One of the most questionable calls of the Week 18 contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals occurred with under a minute left in the first half.
Quarterback Russell Wilson was ruled short by a yard after a failed QB sneak on third down. Deep in their own territory, head coach Mike Tomlin opted against punting the ball away, leading to a failed Steelers rushing attempt on fourth down.
The Bengals capitalized on the turnover on downs, extending their lead to 13-7 with a field goal just before halftime. When asked about the decision, Tomlin gave one of his most questionable excuses—fitting for one of the game’s most controversial calls:
“If we can’t gain a yard, we don’t deserve to win.”
Apparently, Tomlin believes his team possesses the power of the Philadelphia Eagles and can ‘Philly shove’ their way through any fourth-and-one—regardless of field position.
There’s a reason why successful teams trailing by less than two scores choose to punt the ball away on fourth downs deep in their own territory.
Mike Tomlin: “If you can’t get one yard then you don’t deserve to win.” #NFL pic.twitter.com/zpRZXxnDWS
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) January 5, 2025
This poor excuse sums up the questionable calls made by Tomlin throughout 2024, leaving fans disheartened as the team heads into the playoffs, still hoping for change.
