Season shaping moments -game changing plays that kept us out of the playoffs

The Steelers were just half - win away from getting into the playoffs.

Besides the obvious:

• Diva attitude, underperformance by several non-rookie players.
• No big name free agents on D to replace Shazier's spot
• Lose too often, too many times against under .500 teams (not just this season)
• Defense not able to close games (4th qtr blown leads).
• Turnover ratio (Defense unable to create turnovers, Offense throwing too many easy picks and fumbling several times in critical situations).
• Bad handling of Ben's injury - inoffensive Steelers offense @ Raiders game...
• Too many penalties
• ... and more...

I identify 15 specific plays in which, if the outlook had been different, the Steelers would most probably have had a better position to have that half win -at least- and be in the playoffs.

5 Questionable referee's decisions regarding penalties
4 fumbles
3 failed fg's
1 Defensive mind mistake
1 Questionable Tomlin's decision
1 Bad throw / read - Interception

W1. vs Cle

• Steelers 21 - 7 Browns. Conner fumble
• 21-21, Boswell misses 42 yard game winning FG attempt.

W12 vs Broncos

• X Grimble fumble (Broncos 3-0 Steelers)
• Conner fumble at Den 23 (game tied 17-17, q3)
• Ben's last interception (potential game tying TD pass).

W13 vs Chargers

• Steelers 13 - Chargers 0: Refs not calling RT offside on Chargers 1st TD (making it 13-7)
• Steelers 23 - Chargers 7) Davis hitting Haden, converting a red zone pick into a lucky TD (making it 23-15)
• Refs not calling a clear block in the back on Chargers punt-return TD (generating a tie at 23)

W14 vs Raiders

• Raiders 10 - 7 Steelers. Boswell misses game tying FG
• Raiders 24 - 21 Steelers. Boswell slips, misses game tying FG.

W 16 vs Saints

• Steelers 3 - 0 Saints. 4th & 1 at Steelers 34. Defense stopped Saints on 4th down. Phantom defensive PI call against Haden gives NO a 1st and goal at steelers 1, giving NO new life and a TD 1 play later.
• Steelers 28 - Saints 24. Questionable playcalling on 4th and 5 (fake punt).
• Steelers 28 - Saints 24. Ref's missed (Tomlin not challenging) Tuitt's tipped pass on 4th & 2 incompletion that was called a Haden defensive PI, giving them new life (and later became the game-winning TD).
• Saints 31- Steelers 28. JuJu's fumble at NO's 34 with 32 seconds, while closing on FG territory.

W17

• Refs blowing the whistle too early, erasing a browns TD

If you think I miss one specific play that could have been a game - changer if gone other way, please write it down!

So we can take that into account while thinking on what needs to change before next season!

 

You missed Ridley's fumble with the Steelers up four and driving against the Saints, which may have been the worst offensive play call all season. That play had no chance of success. Even worse, the Steelers put the ball in the hands of a fumble-prone scrub instead of Roethlisberger with the game on the line. I know Roethlisberger had his ugly moments this season, but he was tearing it up in that game.

 

The start of the season before the regular season even began. #26 holding the team hostage and not showing up. What makes it even worse was him showing signs he was going to show up midseason and once again back stabbing his team.

 

Absolutely right!
That was a bad coaching decision, poor execution, very bad signing!
So... that simple play goes on the blame: FO/HC/OC/ Ridley section!

 

Yeah. Let`s list all of the plays then set up a vote to see which 10 plays get the most votes. Keep the voting open for a couple weeks. Only 10 picks allowed out of the list.

It will be the official fan list of 10 plays of how the season was murdered, lol.

 

4th and goal from the 6 vs Oak. Tomlin uses a timeout to “set” the defense after an incomplete pass on 3rd down. Can we make a stop??

 

The Steelers went that entire game and never figured out how to stop slipping on the damn turf. Hilton slipped on that play, leaving the tight end wide open.

 

Not one single play but not giving Samuels enough snaps early in the season caused his first game as a starter to be a write off. Backups and the next man up only works if the next man up has some experience and you know how he plays.
Running backs need some time to jell with the offensive line, Samuels wasn't ready when Conner went down and that's another coaching failure of Tomlin.
In his second start Samuels went over I think 128 yds rushing, if he did that the week before we probably win that game.

I agree the defense had 9 or 10 in the box on Ridleys attemp we should have audibled out of it or called a time out, ridiculously bad coaching once the defense was set.