Bill Cowher (1 Viewer)

[airbornemedik]

Does anyone else think Bill Cowher might be the biggest choke artisit of all time, besides the Atlanta Braves? Once again the steelers are headed to the AFC championship game, but how many times have weve seen this before? Year 1- led Pitt to a 11-4 record, but lost the 1st round.Year 2- Wildcard, lost in round 1Year 3- 12-4 record, lost in AFC ChampionshipYear 4- Finally, the Super Bowl!! Lost 27-17Year 5- 10-6, lose 1st roundYear 6- 11-5, lost in AFC ChampionshipYear10- 13-3, #1seed, lost AFC ChampionshipYear11- Lost in AFC Divisional roundYear13- 15-1,Lost AFC ChampionshipYear14- Please dont choke again Cowher

 

[Steelers4Life]

Does anyone else think Bill Cowher might be the biggest choke artisit of all time, besides the Atlanta Braves? Once again the steelers are headed to the AFC championship game, but how many times have weve seen this before?

Year 1- led Pitt to a 11-4 record, but lost the 1st round.

Year 2- Wildcard, lost in round 1

Year 3- 12-4 record, lost in AFC Championship

Year 4- Finally, the Super Bowl!! Lost 27-17

Year 5- 10-6, lose 1st round

Year 6- 11-5, lost in AFC Championship

Year10- 13-3, #1seed, lost AFC Championship

Year11- Lost in AFC Divisional round

Year13- 15-1,Lost AFC Championship

Year14- Please dont choke again Cowher

I have to laugh at stuff like this. The results are one thing, but if you look at why and how they lost some of these games, you'll actually see that a bunch of these actually overachieved just to get where they did and most of them lost to better teams in the playoffs. A 10-9 record and 6 AFC Championships in 14 years is not a choker. To have the success he's had when until now his best QB was Neil O'Donnell (Stewart, Tomczak, and Maddox were the others) is impressive1992 - He took a team that was 7-9 the year before and went 11-5 and lost to the Buffalo Bills. Lots of teams lost to the Bills those years.

1993 - Only a 9-7 wild card team, and took Joe Montana and the Chiefs to overtime in Kansas City.

1994 - Should've beaten the Chargers. Dammit.

1995 - Neil O'Donnell's 2 INTs weren't something Cowher could've controlled. The Steelers controlled the Super Bowl for the most part, but couldn't overcome those INTs.

1996 - Let by the great Mike Tomczak, they rolled over Indy in the first round, but they had to take on the Patriots in New England basically without an injured Jerome Bettis the next week. Tomczak just wasn't good enough to win a game without a running game, and the Steelers got killed.

1997 - Lost the AFC Championship to John Elway and the Broncos. Elway vs Stewart was the difference in the game, as Stewart threw 3 INTs (2 in the red zone) and fumbled once in only a 3 point loss.

2001 - Lost by 7 to Brady and the Pats in a game where the special teams gave up 14 points. Again, not much of that can be blamed on Cowher, especially when he ordered Josh Miller to punt a ball out of bounds that Miller failed to do, resulting in a Troy Brown TD.

2002 - Lost by a field goal in OT at Tennessee. Nedney missed the kick, but Dwayne Washington ran into the kicker and gave him another chance. He didn't miss again.

2004 - They just lost to a Patriots team that was better than them. The Steelers were home underdogs and Ben was completely worn out.

2005 - Became the 1st 6th seed to advance to the Conference Championship.

 

[Godsbrother]

You want to call Cowher a choker for losing AFC Championship Games then go right ahead. But what are you calling all of the other coaches who choke before they even get to the Championship Game?As far as the Braves being chokers go, I can tell you that as a Pirates fan I wouldn't mind one bit trading the bottom of NL Central for the top of the NL East.

 

[TheLaw]

 

[BlueOnion]

Does anyone else think Bill Cowher might be the biggest choke artisit of all time, besides the Atlanta Braves?

