Like Mike Vrabel, Mike Tomlin makes bad fourth-quarter decision to punt and it costs Steelers
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The Pittsburgh Steelers were making a comeback against the Cleveland Browns that looked like it could go down in NFL history with Frank Reich rallying the Bills against the Oilers, Andrew Luck dragging the Colts back over the Chiefs and of course, the 28-3 Super Bowl.
Then Mike Tomlin punted.
In the first AFC wild-card game on Sunday, Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel made a fourth-quarter decision to punt in Baltimore Ravens territory that made no sense and might have cost his team a win. Tomlin repeated history.
With the Steelers trailing 35-23 with all the momentum, after falling behind 35-7, they faced a fourth-and-1 at their own 46. It seemed clear that Pittsburgh would go for it. Until they didn’t. Everyone watching, including NBC’s Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in the broadcast booth, was stunned when the Steelers punted.
Even worse, the Steelers’ punt went into the end zone for a touchback. The Browns, given some life after the punt, marched downfield for a touchdown and a 42-23 lead.
Coaches are getting better on going for it instead of automatically punting every fourth down. But there is still some progress to be made. Vrabel and Tomlin punted when they shouldn’t have, and it put their teams in an even bigger hole.
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