The OAO AFC CHAMPIONSHIP THREAD!!!

[Prime Time Andrew Doyle 0]

so does anyone else think Cowher taking that field goal was pretty much the end for the Steelers?

That was the worst thing that he could have done. Rtaher than put his faith in his offence, he sent them a signal that he did not think that they could get the job done. Playing the defending champion, with your crowd roaring and being down by 2 TD's, he should have sent his players a messege that he put his trust in them to try and win the game. 5 long minutes later, the Patriots had negated that score by getting a FG

[The Man in Blak 0]

Like I said in the chat, by going for the field goal, you basically put yourself in a situation where you have to have two TD scoring drives - at a bare minimum - to win. And, considering that they were already in the fourth quarter and the Patriot defense had played them hard all night, they ended up squandering an opportunity to not only score, but to shift momentum even further.

 

It's just frustrating that there's only a handful of coaches in the league that actually play to win.

[smh810 0]

Theres a fine line between being aggressive and being stupid. If the Steelers were on the 1 yard line you go for it no matter what. If they're on the 2 (which they were) you kick the FG. The Bettis run on third down was writing on the wall that going for it on 4th down would backfire. If youre gonna blame Whisenhunt for anything blame him for the 2nd down pass play.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I agree with smh ... the Steelers needed to put points on the board there, even if it was just 3 rather than 7. Going for it and failing would have been the worst possible scenario.

 

As TMQ says every week, kick early & go for it late.

[Ripper 0]

I agree with smh ... the Steelers needed to put points on the board there, even if it was just 3 rather than 7. Going for it and failing would have been the worst possible scenario.

 

As TMQ says every week, kick early & go for it late.

No. You go for the Touchdown.

 

Look, you get 3, you STILL need 2 touchdowns to win, or THREE scoring drives if you get stopped and have to take another field goal. This is a great call in the 3rd quarter, this is a horrible call in the fourth. A 7 point lead changes the way the Pats have to play in the 4th, a 11 point lead...not so much.

 

If they were down 10, take the field goal, but 14 down you have to score here. Bad call that I still feels greatly contributed to the loss. That and the Pats have a incredible d.

[Damaramu 0]

Hey at least the Steelers can be optimistic about their future and QB situation......

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

down by 14 with 5 minutes left in the 4th qualifies as late, I think.

[2GOLD 0]

Our little group of people here went dead silent when Cowher kicked the field goal. No one could understand if he had a working brain cell anymore.

 

And are the Patriots the only team where the offensive and defensive coordinators are down on the field?

[smh810 0]

down by 14 with 5 minutes left in the 4th qualifies as late, I think.

 

Gotta love selective memory the FG was kicked 1:25 into the fourth quarter still too early to go for it.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Normally I'd say yes, taking the points is a good idea, but when you're down two full scores against a team like the Patriots that hasn't made a big mistake all day--no turnovers especially--go for it. Best case scenario, you score; worst case scenario, they're on the 1, and you have a chance to hopefully get the ball back around midfield with a strong defensive stop. Ripper's right; the field goal doesn't change the way the Pats play at all.

[smh810 0]

With the way the Steelers Defense was starting to wear down, Pittsburgh had to get something out of that. Even if the Pats were inside their own 5 they would have found a way to move the football and eat up more time than they did on the drive following the FG. Bottom line, the most important thing for Pittsburgh in that situation is to get points. Cowher did the right thing.

[KingPK 0]

I agree with Edwin. At first, I thought they should have taken the points, but yeah, you're on the two, so even if you get stuffed, you've backed them up deep and have a chance at a safety (best case), or at least getting good position on a punt.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Everyone who's pointed out that the shitty fade to Burress was a not-so-great play call is right, by the way.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

With the way the Steelers Defense was starting to wear down, Pittsburgh had to get something out of that. Even if the Pats were inside their own 5 they would have found a way to move the football and eat up more time than they did on the drive following the FG. Bottom line, the most important thing for Pittsburgh in that situation is to get points. Cowher did the right thing.

