Zeke's (almost) huge mistake that could have lost the game

[BAT]

Nope take the point, there are no guarantees this year. I could easily see the FG getting blocked.

Or Garrett/Linehan trying to get cute and throwing a pass into end zone and its intercepted. I will take the outcome that actually happened and be happy. 2nd guessing can lead to insanity, its led many of us down that path in losses, let's just enjoy the victories people! GO COWBOYS!!!

 

[Proximo]

Zeke was stopped at least 4 times on 3rd and 1.

LOL

There were FIVE instances during the game where we handed the ball to EE on 3rd and 2 or shorter. He converted FOUR of them.

So tell me friend, are you just trolling, or do you genuinely have no idea what you're talking about?

 

[remdak]

Yes, let's avoid all chip shot field goals now because of some flukey thing that happened 10 years ago...

No lets go for TDs instead of FG if the TD gives you the lead and it's not 4th down

 

[joseephuss]

Like all predictive statistics, it's based on historical precedence.

You won't find any predictive stats that would suggest that the strategy of putting the game on Dan Bailey's leg for a chip-shot is NOT superior to the strategy of taking the guaranteed points and then giving Big Ben the ball with ample time to get into the endzone (which he did, easily).

The odds of screwing up a few kneeldowns or the FG are far less than the odds of the D allowing Ben to score, and I'm pretty sure you realize that too.

So you agree that it is subjective?

 

[mrmojo]

Take the TD all day everyday.

 

[manster4ever]

It wasn't a mistake or an almost mistake. When you are trailing you score when the opportunity is in front of you. Nothing is ever guaranteed, so you take advantage of your chances when you can. It is a different situation of you are protecting a lead, but when you are behind you take that touchdown. Bad snaps, bad holds, blocked kicks, missed field goal and in general stuff happens. Elliot did what he needed to do and it was the right thing to do.

AMEN....GOD what a dumb thread. Just brutal.

 

[bsbellomy]

It's pretty simple. What scenario would you prefer.

1. Losing by 2 with a chipshot fg, 19 seconds left on the clock and pittsburgh has no timeouts.

2. Winning by 5 with 1:55 left and Pitt has 2 timeouts.

I'll take 1 all the time.

I certainly think the case can be made Pitt has a much better chance of winning under scenario 2. I mean scenario 1 that may be 1 play if defensed well enough.

 

[Blackspider214]

I knew this argument would pop up, but it is very flawed thinking. You are assuming that if Elliott downed the ball, that 1) the Cowboys could still score a touchdown when they wanted to time-wise, and 2) the Steelers would have no time left to come back.

#1 is the biggest part of the flaw. Let's say Elliott downs the ball instead of scoring. The Cowboys then run three times and failed to score a touchdown. You can assume 50-55 seconds at most have run off the clock by the time they kick a field goal because I believe the Steelers had 2 timeouts left.

So, now the score is Cowboys 26, Steelers 24 .. and that's assuming the kick is not blocked, placement is not bobbled/fumbled, etc. Now the Steelers get the ball back and a field goal wins the game. Playing scared in a situation like that is what the Cowboys used to do and how they have lost so many games in the 4th quarter.

The bottom line is that unless you have the lead and you can run the clock out, you take the points, especially a touchdown. You do not assume you can score a touchdown on the next 1-3 plays nor do you assume that you will make a field goal simply because it is short. You take the points and trust that your team can stop them with the remaining time, and in this case, it required a 75 yard drive to take the lead by the Steelers. If you want to blame someone, blame the defense for giving up a quick and easy touchdown.

I can only imagine what would have happened had Elliott downed the ball on the 1 yard line and then either the Cowboys fumbled on one of the following plays or the field goal was blocked. Everyone would be calling Elliott an idiot and saying Garrett is the worst coach ever.

More than 50sec would run off. They had 2 timeouts but it would have been 1st down and the clock was running. So you either call one after that play or even if you decide to call them in the later downs, it would come to the same end result if you choose to go that route. You would run the 40 second clock down twice. That's 1:20 off the 1:55. Then you have to factor in the time it takes to run the 4 plays. They would have been left with about 20 seconds and no timeouts.

I don't agree with doing that, though. Elliot made the right decision.

