Mike Tomlin doubles down with poor excuse for awful 4th down decision

Mike Tomlin’s poor excuse for a failed fourth-down call raises questions about the Steelers’ decision-making and playoff readiness.

One of the most questionable calls of the Week 18 contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals occurred with under a minute left in the first half.

Quarterback Russell Wilson was ruled short by a yard after a failed QB sneak on third down. Deep in their own territory, head coach Mike Tomlin opted against punting the ball away, leading to a failed Steelers rushing attempt on fourth down.

The Bengals capitalized on the turnover on downs, extending their lead to 13-7 with a field goal just before halftime. When asked about the decision, Tomlin gave one of his most questionable excuses—fitting for one of the game’s most controversial calls:

“If we can’t gain a yard, we don’t deserve to win.”

Apparently, Tomlin believes his team possesses the power of the Philadelphia Eagles and can ‘Philly shove’ their way through any fourth-and-one—regardless of field position.

There’s a reason why successful teams trailing by less than two scores choose to punt the ball away on fourth downs deep in their own territory.

This poor excuse sums up the questionable calls made by Tomlin throughout 2024, leaving fans disheartened as the team heads into the playoffs, still hoping for change.

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