This team need to score in order to win games, exchanging TD's for FG's is not acceptable. Big time opportunity for our defense to get it going in the first series of the 3rd Qtr. Maybe they flip things around beginning there.
In a game of inches, we have been screwed so far. 2 fumbles, or almost 2, and we recover both "ish" only to lose the one that counts. Then we get doinked for a TD on what should be an INT. We are playing good enough on defense to win.
On offense, we are almost playing well. We just keep shooting ourselves with penalties and missed passes. Timing looks off and the ball is not coming out crisply with KC.
As for Preston Smith, he is out there because they keep cutting back the run at him. I think that is why they took him out because of overpursuit.
The fumble they couldn't recover is the turning point of this half. Overall we are not that bad, the Steelers are just better so far.
Also, hard to understand Gruden's logic : 4th and 1 at the 39 we punt but 4th and 6 at the 38 we go for it. Also with 27 seconds and a timeout why don't you try to get 3 points since you know the Steelers will open the 2nd half with the ball ? And if you don't want to try why not just kneel down instead of an useless draw play ?