No he didn't because they lost. Bottom lin, they already went for it on 4th down on that drive because they knew the desperation of the situation. so why not cut it down to a one score game instead of two score game? Also, I feel that Cowher should have taken out Ben because it was clear he was doing more harm than good. The future is a nice thing to think about, but the present is pretty important too. As a coach, if I'm 30 minutes away from the Super Bowl, why the hell would I be worrying about next year? How many AFC championships does Cowher have to choke away? Loyalty is nice, but so are results. If you had a way of knowing that Ben was going to throw 3 picks in this game to follow up his performance last week, would you let him play the whole game? My choice would be NO.

[smh810 0]

I agree with Edwin. At first, I thought they should have taken the points, but yeah, you're on the two, so even if you get stuffed, you've backed them up deep and have a chance at a safety (best case), or at least getting good position on a punt.

 

And you also completely kill Pittsburgh's morale and lift New Englands. Like I said before the third down run was writing on the wall they were not going to score a TD on that defense and you must get SOMETHING on that drive.

 

No he didn't because they lost. Bottom lin, they already went for it on 4th down on that drive because they knew the desperation of the situation. so why not cut it down to a one score game instead of two score game? Also, I feel that Cowher should have taken out Ben because it was clear he was doing more harm than good. The future is a nice thing to think about, but the present is pretty important too. As a coach, if I'm 30 minutes away from the Super Bowl, why the hell would I be worrying about next year? How many AFC championships does Cowher have to choke away? Loyalty is nice, but so are results. If you had a way of knowing that Ben was going to throw 3 picks in this game to follow up his performance last week, would you let him play the whole game? My choice would be NO.

 

You have complete tunnel vision on all accounts. Different areas of the field call for different strategies. Youre not gonna kick a FG from the 30(?) because its no gimme in that stadium and in those conditions. when its 4th down on the 2 and you've been stuffed the play before it changes things. Now again if they were on the 1 you go for it anyway cause its only one yard 2 yards is too much of a risk to come away with nothing. As far as putting in Maddox goes do you expect a benching when the QB drives the team down the field to score on their first possesion of the half I think not? And to say that Cowher "choked" in all his title games is beyond ludicrous except for maybe the 1st one against San Diego. Every other time he has simply ran into a better team than his own. Also look at his QB's in those years. O'Donnell? Kordell? (granted he stuck with him for too long) and a rookie? I think once Roethlisberger gets fully qcquainted that the Steelers will break through and win a Super Bowl.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

They just showed Hines Ward crying on SportsCenter. There's a player with a ton of heart. He'll get his ring one day though. Don't know if it will be with Pitt but he'll get one.

[Guest Vitamin X]

And to say that Cowher "choked" in all his title games is beyond ludicrous except for maybe the 1st one against San Diego. Every other time he has simply ran into a better team than his own. Also look at his QB's in those years. O'Donnell? Kordell? (granted he stuck with him for too long) and a rookie? I think once Roethlisberger gets fully qcquainted that the Steelers will break through and win a Super Bowl.

Kordell or not, the Steelers had very much the same kind of season this year that they had in 2001, except that the Patriots should have lost that game, by all accounts. I feared the Patriots upsetting the Steelers was going to be another Atlanta-Minnesota `98, because New England wasn't better than Pittsburgh really, at that time. This year, they had the experience, so Pittsburgh was handed a much tougher assignment.

 

Hell they didn't even have Brady in that game, they had Bledsoe come in and win the game for them, him and Troy Brown as the Steelers' special teams were awful. 2001 was a total choke.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

Hines Ward rules.

 

and lay off the selective memory, once Harrison scored I paid more attention to food then the game.

 

I didn't think the fade was such a horrible call, as much a horrible throw and a drop by Burress. When you run a 2 man play and both guys fuck up, just be happy you hung on to the ball.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

You have complete tunnel vision on all accounts. Different areas of the field call for different strategies. Youre not gonna kick a FG from the 30(?) because its no gimme in that stadium and in those conditions. when its 4th down on the 2 and you've been stuffed the play before it changes things. Now again if they were on the 1 you go for it anyway cause its only one yard 2 yards is too much of a risk to come away with nothing.

