Fast B wrote:
Tim Thomasen wrote:in reality it's the Steelers fault and no one else
Except that in reality that is patently untrue, as Rocco described. Yes, the Steelers should bear the vast majority of the responsibility and shouldn't have been in this position to begin with, but at the same time this particular blown call had a clear and direct impact on their playoff chances.
No, a real poor start damaged their chances of making the playoffs. Losing to Oakland, Tennessee, Minnesota and Miami damaged their chances of making the playoffs. There's a reason why only one team has started the season 0-4 and made the playoffs (1992 SD Chargers) because in a 16 game season there's very little room for error because the season is small game wise.
If the team played consistently throughout the season they would be in the playoffs, if the defense could make plays and knock off all those long plays the opposition created (Terrelle Pryor going 94 yards for a TD for example) and stop the run for a change they would be in the playoffs, if the offensive line would of played the way they did in the end of the season throughout the year they would be in the playoffs.
That's why there not in the playoffs, because they just didn't play well enough to win, not because another team in another game and a ref in another game not associated with the Steelers didn't do their jobs correctly because it's not KC job to win a game so the Steelers could make the postseason. The Steelers made their bed when they went to 0-4 and not they must lie in it.
Now that's not saying the refs shouldn't be criticized for not doing their jobs because they should, but if the Steelers just took care of business in their own end and not having to rely on the results of other games we wouldn't be talking about any of this. I'm sorry I won't make excuses for why this team didn't make the postseason. There out because they just weren't good enough and all of you should just accept that instead of blaming the refs and a team in another game.
That's nice they finished the season 6-2 but by the time they were 0-4 it was too late. Hopefully they can build off this finish because I agree with Rocco when he says there not far off from being competitive again. I like their offense and if they can find a way to fix the defense they'll be back.