If we went for it on 4th down and scored

[feltdizz]

how does that make our D play better on the last drive?

[RobinCole]

Felt: It doesn't. But Seattle might not have called the same plays and the D might have stopped the ones they did run in my hypothetical universe. Not so much upset about that call as I was about the fake FG at the beginning of the second quarter.

[JAR]

how does that make our D play better on the last drive?

Yes, had they scored a td there, Renegade would have appeared on the Seahawks score board and the Steelers defense gets a pick six to seal the game.

[Eich]

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibilities that the defense plays more fired-up if we score on 4th down. And at least we went down swinging in that scenario. But kicking the field goal felt like giving up. Tomlin has a very odd sense of when to play ballsy.

[Eich]

It doesn't.

But the BIGGER question is how does this defense continue to blow 4th quarter leads?

Wasn't that supposed to be Ben and Arians fault after 2011?

Arians hasn't been here in four years, and it's continuing.

How is that possible?

Well, at least you can't complain about Ben being misused and wasted by Haley this week.

[RobinCole]

Speaking of Arians, he sends ART2D2 his thanks and best wishes...again.

[WindyCitySteel]

It doesn't, but it means you don't need two scores at the end.

Dolt.

[feltdizz]

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibilities that the defense plays more fired-up if we score on 4th down. And at least we went down swinging in that scenario. But kicking the field goal felt like giving up. Tomlin has a very odd sense of when to play ballsy.

defense was always fired up until 3rd and 10. Seattle ran 2 plays that were converted on every 3rd and long. Seam route or crossing pattern and we rarely stopped it

[WindyCitySteel]

And the hope is that you score 8, go up 3, and hold Seattle to 3 and take your shot in OT.

Tomlin lived in his fears for the 2nd time on that play, after he braggadociously said he doesn't do that at halftime.

He's a stuffed shirt whose job is to spew propaganda and play cheerleader. Or should be. Now that he's got his hands on the defense, it's gone from bad to worse.

[feltdizz]

It doesn't, but it means you don't need two scores at the end.

Dolt.

our D wasnt stopping anything yesterday. we,would still need another score at the end.

[papillon]

I think everyone knew that the defense was going to be a project this year and would have ups and downs and that is exactly what we are seeing. However, I think most people expected the offense to score more points to make up for the inconsistencies on defense and that has not been the case for a few reasons, injuries and suspensions.

The Steelers needed the offense yesterday to be better than a 4 turnover effort, particularly since the defense didn't get any.

Pappy

[RuthlessBurgher]

I think everyone knew that the defense was going to be a project this year and would have ups and downs and that is exactly what we are seeing. However, I think most people expected the offense to score more points to make up for the inconsistencies on defense and that has not been the case for a few reasons, injuries and suspensions.

The Steelers needed the offense yesterday to be better than a 4 turnover effort, particularly since the defense didn't get any.

Pappy

Yeah, I expected a lot more of these 39-30 type of games this season in which our offense would be able to move the ball up and down the field seemingly at will and then our defense would also allow the opposing offense to move the ball at will against us as well. I was surprised by some earlier games with how little our offense was doing and how much better our defense was looking than I expected (12-6 vs. Rams, 18-13 vs. Cards, 10-16 vs. Bengals, etc.)...I thought more games would look like the Raider game instead (38-35) and this game.

[Shoe]

how does that make our D play better on the last drive?

Game circumstances obviously have an effect on how the game is played from then on. Just like, if we go for it there and don't score, those circumstances would dictate different plays/senses of urgency, etc. I don't often criticize Tomlin or any of the coaches about decisions they make, but this one was (and is) one that could've changed the game (if we scored 7 there).