 

CONDITIONS

 

You've had a 23 yard scoring drive (FG), a 56 yard scroing drive (TD), and a 60 yard scoring drive (with a 30 yard touchdown pass)

 

The other guys have had a 16 yard scoring drive (FG after a turnover), a 60 yard scoring drive (one Looooooong TD pass after ANOTHER turnover), a 70 yard scoring drive (TD), a 75 yard scoring drive (with a momentum shifting TD that came RIGHT after a challenge) and have returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown.

 

You've given up 31 points in 3 quarters.

 

You've only been able to score 17 points thus far (granted 14 came in one quarter).

 

You're QB has an injured throwing hand.

 

 

 

Now should you be trying to:

 

A) Give the ball back at least TWICE in the fourth quarter to a team that has had 3 long TD drives

 

B) Force 2 three and out series from a team that has scored at LEAST a TD every quarter on you

 

C) Make a rookie QB (with an injured throwing hand) who has already thrown two costly interceptions try to lead a hurry up offense for two TD drives

 

D) Take away your rushing game for the whole fourth quarter and force your QB (see above) into obvious passing situations so he can be sacked and throw more picks

 

E) Kick FGs

 

F) All of the above

 

 

As far as putting in Maddox goes do you expect a benching when the QB drives the team down the field to score on their first possesion of the half I think not?

 

The guy has a hurt throwing hand. He almost cost them the game last weekend. Had Brien been able to hit one of those FGs in the last two minutes of that game last weekend, we would all be talking about the horrible pick that Roethlisberger threw at the end of regulation in that game. He had a pick lead to a 3-0 Patriots lead on the first drive of the game. He had a another pick returned for a score. He was putting fucking water on his throwing hand so that his thumb wouldn't hurt. His performance was adversely affecting the team and they won the week before in SPITE of him, not because of him. How many good, accurate throws did he make all game? How many shitty throws did he make (I'll even spot you the two picks)His one TD pass was largely due to his receiver making a hell of an effort after the catch. Maybe he made a case for staying in after making the game somewhat respectable in the 3rd quarter, but he didn't do shit in the first half, his coach fucked things up for him by going for 3 when they needed 7 and his last pick put the game out of reach.

 

And to say that Cowher "choked" in all his title games is beyond ludicrous except for maybe the 1st one against San Diego. Every other time he has simply ran into a better team than his own. Also look at his QB's in those years. O'Donnell? Kordell? (granted he stuck with him for too long) and a rookie? I think once Roethlisberger gets fully qcquainted that the Steelers will break through and win a Super Bowl.

 

2005 they lost the AFC championship AT HOME with a 16-1 record against a team that they already beat this year.

 

2002 they lost the AFC championship AT HOME to the Patriots.

 

1998 they lost the AFC championship AT HOME to the Broncos.

 

1996 they lost the Superbowl to the Cowboys. I'll leave this one alone because Neil O'Donnell did everything in his power to give this game away.

 

1996 they survived a last second hail mary AT HOME against a wild card Colts team led by Jim Harbaugh to win the AFC championship.

 

1995 they lost the AFC championship AT HOME

 

All of those AFC championship games were AT HOME. They were AT HOME because his team had the better record. This motherfucker fucking loses 4 out of 5 AFC championships AT HOME and he's not a choker? Yeah right.

[The Man in Blak 0]

And you also completely kill Pittsburgh's morale and lift New Englands.

 

I think going conservative, kicking the field goal when you're down by two touchdowns, and causing the home crowd to revolt did a pretty good number on their morale. You're essentially conceding victory because you're banking on scoring two touchdowns in one quarter against a defense that has been stout the whole game.

