The Drive that Broke their Spirit

[twg76]

In the second half of the game, Miami came out ready to dominate. They stopped the Steelers 3 and out. That is what the defense wants to do all the time. The Dolphins got the ball back and drove almost the whole length of the field for a TD. It put them up 17 - 14. I swear to you, this is where Miami was going to win the game.

But on the Steelers next possession, Lehan was called for a weak "hands to the face" call. It was on 3rd down deep in Steeler territory. Miami was going to force the Steelers to punt right back to the Dolphins with good field position. But the ref gave it to Pittsburgh. That started a snowball.

I SWEAR that the Dolphins gave up about 4 straight 3rd down conversions in a row on that drive. Two were two Hines Ward. All four were pass plays of some sort. THEN... the refs get back into things and help the Steelers.

If you watch a 3rd and 6 around the Dolphins 30 yard line, you will see the Steelers try to run a trick play. This actually occured. ANDRE GOODMAN has great position to make a tackle. BUT the Steelers FB grabs him by his back and pulls him to the ground. It was SOOO obvious.

I forgot about it after the fact. But I clearly remember jumping up and saying, "Did you see that? He pushed or grabbed on to his back! That should be holding!!" But the refs didn't call it. It was so obvious, but the refs weren't listening. As Saban would say,"The proof is in the pudding." The refs turned away and ignored an obvious call that would have forced the Steelers to attempt a field goal to tie.

But like I said in my inital "honest, sensible" review, no one wanted to see the Dolphins stop the Steelers. The whole stadium would have cried. No one wants to upset that many people. Let's just keep cheering the Steelers! It's their night!! :shakeno:

So anyway, the fact remains that the Dolphins defense needs to tighten up on 3rd down. But I will give them the benefit of the doubt on that drive. It seemed like nothing would allow for the Steelers to be stopped.

 

[FinsGonnaRock06]

I watched the tape and i also saw Goodman dragged to the ground, IT WAS BLATANTLY OBVIOUS. They were MANY MANY NON CALLS. Makes me sick actually.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Stop crying about the refs! The Phins were dominated in sooooo many aspects of that game they were lucky to even be in it. The pick in the back of the end zone where he bobbled it and landed OOB. The fumble at the 1. The Steelers O-line opened 2 yd holes for Fast Willy. The Phins got spanked and then C-Pepp, who is still adjusting to new personnel, made mistakes. Don't blame it on the refs, some cheesy calls yeah, but come on. The play that broke our back was the fake boot leg on 3rd and 2 with the pitch to Brown 3 yds back. That play call sucked. I firmly believe we stuff it between the tackles with a power run convert a first down and we would have probably won the game.

 

[footballphin]

The play that broke our back was the fake boot leg on 3rd and 2 with the pitch to Brown 3 yds back.

I have to agree. That was the killer play. We make that first down and continue to drive to a TD and the game is over right then. They are then down by more than a TD with very little time, if any, left on the clock.

However many bad calls went against us, and there certainly were some, they probably all didn't add up in impact to the PI call that we should have had called against us but didn't.

 

[PhinsPhan]

The pitch to Ronnie Brown was so bad. No fake and on top of that the pitch made Brown stop completely in his tracks.

That drive was such bull****. Even on those two calls for 5 yards, especially the illegal hands to the face you have to let that go. He didn't pull, he released immediately. I have to think his hands accidently got high and it was incidental. That gave them an auto first down instead of puntin g to us and giving us good field position.

The blocks in the back all game were atrocious. I'm not even talking about the massive quantities of holding the Steelers Oline did in the 2nd half. Classic quality of bad NFL referees. They should be deducted enough points from that game to not be doing the Superbowl.

 

[RoninFin4]

The play that broke our back was the fake boot leg on 3rd and 2 with the pitch to Brown 3 yds back. That play call sucked. I firmly believe we stuff it between the tackles with a power run convert a first down and we would have probably won the game.

Amen, what a horrible play call. I also believe if we pick up that first down, we win the game.