The league has 31 chokers every year.

 

[azgroover]

Bill Cowher can coach my team anyday. The guy is one of the best coaches in the league.

 

[Fumbleweed]

A "choke" by definition, of course, is when you underperform and subsequently lose to a team you in all likelihood should have beaten. It isn't just "losing". In the past AFC title games, Pittsburgh has indeed lost several at home, but they were against teams that in reality were equally as good as they were (except for the the '94 Chargers). I think it could be said that the AFC title games have not been kind to Cowher, but like someone else said, he's gotten the best out of several of those teams and has made the Steelers one of the most successful franchises overall of the past 10-12 years.

 

[Varmint]

I think Cowher is a great coach...and I'm not a Steeler fan..He's just never had quite all the tools needed to get the job done...especially at QB...Between O'Donnell, Stewart, and a rookie Roethlisberger...it just hasn't cut it.This year COULD be different...Bill Cowher is one of only five head coaches to have won eight division titles...and it's no easy division...He won five AFC Central Division Titles in his first six years and won three AFC North division crowns...one more and he ties Chuck Noll...and it took him 23yrs to win that many..There have been 89 coaching changes since Cowher took over the Steelers..Oh....he's 1-2 vs. Denver

 

[Ghost Rider]

1997 - Lost the AFC Championship to John Elway and the Broncos. Elway vs Stewart was the difference in the game, as Stewart threw 3 INTs (2 in the red zone) and fumbled once in only a 3 point loss.

To set the record straight, Stewart also scored on a 40-yard TD run and threw a touchdown pass in this game. And to say Elway vs. Stewart was the difference seems to be an implication that everything else was equal and that Cowher should receive a lot of credit for getting his team to only lose by three points despite the lopsided quarterback matchup. The fact of the matter is that Pittsburgh was playing at home and had a better defense, not to mention being a more rested team since Denver was a wild card team (Pittsburgh had a bye) and was playing their 2nd road game in a row while Pittsburgh was playing at home for the second week in a row.

Having said all of that, the premise of this thread is ridiculous. Cowher is one of the five best coaches in the NFL and HAS been to a Super Bowl. Is it his fault that Neil O'Donnell threw two of the worst INT's ever?

 

[Evilgrin 72]

1997 - Lost the AFC Championship to John Elway and the Broncos.  Elway vs Stewart was the difference in the game, as Stewart threw 3 INTs (2 in the red zone) and fumbled once in only a 3 point loss.

To set the record straight, Stewart also scored on a 40-yard TD run and threw a touchdown pass in this game. And to say Elway vs. Stewart was the difference seems to be an implication that everything else was equal and that Cowher should receive a lot of credit for getting his team to only lose by three points despite the lopsided quarterback matchup. The fact of the matter is that Pittsburgh was playing at home and had a better defense, not to mention being a more rested team since Denver was a wild card team (Pittsburgh had a bye) and was playing their 2nd road game in a row while Pittsburgh was playing at home for the second week in a row.

Having said all of that, the premise of this thread is ridiculous. Cowher is one of the five best coaches in the NFL and HAS been to a Super Bowl. Is it his fault that Neil O'Donnell threw two of the worst INT's ever?

I still blame that loss on Stewart. IIRC, the Steelers had just beaten the Broncos in Denver late that season and should have won that game - I believe they were better than Denver that year. Stewart's 3 redzone turnovers killed them - if they'd have mustered even 3 points total on those three drives, we'd have had overtime. F'n Kordell.

 

[da5exx]

Cowher is a good coach. He's no Schottenheimer. Right now, Cowher is featured on the NFL pages for Yahoo, CBS Sportsline and Fox Sports. No one is bringing up his past playoff record right now. Seems the media has found their favorite for the week. I personally think Cowher and Shanahan are two of the top five coaches in the league. This weekend's game should be better than whatever Super Bowl matchup we see.