 

Even if you blow the 4th down and don't make it, you've got them pinned, with no regrets. But if you make the 4th down play for the touchdown and - all of a sudden - the momentum takes a huge turn. Now, all of a sudden, the Patriots *know* they have to score and they *know* they have to stop you because you're one score away from making the comeback.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

Wow, where to begin?

 

I started this season off expecting nothing and ended it expecting a Super Bowl. This is a team that should've gone 5-11, but ended up going 15-1 and playing a fairly respectable game against the best team in the National Football League. People picked them to come in 3rd, 4th in the AFC North, losing to Baltimore and Cincinnatti, if not even Cleveland. They said they didn't have an offensive line, their runningbacks were both old and out of shape, their secondary was simultaneously too young and too old, and their defensive line was terribly overrated. They said they drafted a QB who was a major work in progress -- for that matter, they said they didn't improve a 6-10 team at all in the offseason.

 

Instead, they went 15-1 and, even without a Super Bowl, the season has to be considered a success. I don't give a shit about the sportswriters and you faggots who will probably compare Ben to Kordell Stewart, but it's simply not true. I'm not gonna make excuses for him (thumb, etc.), but that's comparing apples to oranges; on the one hand, you have an athelete who had no heart, and on the other, you've got a kid who couldn't overcome his jitters in his second playoff game. Anyways, this is a team that came together and exceeded every expectation; everyone discovered the reason the Steelers traded up last year and picked Troy Polamalu, a man some labelled as a bust after only a year. The offensive line, despite a complete and utter lack of talent on the right side, came together and found out how to play as a unit.

 

Jerome Bettis proved that he had one more season left in him, and Duce Staley showed everyone that, when healthy, he's more than capable of being a starting back in this NFL. We discovered a diamond in the rough with Willie Parker (someone that most of you have never heard of), and that Larry Foote is capable of filling in for the incredible Kendrell Bell. They survived injuries to their best defensive lineman, their starting quarterback, and their starting right guard. They survived many weeks without Plaxico Burress, Bell, Staley, Clark Haggans, and they managed to win fifteen games behind a rookie starting quarterback.

 

How could you, as a fan, NOT be proud of this team?

 

Even after almost being defeated by an inferior New York Jets team, and even after coming out as flat as you can be in the first half of this AFC championship game, they managed to come out and fight in the second half. They made it a football game, and honestly, that's all you can ask for.

 

We've probably seen the last game in Steelers' blacks for Plaxico Burress, Jerome Bettis, Keydrick Vincent, and Kendrell Bell (well... we didn't actually see that this week). Some will be missed more than others, but this team will go on. That's what having such a young, exceptional quarterback does; it gives you hope. The same defense will be coming back next year; we'll have the 29th pick, but then again, we don't really need a whole lot. We need a RT, we need to ensure Kendall Simmons is going to be able to come back as a RG, and we need help at corner. Clearly, Willie Williams is not the long term answer for this team, and it doesn't look like Ike Taylor will become the sparkplug in the defensive backfield we thought he would. Deshea Townsend isn't getting any younger, which leaves Ricardo Couchlough and Chad Scott -- who will also probably be gone -- as our corners, with two exceptional young safeties in the defensive backfield. Not bad, if you ask me, but we need a second and nickel corner. We also might have seen the last game for Kimo von Oelhoffen, who is getting longer in the tooth as well. Defensive end may be easier to come by than cornerback, however.

 

All in all, a wonderful, surprising season for the Steelers. They'll be back here next year, and hopefully, the result will be the opposite.

I've never seen a person so bitter over a football game.

[smh810 0]

CONDITIONS

 

You've had a 23 yard scoring drive (FG), a 56 yard scroing drive (TD), and a 60 yard scoring drive (with a 30 yard touchdown pass)

 

The other guys have had a 16 yard scoring drive (FG after a turnover), a 60 yard scoring drive (one Looooooong TD pass after ANOTHER turnover), a 70 yard scoring drive (TD), a 75 yard scoring drive (with a momentum shifting TD that came RIGHT after a challenge) and have returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown.