 

[twg76]

The play that broke our back was the fake boot leg on 3rd and 2 with the pitch to Brown 3 yds back. That play call sucked.

I agree. That play backfired completely.

But do me a favor, and recondition yourself to keep paying attention when you here, "bad call by ref". You are missing the point. I'm not JUST blaming the refs for the loss. I'm saying that they contributed to helping the Steelers at a time in the game that could have made all the difference.

Did you ever play sports? Those moments make or break games. It has nothing to do with stats or play-calling. It is about momentum.

 

[phinMikeDC]

I was getting a beer during the hands to the face penalty...All I heard when i got back to my seat was, "Thanks for giving us these first downs!" That third and two play was a killer though....whether it was a bad call or bad execution, we were so close to getting some points there.

Worst thing is my DVR screwed up and didnt record the damn game, so I can't see replays of all these plays you guys are talking about.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

But do me a favor, and recondition yourself to keep paying attention when you here, "bad call by ref". You are missing the point. I'm not JUST blaming the refs for the loss. I'm saying that they contributed to helping the Steelers at a time in the game that could have made all the difference.

Did you ever play sports? Those moments make or break games. It has nothing to do with stats or play-calling. It is about momentum.

The game shouldn't have even hinged on a "bad call". Finding any reason other than poor execution on your own part is just trying to mask the problem. Bottom line: we didn't even deserve to in that game at all, it should have been 40-10. FWIW I've played alot of sports and you overcome those things not dwell on a poor decision made by an official. Stop trying to pin something on the officials we had plenty of chances and didn't execute.

 

[ac_lanham]

The game shouldn't have even hinged on a "bad call". Finding any reason other than poor execution on your own part is just trying to mask the problem. Bottom line: we didn't even deserve to in that game at all, it should have been 40-10. FWIW I've played alot of sports and you overcome those things not dwell on a poor decision made by an official. Stop trying to pin something on the officials we had plenty of chances and didn't execute.

You, my good man, are a genius. I applaud you

 

[GrnMtnMan]

You, my good man, are a genius. I applaud you

Hey, thanks! :up:

 

[twg76]

The game shouldn't have even hinged on a "bad call". Finding any reason other than poor execution on your own part is just trying to mask the problem. Bottom line: we didn't even deserve to in that game at all, it should have been 40-10. FWIW I've played alot of sports and you overcome those things not dwell on a poor decision made by an official. Stop trying to pin something on the officials we had plenty of chances and didn't execute.

You, my foolish cliche, are full of yourself. You aren't getting it, so go bang your head against a wall. :rickybrow :down:

 

[GrnMtnMan]

You, my foolish cliche, are full of yourself. You aren't getting it, so go bang your head against a wall. :rickybrow :down:

Calling me a cliche' with a cliche', nice! My guess is that you're one of those guys that finds a reason to all of your problems because of everything around you. How bout this; You're wrong! Miami was outplayed, didn't execute, threw 2 picks and what should have been a third. I'll say it again; we should have stuffed the ball between the tackles on 3rd and 2 at the 50 not some eek and deek sally football. Oh wait, we lost momentum because of the refs, I forgot. I must have no football sense, any idea about team sports or personal accountability, right? :wink:

 

[Ya Think]

It's an international message board rule, Complain about how the refs screwed your team, take a drink.

Drink!:happydrin

 

[twg76]

Calling me a cliche' with a cliche', nice! My guess is that you're one of those guys that finds a reason to all of your problems because of everything around you. How bout this; You're wrong! Miami was outplayed, didn't execute, threw 2 picks and what should have been a third. I'll say it again; we should have stuffed the ball between the tackles on 3rd and 2 at the 50 not some eek and deek sally football. Oh wait, we lost momentum because of the refs, I forgot. I must have no football sense, any idea about team sports or personal accountability, right? :wink:

You are full of wind, my friend - full of hot air. Go spew it somewhere else. Actually, this is the perfect forum for it. So, I'll leave you too your sewage. Keep posting your garbage with all the rest. This forum is full of garbage right now.