowher brilliantly managed to simultaneously take the crowd and the defense out of the game."
******
if I remember correctly, you're the genius that told us how Atlanta was going to pound the Eagles -- Save the lame sarcasm for those in your family, they must be used to it by now.
Again you are wrong. I merely thought that Atlanta would beat the spread, not "pound the Eagles". But you see, I'm joining you, I was wrong about the spread. Cost me a few $$$$ too.
Thank God I seldom wager on the Steelers.
Now for me ....... it's 'Go Patriots'! The Patriots are one great team with a brilliant QB, excellent team mates, and a brilliant coach and coaching staff.
To finish with this -- I deplore it when a coach or baseball manager takes the game out of the players' hands. Cowher (or his staff) did that exact thing down on the 2 yard line! No doubt about it. He choked right there and did a disservice to his team.
The Patriots certainly may have still won the game, but Cowher ended the game right there on the 2 yard line with a lame field goal! Gutless!
ping to post # 1861.
Indeed, Cowher stuck a pin in the Steeler's playoff balloon. Bummer.
But the Patriots are great. Even more reason to go for the TD, knowing how damn great the Patriots are! It really honks me off as days go by the more I think about it, how much Cowher took from the players with that lame decision!
Yes he did hit Burress in the hands. Burress stiff armed the catch.
it was the right thing to do. professional football is not a video game - this is evidenced by how long barry switzer lasted.
enjoy your superbowl rooting against someone for irrational reasons - that's a sure sign of a well-adjusted individual!
LOL! Speaking of fun.........
A Steeler fan at the game the other day near the end of the game was talking to a Pats fan in front of him in the stands. As the game was fading away, the Steeler fan said the the good old Pats fan, "Heh, you won the World Series, you're probably going to win the Super Bowl, thank God you didn't win the White House!" The Pats fan broke out in great laughter, turns out he was one of those rare Massachusetts conservatives.
Pretty cool.
Then he has the nerve to complain after the game that he wasn't given the ball enough.
-- Yep, and you may want to add to that, "like most players I'd probably go for it on 4th down".
Personally, I never thought that the Steelers had a chance against this juggurnaut called the Patriots.
-- If the Steelers put it in down there on the 2 yard line, they were only 7 points behind with a whole quarter to go..... and all the MO on their side. Things may have been greatly different.
They are in a class all by themselves lately. -- The Patriots are great, excellent, and more than that, they play brilliantly when it counts. That's GREAT!
I just have to say, the only thing that really bugs me about losing is not the losing itself, it is losing because of coaching. That may have happened here. That is becoming a regular affair in this city with this football team. It does a disservice to the players.
Thanks... from another Steeler fan.
You guys are real, real, real, real excellent!
Good luck in the big one! I don't think you'll need much luck, though. You're supeme.
Brady could walk into the Hall of Fame tomorrow.
I think Belichick will spend a lot of time looking at the game in which the Steelers destroyed the Eagles.
Brilliant comment.
Just wondering how much more brilliance we can expect from you had you gotten some oxygen when you were born.
not brilliant, just indicative of the common sense 80% of fans simply don't have. unfortunately, those fans comprise about 99% of the monday morning quarterbacks.
if it were up to fans like you, teams would go for it on 4th down so much, you'd think it was the Ivy League.
Yes that was odd. But I did think that they didn't get the ball to him early much, but having no game film to see until Friday, I don't know if the Pat's schemes had him covered or not. But Burress sure had a great chance to catch that pass. It sure could have been a different game -- only down by 7 with nearly an entire quarter to play, and the crowd going nuts. Oh well.
I just feel badly for the players. I know how it feels when a coach takes the game out of the players' hands.
But again, Belichick and his staff, those Patriots and Brady were very hard to stop on offense. So, who knows. But, those players worked too hard since at least July for them to have that happen on the 2 yard line, imo.
:-)
great story :)
LOL! And The Pompous One, John 'Effin Shove It I Don't Fall Down Jacques Strap' Kerry wasn't even throwing from the rubber!!! LOL! What a stiff.
;-)
yep, I'm sure he will. But I'm beginning to think that Bill Belichick could make up a winning game plan for a big game while playing wiffle ball in the back yard with his grand children (if he has them). He is one great man. Btw, he is the spittin' image of my uncle who graduated number 1 in his class at Pitt in 1939. So, that face is the face of intelligence and quiet resolve. Yoi!
;-)
What it made it even sweeter was that you could easily compare it to Bush throwing that strike during the 2001 World Series.
In that scenario, I would go for the TD EVERY time because if you dont, it's game over!
Personally, I never thought that the Steelers had a chance against this juggurnaut called the Patriots.
-- If the Steelers put it in down there on the 2 yard line, they were only 7 points behind with a whole quarter to go..... and all the MO on their side. Things may have been greatly different.
I din't think they would win either, at the beginning of the game. But I sure thought they had a real chance if they made a TD instead of a FG. I was actually looking for some kind of fake and run or pass.
When the stillers did actually kick the FG, I turned to my wife and said "GAME'S OVER".
****
I'll listen to you on football in about a decade or two.
When you talk about football, you are flirting with intelligence but getting the cold shoulder.
LOL -- much sweeter............ and a perfect strike!
It's been nice talking to a very reasonable sports fan. Thank you.......and good luck with everything in the future.
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