 

You've given up 31 points in 3 quarters.

 

You've only been able to score 17 points thus far (granted 14 came in one quarter).

 

You're QB has an injured throwing hand.

 

 

 

Now should you be trying to:

 

A) Give the ball back at least TWICE in the fourth quarter to a team that has had 3 long TD drives

 

B) Force 2 three and out series from a team that has scored at LEAST a TD every quarter on you

 

C) Make a rookie QB (with an injured throwing hand) who has already thrown two costly interceptions try to lead a hurry up offense for two TD drives

 

D) Take away your rushing game for the whole fourth quarter and force your QB (see above) into obvious passing situations so he can be sacked and throw more picks

 

E) Kick FGs

 

F) All of the above

 

I would have done exactly the same thing Bill Cowher did. Again I repeat the third down run basically assured the fact that the Steelers would not get a touchdown. Getting away with nothing is much worse than getting 3 points with plenty of time remaining. However theres a couple of other points that need to be raised here. The problem with Roethlisberger was not the "injured thumb". The release of his throws was fine it was his decision making (completely excusable for a rookie) that got him into trouble. All in all, considering the fact that he is a rookie in a conference title game I dont think Ben played badly at all. Secondly everyone seems to assume that had the Steelers been stopped inside the 5 the Pats would have run Corey Dillon three times up the gut and Pittsburgh would have gotten the ball back on the 50. Have some of you even seen the Pats play. I think weis and Belichick have enough faith in Brady to get a first down. They would have driven the ball for 70 yards and killed double the time they killed on the drive following the FG. New England does NOT do things by the book.

 

2005 they lost the AFC championship AT HOME with a 16-1 record against a team that they already beat this year.

 

2002 they lost the AFC championship AT HOME to the Patriots.

 

1998 they lost the AFC championship AT HOME to the Broncos.

 

1996 they lost the Superbowl to the Cowboys. I'll leave this one alone because Neil O'Donnell did everything in his power to give this game away.

 

1996 they survived a last second hail mary AT HOME against a wild card Colts team led by Jim Harbaugh to win the AFC championship.

 

1995 they lost the AFC championship AT HOME

 

Just because they lost the games at home doesnt mean the opposing team wasnt better than them. The only case of "choking" was in his first title game in 94. So what that the Colts dropped a hail mary the bottom line is they won the game. In 2001 anyone who remembers that year will tell you that the Pats were peaking at the right time while Pittsburgh peaked in December with that Sunday Night win over Baltimore . Sure they had a little luck along but the fact is they were getting better while Pittsburgh was regressing.

 

think going conservative, kicking the field goal when you're down by two touchdowns, and causing the home crowd to revolt did a pretty good number on their morale. You're essentially conceding victory because you're banking on scoring two touchdowns in one quarter against a defense that has been stout the whole game.

 

Even if you blow the 4th down and don't make it, you've got them pinned, with no regrets. But if you make the 4th down play for the touchdown and - all of a sudden - the momentum takes a huge turn. Now, all of a sudden, the Patriots *know* they have to score and they *know* they have to stop you because you're one score away from making the comeback.

 

I feel for you MIB but you gotta realize something. Pittsburgh would not have scored there and their D was wearing down. I think not making it would have been even more demoralizing to the crowd than kicking the FG. The Bettis play on 3rd down was a big hint NOT to go for it and again you cant leave with nothing in that situation.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Pittsburgh would not have scored there and their D was wearing down.

I don't give a shit if the Patriots popped the ball out of Bettis's hands on the 3rd down only to have Ben Roethlisberger fall on it 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage, they still should have gone for the TD on 4th down. That's my opinion. Steelers were outplayed and outcoached by the Patriots. It's sad though that the Patriots won by more than 20 points and you're all debating a fairly useless FG situation.

