I'm just stunned.
I nearly pulled an Elvis and shot my tv when Cowher made that call. I understood that was the ballgame. Harrison had just gottn hurt, the Steelers were inside the five... the situation demanded that Cowher take all four downs if he had to to get the TD. It's incomrpehensible what he did, Hines Ward is such a spark for the squad...how could he leave him out of the series? Why did he think an FG a td and a two point conversion would be easy to rack up against a monster D in the 4th quarter?
Belichick understands the game. Cowher doesn't. If Cowher did.. he would have pushed for the td. His lame call and 1fg, 1td and 1 2 pt conversion plan put pressure on the D and Roethlisburger. Ben got the ball back with under 8 minutes left, he knew he basically needed two touchdowns. He felt he needed to make a big play and as a result forced the ball and threw an interception.
If Ben was only down 7, there is a much better chance that he doesn't throw that ball. Cowher should have known that his jackassy call would increase the pressure on Roethlisberger. Cowher's inability to coach effectively against elite coaches and inability to understand personnel is a problem. He saw a superstar in Kordell... boy was he wrong there. And tonight, he didn't get that going for the fg to further a low probability plan to win would up the pressure on his rookie qb (who has been struggling as of latye) and that would cost them the game.
The whole thing is effing inexcusable.