Who Lost the Game?

10/1/15

Tonight, the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field. Before I go any further, I want to point out that I do not like football whatsoever. Anyways, the Steelers lost to the Ravens 23-20 in overtime after Justin Tucker kicked a game-winning 52-yard field goal. What I feel is wrong is that so many people are placing the blame on Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin. Why on earth is he responsible for the loss? Since he is the head coach, does that automatically mean that he is held accountable for the team's loss. NO! That is not how sports works. Yes, there are many times in games in which the coaches make some questionable calls, but people need to stop placing all of the blame on the coaches. Many people are blaming Michael Vick for the loss. I would not do that either. Michael Vick held up his part of the bargain and he filled in quite nicely for the injured Ben Roethlisberger. If there should be blame placed on any one individual player, it should be Josh Scobee. He has been in the NFL since the 2004 season and has been a successful kicker for most of his career. Blame should be placed on him because he missed two key field goal attempts. If he would have converted, the Steelers would have won the game and the game would not have needed to go into overtime. Scobee has missed four field goals since he was traded to Pittsburgh from Jacksonville. All four of them have proved to be costly. Now, could Mike Tomlin have given Scobee a chance to kick a game-winning field goal in overtime? Sure, but since Scobee had missed his last two attempts, he elected to let Michael Vick go for it on fouth down. Could Michael Vick have made a better effort to convert on fourth down? Sure, but how on earth was Mike Tomlin supposed to know that the attempt was going to be unsuccessful? I plead and plead and plead with people to learn how to properly judge. To all of you who do this, please knock it off. All you are doing is making uneducated points and you keep saying that you could do a better job. If you could do a better job, why aren't you an NFL head coach? Mike Tomlin and Michael Vick should not be blamed. If you blame anyone, blame the guy who missed two crucial field goal attempts. Vent over.