 

My other point is, how do you know if they wouldnt have scored on the 4th? What if the Steelers put in a trick play, catching the Pats sleeping for a millisecond, and scoring a miraculous pass? They could also just have flattened the Steelers on the 4th down, the point is you HAVE TO TRY! Fact is, Bill Belichick was the only coach in the AFC title game who got the memo to actually try to win. Cowher just coached not to lose, and coaching like that, you almost always inevitably lose.

 

The Steelers will be back in the AFC title game in two years. Maybe then they will learn to coach better and play better.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

On what grounds can you say Pittsburgh wouldn't have scored? They ran a predictable play on 3rd down and got stopped? The lesson there isn't to not try to score, the lesson is to stop calling predictable plays. A playaction pass could have scored a touchdown on 3rd down but everyone in that building knew what play they were going to call and they called it. If their D was wearing down, why would you put the pressure on them to make two stops against the Pats? Nothing that you're saying makes sense to me. The only thing that I'm getting out of this is that you think a team that's down by two touchdowns should be playing it safe. Well, they played it too safe and it bit them in the ass.

 

I was talking to my roommate before the game about being very familiar with Cowher losing AFC championship games. If the Steelers make it back to the AFC title game next year, would you bet on them?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I would under the right circumstances. I would have liked to know who the Steelers would be up against or their weaknesses and strengths, and etc. If everything looks good, then yeah I'd bet on the Steelers to win. With this year's team though, no. They're not quite championship-caliber YET.

[smh810 0]

I don't give a shit if the Patriots popped the ball out of Bettis's hands on the 3rd down only to have Ben Roethlisberger fall on it 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage, they still should have gone for the TD on 4th down. That's my opinion. Steelers were outplayed and outcoached by the Patriots. It's sad though that the Patriots won by more than 20 points and you're all debating a fairly useless FG situation.

 

I would have gone for it in that situation since a FG is no gimme.

 

My other point is, how do you know if they wouldnt have scored on the 4th? What if the Steelers put in a trick play, catching the Pats sleeping for a millisecond, and scoring a miraculous pass? They could also just have flattened the Steelers on the 4th down, the point is you HAVE TO TRY! Fact is, Bill Belichick was the only coach in the AFC title game who got the memo to actually try to win. Cowher just coached not to lose, and coaching like that, you almost always inevitably lose.

 

You dont have to try when the odds are grossly against you. What sort of trick play would they have realistically done. Try another shovel pass and Bruschi buries Hines Ward into the ground, you dont think the Pats were ready for that? Again leaving with 0 is far worse than leaving with 3.

 

 

On what grounds can you say Pittsburgh wouldn't have scored? They ran a predictable play on 3rd down and got stopped? The lesson there isn't to not try to score, the lesson is to stop calling predictable plays. A playaction pass could have scored a touchdown on 3rd down but everyone in that building knew what play they were going to call and they called it. If their D was wearing down, why would you put the pressure on them to make two stops against the Pats? Nothing that you're saying makes sense to me. The only thing that I'm getting out of this is that you think a team that's down by two touchdowns should be playing it safe. Well, they played it too safe and it bit them in the ass.

 

They've called 3rd Down runs inside the 5 all year long and its worked for them until last night. I'm not so sure play action would have worked. As far as their D goes I really dont think it mattered The Pats would have gotten the 1st down and the defense would have been on the field for twice as long as they were. How about this for a change instead of talking about the Steelers being "outcoached" how about this scneario... The Patriots are just a better football team.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

To suggest that being outcoached and the other team being a better team aren't connected kinda misses the point of pro football, I think.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

They had to go for a FG. A FG and a converted touchdown would tie the game then. You reduce it to two scores. If you go for it and don't make it, you lose the game right there. Cowher made the right decision.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I think even if they made the touchdown, the Patroits would have likely won the game. And while we can place blame on Cowher, Rothelisberger, or the defense, the fact is that the main reason the Steelers lost was because New England has a damned good team.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Some fans will have wanted them to go for it on 4th and 2, others agree that they should have settled for the FG. It's the nature of the beast of being a pro football fan.