There was nothing unusual about the prevent defense the Steelers used with a big lead Sunday except one thing -- they lost the lead.
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Linebacker Joey Porter forces Falcons quarterback Michael Vick to fumnble in the first quarter Sunday in the 34-34 tie at Heinz Field. (Matt Freed, Post-Gazette) |
The Steelers have deployed their dime defense with six defensive backs on third downs and with big leads going back to the days when Chuck Noll was their coach. They've been successful doing it, too. When Atlanta came back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to make the score 34-34, it marked only the second time in 73 games under Coach Bill Cowher in which the Steelers failed to win a game when they held a lead of more than 10 points.
That record is the best in the NFL since 1970.
Cowher refused to take questions about his coaching decisions Sunday and yesterday he would not permit his coordinators to talk about it.
"If you don't fumble the punt, then these questions wouldn't be asked," Cowher said Sunday.
He referred to rookie Antwaan Randle El's fumble on a punt return with the Steelers leading, 34-17. Atlanta recovered at the Steelers' 37 and began its comeback with 10:18 left in the fourth quarter. The Falcons scored a touchdown on that drive, kicked a field goal on their next drive and tied the score with 42 seconds left when Michael Vick scrambled 11 yards into the end zone.
Among the decisions called into question from the game:
Why Cowher quickly challenged Randle El's fumble before waiting to hear from his coaches upstairs or watching on the video board a replay that clearly showed the ball coming out before Randle El hit the ground? The challenge was quickly denied and the Steelers were charged with a timeout they desperately needed when they reached Atlanta's 37 and time ran out in regulation.
Why Cowher elected to try a 48-yard field goal in overtime on a mushy field into the open end and into the wind instead of going for it on fourth-and-2 at the Atlanta 30? It was blocked.
Why, when the Steelers reached Atlanta's 33 on their next series, he punted instead of trying a field goal or going for it?
Why, with a timeout left, he allowed Atlanta to run down the clock from 48 seconds to 8 seconds and then try a 56-yard field goal in overtime? When James Farrior blocked the attempt and the Steelers recovered at their 49, they had one second to throw a desperation pass that Plaxico Burress caught at the 1 to end the game. What might they have done if they had 40 seconds left?
Why they were so passive in the fourth quarter on defense?
Why they were so conservative in the fourth quarter on offense?
Even some players wanted answers to some of the questions. Linebacker Joey Porter, for example, could not understand why the Steelers stopped going after quarterback Michael Vick in the fourth quarter after having reasonably good success against him for the first three.
"I definitely know that we weren't doing the things that got us there," Porter said. "When we were coming after him, I feel like we really had him rattled. When we sat back in the zones, that's when he's at his best."
The Steelers didn't just change their strategy on defense. With quarterback Tommy Maddox and receiver Plaxico Burress having record-setting games, the Steelers went into their turtle offense with the lead in the fourth quarter. They ran on the first two downs of two four-and-out series.
"You can get conservative on both sides of the ball," Porter said.
Cowher did answer some of the questions about his strategy. He said he kicked the field goal because he thought that gave them the best chance to win. He said he let the clock run down before Atlanta tried its 56-yard field goal in overtime because he was concerned if he called timeout, Falcons Coach Dan Reeves would instead go for it on fourth-and-3. He said, in retrospect, he should not have challenged Randle El's fumble but he did so because Randle El said he did not fumble.
Cowher became testy when someone asked him Sunday why the Steelers did not throw the ball more in the fourth quarter.
"I am not going to second-guess myself. You can pass judgment, I am not going to second-guess the decision making and play-calling, so don't go there any more, please."
The only time the Steelers lost a game when they held a lead of more than 10 points came Dec. 30, when Cincinnati won, 26-23, in overtime after coming back from a 14-0 deficit.
The Steelers also blew a 10-point lead to Philadelphia in the closing minutes of a 2000 game and lost in overtime, 26-23.
Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3878.
Indignant Cowher refuses to question strategy 
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