 

[RedRaiders]

1997 - Lost the AFC Championship to John Elway and the Broncos.  Elway vs Stewart was the difference in the game, as Stewart threw 3 INTs (2 in the red zone) and fumbled once in only a 3 point loss.

To set the record straight, Stewart also scored on a 40-yard TD run and threw a touchdown pass in this game. And to say Elway vs. Stewart was the difference seems to be an implication that everything else was equal and that Cowher should receive a lot of credit for getting his team to only lose by three points despite the lopsided quarterback matchup. The fact of the matter is that Pittsburgh was playing at home and had a better defense, not to mention being a more rested team since Denver was a wild card team (Pittsburgh had a bye) and was playing their 2nd road game in a row while Pittsburgh was playing at home for the second week in a row.

Having said all of that, the premise of this thread is ridiculous. Cowher is one of the five best coaches in the NFL and HAS been to a Super Bowl. Is it his fault that Neil O'Donnell threw two of the worst INT's ever?

I still blame that loss on Stewart. IIRC, the Steelers had just beaten the Broncos in Denver late that season and should have won that game - I believe they were better than Denver that year. Stewart's 3 redzone turnovers killed them - if they'd have mustered even 3 points total on those three drives, we'd have had overtime. F'n Kordell.

Good posting - can't ignore the redzone mistakes. Brutal stuff.

 

[MDSkinner]

Bill Cowher can coach my team anyday. The guy is one of the best coaches in the league.

 

[Stillers Jr.]

It's pretty obvious Airbornmedic is a hater on a trip. Trying to rationalize with an irrational person is a convesation that is going nowhere fast. I still think it should be mandatory to have your fav team info available when dopey posts like this are made...

 

[airbornemedik]

Hey if your gonna talk crap about the post, read it first. I never said Cowher was a bad coach, hes a great coach, in the regular season. Thats what makes him a Postseason Choker, we all know he can get the job done in the Reg season. It just seems to me he gets more conservative in the playoffs and goes away from what got them there.I can think of at least 3 years right off the top of my head Steelers were favorites to win the SB and ended up losing in the playoffs, thats choking to me.

 

[Mr. Rob Otto]

Cowher is a great coach, but he's in danger of falling into that "best coach who couldn't win the big one" category. But he has a young QB so he'll have other chances even if he doesn't make it this year. He always coaches a tough, grind-it-out football team, but they don't always play tough in the playoffs. Sunday they did.And the one time he did make the SB, the Colts guy (ironic that those were the teams) dropped a sure interception that would have ended their season. Even then, Harbaugh almost completed a crazy hail mary at the end of the game. Something always seems to work against Pittsburgh in the playoffs (post 1980).This is as good of a shot as he'll get. There's no dominant NFC team and Denver is surely beatable, even though they're undefeated at home. At some point you have to wonder if he can finish a season.I'm not a Steelers fan, but I like Cowher. Still, he has something to prove. The "One For the Thumb" phrase could drink legally if it were a person. It's time to get the job done.

 

[Godsbrother]

Hey if your gonna talk crap about the post, read it first. I never said Cowher was a bad coach, hes a great coach, in the regular season. Thats what makes him a Postseason Choker, we all know he can get the job done in the Reg season. It just seems to me he gets more conservative in the playoffs and goes away from what got them there.

I can think of at least 3 years right off the top of my head Steelers were favorites to win the SB and ended up losing in the playoffs, thats choking to me.

OK, so what years were they favored to win the SB?

 

[Ghost Rider]

I still blame that loss on Stewart. IIRC, the Steelers had just beaten the Broncos in Denver late that season and should have won that game - I believe they were better than Denver that year. Stewart's 3 redzone turnovers killed them - if they'd have mustered even 3 points total on those three drives, we'd have had overtime. F'n Kordell.

I don't think it is as simple as saying if the Steelers had gotten three points on any of those drives, they would have gone to overtime or even won. Denver's defense was playing well and forcing turnovers, so Denver's offense was pretty conservative in the second half. Had the score been closer (Pitt trailed by 10 until late), who is to say Denver wouldn't have been more aggressive on offense? Notice that once Pittsburgh made the score 24-21, Denver got two first downs, ran the clock out and Pittsburgh never saw the ball again.

