Mike Tomlin Getting Roasted On Social Media For Decision To Punt On 4th And 1 Late In The Game

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made a very questionable decision in tonight’s playoff game against the Cleveland Browns. Working on a comeback, the Steelers had a fourth and one at around midfield. Tomlin Chose to punt, and the Browns would go on to score a touchdown to extend their lead.

Social media has exploded, attacking Tomlin’s conservative decision.

Tomlin is down 12 points at home in the 4th quarter of a playoff game…

he has a 4th & 1 at his 46

he must score twice AND not allow another score

and he punts…

and it's a touchback…

COMPLETELY EMBARASSING

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 11, 2021

Tomlin had his shot. Didn't take it. Let Browns catch their breath. Now it's over.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 11, 2021

Mike Tomlin calling that punt is a good example of my developing theory, which is that there are no good football coaches in the entire universe

— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) January 11, 2021

Generations of Steelers fans will grow up hearing tales of Tomlin's mastery of the art of field position

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 11, 2021

Steelers fans when Tomlin punted on 4th and 1 pic.twitter.com/XPsBwSNR97

— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) January 11, 2021

Mike Tomlin will never come back from this. All time loser move to not go for it. All the momentum in the world and you punt on 4th and 1 from your own 45 in the 4th quarter after you were just down 35-7? What do you have to lose??? CHICKEN. SHIT. FOOTBALL.

— Snacks Curry (Hoops Ev) (@DoubleVodkaDon) January 11, 2021

Mike Tomlin's decision-making tonight is all over the map. Sometimes he wants to be aggressive, sometimes he wants to play scared. He's a "go with your gut" guy. Not big into analytics. Creates lots of inconsistent decisions. #Steelers

— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) January 11, 2021

Tomlin has done exact opposite of logic

* Punted on Clev 38-yard line trailing 28-0
* Kicked PAT down 13
* Punted 4th & 1 on own 46

Am I missing anything?

— Doug Kezirian (@DougESPN) January 11, 2021

You have all the momentum. It’s 4th and 1. How don’t you go for it? What do you have to lose?

This is the playoffs. You play to win. Keep your foot on the gas. Tomlin’s decision to punt is so, so bad. No words for his game management today.

— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) January 11, 2021

*4th and short*

Vrabel and Tomlin: pic.twitter.com/4v1lExyp8v

— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) January 11, 2021

#Steelers had scored 16 straight points when they faced a 4th-and-one from their own 46-yard line. Mike Tomlin, who doesn't live in his fears and who has a 6-foot-5 quarterback (one yard=three feet), chose to punt. #Browns respond w/ a quick six-play, 80-yard TD drive. 42-23

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) January 11, 2021

“Hindsight is always 2020 whether you wear glasses or not so I’m not gonna get caught up in what prescription you wear”

– coach Tomlin on not going for it on 4th & 1

— Joey (@JoeyMulinaro) January 11, 2021

Every week, I get some smart ass comment from someone along the lines of "if you're so smart, how come you're not coaching [insert team here]?"…. and yet, every week, we have coaches making decisions like the one Tomlin just made. It's brutal.

— Bobby Pizza™️ (@robpizzola) January 11, 2021

Man, Tomlin not going for it is going to get him crucified.

— SteelerNation (@SteeIerNation) January 11, 2021

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If the Steelers can’t mount a comeback, Tomlin is going to have to wear a lot of criticism on his sleeve. He’s losing to a team that has dealt with COVIS issues all week, and doesn’t even have their head coach available tonight.

I’m sure Tomlin will have some sort of witty comment on why he chose to punt instead of keep his team’s momentum going in that spot, but the decision just seems baffling to me. Especially considering that you have Ben Roethlisberger as your quarterback. Big Ben would figure to be a guy who’s pretty much automatic on a QB sneak from less than a yard away.

Mike Tomlin gambled on his defense, and it didn’t pan out. We’ll see if that call ends up being the dagger on the Steelers season. Luckily for Tomlin, he has a pretty good resume to point to if/when people want to attack him.

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