just watched the game. Can't even say I'm surprised, that had all the ingredients for a Tomlin trap game. TNF on the road? Check (Tomlins record is 2-9 now, 0-7 in the division). Opponent in trouble? Check (Burrow injured, Hendrickson out, Brown averages 2.7 yards per carry). You're coming into the game as favourites and have a chance to REALLY pull away in the division ... of course they #### it up.
Tomlin knew he was in trouble when the Bengals traded for Flacco, he's seen this movie too often. Flacco cooked him last season when he was with the Colts too. He's not a rookie like Gabriel, he'll have no problem picking apart that soft zone BS that the Steelers love so much. Pass rush a non-factor too when you can just feast on those slants to Chase. Steelers D had no gameplan, there were no adjustments, just sloppy play and penalties. Not taking away from the piss poor individual performances on defense, because there were plenty. Heck, they looked atrocious in all three zones. But coaching and gameplanning didn't help.
Offensively it was fine. I can't stand Rodgers, but he's playing decent football. TEs are efficient, Warren is really good. But they just got no help from the D yesterday. Have to hand it to the Bengals too, they came prepared and did a decent job. Maybe Flacco can actually keep them afloat until Burrow comes back.
PS: oh, and can we talk about the decision from Tomlin to punt at 4th and 4 with 5 minutes to go and 6 points down? Cowardly.
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