Things started well for the Pittsburgh Steelers during Saturday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, as they took a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter. The game flipped after that, and the Steelers ended up on the wrong end of a 30-13 final score.
The loss dropped the Pittsburgh to 7-7 on the season and while the Steelers are still in the playoff race, it will be a bumpy path to the postseason. And coach Mike Tomlin is catching a lot of criticism for his team’s performance. One of the game’s key sequences in particular is being second guessed.
After scoring the touchdown to go up 13-0, Pittsburgh’s next five offensive possessions resulted in an interception, a punt, the end of the half, a fumble and another punt. Late in the third quarter and now trailing 24-13, the Steelers mounted a drive and got across midfield. On third-and-four from the 29, Mitch Trubisky threw an incomplete pass but Pittsburgh was penalized for holding. Rather than decline the penalty to bring up fourth down, Shane Steichen and the Colts moved the Steelers back 10 yards.
Trubisky’s pass on third-and-14 went well out of bounds. It seemed like Pittsburgh would kick a field goal to try to cut the deficit to eight points, or one possession. Kicker Chris Boswell even went onto the field but was quickly called back to the sidelines. Instead of trying what would have been roughly a 57-yard field goal with Boswell, Tomlin instead opted to play the field position game, sending punter Pressley Harvin III out.
Rich Eisen questions Mike Tomlin and the Steelers deciding to punt instead of trying a long FG down 11.
"Kurt, I mean, just gotta bring this up. You don't want Boswell to kick one from 50-something yards. Instead you're going to punt? Down 11 with 18 minutes and change to go." pic.twitter.com/238E1YxX0P
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 17, 2023
Harvin’s punt was not particularly strong. That made it easier for the Colts to move down the field on their ensuing possession. That not only resulted in a field goal for Indianapolis but killed nearly nine minutes, giving a significant blow to Pittsburgh’s already slim playoff hopes. The Steelers mounted virtually no offense after. They did cross midfield on their next possession, but threw an interception soon after.
The conservative decision was confusing. This is particularly true when we remember that Boswell has made kicks from similar distances recently in far tougher environments than Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium — a dome.
And it earned Tomlin a lot of criticism.
Chris Boswell made a 56-yard FG at Acrisure Stadium LAST WEEK.
Yet the Steelers elected to punt instead of having him try a 56-yarder while down 2 scores in a dome today.
Mike Tomlin waved the white towel.
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) December 16, 2023
Boswell has to be dealing with an injury. If not, Tomlin has lost it. #Steelers #NFL https://t.co/6hOXk3P6lI
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) December 17, 2023
Mike Tomlin's living in his fears.
— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) December 16, 2023
Mike Tomlin when he decided to punt the ball down 11 instead of kicking a 57 yard field goal.pic.twitter.com/QgNCQJ7FMz
— Thomas Carrieri (@Thomas_Carrieri) December 17, 2023
“Coach Tomlin, are we gonna kick this field goal to make it a one score game?”
Mike: pic.twitter.com/bbG7hbewoD
— STEELHERE (@_STEELHERE) December 17, 2023