 

[Nav22]

So you agree that it is subjective?

Uh, no.

Math isn't subjective. 2+2 will always equal 4.

 

[Nav22]

AMEN....GOD what a dumb thread. Just brutal.

Only because of the responses from people who don't understand that our odds of winning would've been better had Elliott gone down at the 1.

Predictive stats, which are based on historical precedence, tells us that running the clock inside 20 seconds then kicking the FG would've given us the better chance to win.

Again, you're arguing against MATH if you "disagree."

 

[Nav22]

Never rely on a kicker unless you have to

Yeah, instead, let's rely on the D to keep a top-notch QB from driving down the field to score with plenty of time to do so.

Because those odds are somehow better than the odds of Dan Bailey making a chip-shot FG to all you math-challenged fans.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Can't fault a guy for that at all. Go put points on the board when you have the chance. Period.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Only because of the responses from people who don't understand that our odds of winning would've been better had Elliott gone down at the 1.

Predictive stats, which are based on historical precedence, tells us that running the clock inside 20 seconds then kicking the FG would've given us the better chance to win.

Again, you're arguing against MATH if you "disagree."

Football isn't math. Math says go for it on 4th down, onside kick every time, and go for 2 every time. But we saw how that works. At the end of the day it's about making the best call you can based on gut feelings. I can't fault a guy for scoring a TD to give us the lead. Never leave it up to a kicker. I don't care if that's what math says.

 

[Coy]

The result worked but if we would have lost because of it everybody would be second guessing it.
If Zeke gets down at the 4, Steelers take a TO, so it's first down with 1 TO remaining and 1:55 on the clock, we kneel down 3 times, kick a 23 yard field goal and give the ball back with about 13-17 seconds remaining with no TO. I saw the game with a Steelers fan and he was thrilled when Zeke scored, he thought they weren't getting the ball back.
So I agree, I'd take those odds instead of giving the ball back to Big Ben with 2 TO and 1:55 on the clock.
Saying that, it wasn't Zeke's fault, if anything, it's on Garrett.

Not hating on anyone, we won and that's all that matters.

 

[Coy]

It's pretty simple. What scenario would you prefer.

1. Losing by 2 with a chipshot fg, 19 seconds left on the clock and pittsburgh has no timeouts.

2. Winning by 5 with 1:55 left and Pitt has 2 timeouts.

I'll take 1 all the time.

THIS....

 

[Nightman]

the Giants game that just ended was the only time to go down after getting the first.....GIants up by1 under 2 minutes, no CIN timeouts

CIN had to let Jennings score when he got the first but they fought to tackle him

 

[bsbellomy]

The result worked but if we would have lost because of it everybody would be second guessing it.
If Zeke gets down at the 4, Steelers take a TO, so it's first down with 1 TO remaining and 1:55 on the clock, we kneel down 3 times, kick a 23 yard field goal and give the ball back with about 13-17 seconds remaining with no TO. I saw the game with a Steelers fan and he was thrilled when Zeke scored, he thought they weren't getting the ball back.
So I agree, I'd take those odds instead of giving the ball back to Big Ben with 2 TO and 1:55 on the clock.
Saying that, it wasn't Zeke's fault, if anything, it's on Garrett.

Not hating on anyone, we won and that's all that matters.

Go read all the steeler fan responses at trolling the nation when we scored that td.

 

[plasticman]

Anybody belieivng that the Steelers allowed the 1st TD has these false beliefs:

The Steelers didn't think they would be capable of coming back with less.than a minute if they could limit the Cowboys to a field goal. With 2 minutes and a time out remaining to stop the Cowboys on three downs this Steeler defense gave up.

The Steelers don't have a lot of faith in Roeslisberger's skill set under a pressure situation like that. Furthermore, they lack the talent at WR capable of producing a big play of their own.

The Cowboys believe there ia a 100% probability that Baily will make the field goal no matter how far or close. The same perfect execution applies to the snapper and the holder because, gosh, those kind of errors never happen in the NFL.

 

[Coy]

Go read all the steeler fan responses at trolling the nation when we scored that td.

I'm just saying what my buddy (die hard Steeler fan) said after Zeke scored... and it turned out he was right.

 

[zeroburrito]

you always fall down in that situation. rookie mistake.