The Steelers couldn’t finish–they lost the 4th quarter battle–and lost the game.
This past Sunday, many teams started hot, only to lose steam as games progressed. That assertion applies to the Jags, Seahawks, Vikings, and Steelers.
The Jags and Seahawks ended up winning, but the Vikings and Steelers lost.
The Jags didn’t play particularly well on offense, but the defense came through, shutting out the Colts’ usually high-flying offense. The Seahawks won because they played their best in the 4th quarter. Not once did the defense allow the 49ers to take the lead, and the offense stayed aggressive and kept scoring.
The Vikings had more than enough opportunities to upset New England. How so? The Pats’ blew coverages. Tom Brady threw an interception. The refs were kind to Minnesota, too. But the Vikings didn’t win the 4th quarter battle and lost the game.
The Steelers started hot–so much so that I thought the game was over by halftime. Then the second half began. Whatever light the Steelers had was then transferred to the Chargers. It was a complete turnaround–a 23-7 Pittsburgh lead melted with two Chargers’ TDs coupled with a like-number of two-point conversions.
The Steelers’ defense enabled Rivers and LAC to come back. Yes, the Chargers got help from the refs but, in sports, you have to play well enough to overcome referees’ gaffes. Pittsburgh didn’t do that Sunday night, and the cost was a loss.
It was the first loss–ever–for a visiting team in Pittsburgh that trailed by 16 points. The Steelers were 174-0-1 until Sunday night.
The Steelers couldn’t finish the game–they lost the 4th quarter battle–and that’s why they lost. That goes to show you something important. It’s not so much about a team starts, but about winning the 4th quarter battle and finishing strong.
