The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Two missed field goals really hurt Pittsburgh.

Special teams is so important. 

If PIT had made both of those field goals, they still would have lost, 28-27.  I don't see how that proves any point.

No because that would have changed the course of the game.

Also, the Patriots converted one of those missed field goals into a score.

The Steelers have a chance to tie the game if they are only down eight at the end.

"It changed the course of the game" is a non-answer.

And it doesn't matter if NE "converted" a missed field goal into a score, since PIT would give the ball back to NE after a successful FG anyway.  6 points is 6 points, and 6 points doesn't make much of a difference when you lose by 7.

You could play the what if game all day. Doesn't prove anything

Who has ever taken the stance that special teams ISN'T important?  ::) ???

You make it sound like you are out on a limb with this stance

And they lost by 7, because the missed FGs caused them to go for 2 when they wouldn't have otherwise.

Pitt got their ass kicked all night.  It's amazing they only lost by 7.  It was actually a blowout with a garbage-time TD and a desperation 2 pt conversion.

were we watching the same game?  Pitt had almost 100 yards more on offense than NE. 2 missed fg, and  sure thing td if the uncovered rec was 6 inch over. 3 or 4 plays and the game has a different result.  It was a close game ne executed better on a couple of key plays.

its a different game if you're down 14 with 4 minutes left than if you're down 8 with 4 minutes left.  Urgency changes, clock management changes.  Playcalling changes.  It makes a difference.

QBs are important as well.

By that logic, is points off turnovers irrelevant, too?

The only "turnover" you can compare to a missed FG is a blocked FG or a blocked punt.  When PIT kicked the ball, it was fully determined (make or miss) that PIT was not going to score 7 points on that drive; this is not the case if PIT turns over the ball and it's not 4th down.

These 2 statements do not support your original premise. Your original premise is that FG's were the difference in the game, however in the case of these 2 statements the FG's alone would NOT have been the difference in the game. In both cases the FG (make or miss) only influences what happens AFTER the FG, not directly impacting the outcome. Therefore you cannot say with any certainty that making those FG's WOULD have resulted in a different game. It MIGHT have, but it might have just as easily had no impact on the outcome whatsoever. This is the flaw in your logic that you still refuse to admit even though it's clear that you realize that making those 2 FG's ALONE would not have changed the outcome. Only by ALSO changing what happens AFTER the FG attempts does it possibly change the outcome, but then if what happens after the FG changes you can leave the FG misses and still have Pittsburgh winning the game. The above two statements rather than supporting your premise, are contradictory to your premise.

Nice Socrates.

Now do you want to say that again, only in English?  ::)

Point is, the Steelers played a shitty game but they could have tied it at the end if they simply could have made those kicks

That Patriots have played many such games over the past few years, and they have been able to pull it off.   

They could have won the game if they just would have stopped the Patriots on a couple of those TD's as well. You can change any 1 play in the ENTIRE game and suggest the score would have been different. What's special about the FG attempts?

Easy,

Field goal attempts are unforced errors.  No reason you can't make a field goal attempt.  Stopping Brady and Gronk is a whole lot harder

FG attempts are no where near the automatic 3 points that you think they are. The snap, hold, plant and kick all have to be pretty much mistake free. Any small mistake probably results in a miss and part of the reason is the fact that the rush will probably get there a split second later. Make no mistake the defense forces plenty of missed kicks.

They make it look easy because they practice it over and over and over, but it's not.

If you are going to make the most obvious change, when in the end zone uncovered,  stay in bounds

leaving gronk uncovered is an unforced error.

When Mare was one of the best in the league, the Dolphins were always in the playoffs despite not being overly talented.  Yet another example of how a great kicker can elevate a team.   

Mare was First-Team All-Pro in 1999 and led the league in FG% in 2001.  So I'll presume you're talking about that 3-year stretch.

Some of the "not overly talented" Dolphins from that era:

Jason Taylor
Zach Thomas
Sam Madison
Patrick Surtain
Brock Marion
Larry Izzo
Trace Armstrong
Tim Bowens
(I did not include Dan Marino or Thurman Thomas because that would be cheating)

These players would ultimately combine for 27 Pro Bowl appearances and 11 First-Team All-Pro nods as Dolphins (and while Mare was the kicker).

The idea that the JJ/Wanny Dolphins were "not overly talented" is ridiculous.

I was talking about the five year playoff run which includes Jimmy Johnson too actually.

The defense was always good, but the offense always struggled to run the ball.