I can think of at least 3 years right off the top of my head Steelers were favorites to win the SB and ended up losing in the playoffs, thats choking to me.

What years? Last year was probably the only year they were the favorite going into the playoffs. In '94, the year they lost to SD in the AFC title game, the 49ers and Cowboys were the favorites to win it all.

In '95, the year they lost to Dallas in the Super Bowl, they were not even the favorite in their conference. The Chiefs were.

In '97, the year they lost to Denver in the AFC title game, Green Bay was the favorite going into the playoffs and, once again, the Chiefs, who were on a rampage, were the AFC favorite (before losing to Denver in the divisional round).

In '01, the first time they lost to the Patriots in the AFC title game, the Rams were heavy favorites to win it all. They, obviously, were upset by the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

 

[Godsbrother]

What years? Last year was probably the only year they were the favorite going into the playoffs.

The Steelers were home 'dogs against the Patriots last year in the AFC Championship Game.

 

[Pat Patriot]

What years?  Last year was probably the only year they were the favorite going into the playoffs.

The Steelers were home 'dogs against the Patriots last year in the AFC Championship Game.

Thats because the week before the Steelers played like dog poo but beat the Jets and the Pats destroyed the Colts. Going into the Playoffs, the Steelers were the slight favorite.

 

[Godsbrother]

What years?  Last year was probably the only year they were the favorite going into the playoffs.

The Steelers were home 'dogs against the Patriots last year in the AFC Championship Game.

Thats because the week before the Steelers played like dog poo but beat the Jets and the Pats destroyed the Colts. Going into the Playoffs, the Steelers were the slight favorite.

I would love to see a link showing this. I have searched and the best I could come up with was an article written a few weeks before the end of the season that showed the Patriots were the favorites to win the Super Bowl, followed by the Eagles, Steelers and Colts. LinkyI do know that the Patriots were the favorites to win every playoff game they played last year, something you cannot say about the Steelers. I also remember that most of the analysts felt that Patriots, with Brady and Belichick, would repeat as Super Bowl champs. The knock on the Steelers going into the playoffs last year was that no rookie QB had ever won the Super Bowl.

So if you can point me to a link showing the Vegas odds going into last year's playoffs I would really appreciate it. If not, I will standby my recollection that the Patriots were favored to go to and win the Super Bowl last year.

 

[Stillers Jr.]

What years? Last year was probably the only year they were the favorite going into the playoffs.

The Steelers were home 'dogs against the Patriots last year in the AFC Championship Game.

Thats because the week before the Steelers played like dog poo but beat the Jets and the Pats destroyed the Colts. Going into the Playoffs, the Steelers were the slight favorite.

I would love to see a link showing this. I have searched and the best I could come up with was an article written a few weeks before the end of the season that showed the Patriots were the favorites to win the Super Bowl, followed by the Eagles, Steelers and Colts. LinkyI do know that the Patriots were the favorites to win every playoff game they played last year, something you cannot say about the Steelers. I also remember that most of the analysts felt that Patriots, with Brady and Belichick, would repeat as Super Bowl champs. The knock on the Steelers going into the playoffs last year was that no rookie QB had ever won the Super Bowl.

So if you can point me to a link showing the Vegas odds going into last year's playoffs I would really appreciate it. If not, I will standby my recollection that the Patriots were favored to go to and win the Super Bowl last year.

Please Godsbrother...too much rationality may hurt their brains...

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Hey if your gonna talk crap about the post, read it first. I never said Cowher was a bad coach, hes a great coach, in the regular season. Thats what makes him a Postseason Choker, we all know he can get the job done in the Reg season. It just seems to me he gets more conservative in the playoffs and goes away from what got them there.

I can think of at least 3 years right off the top of my head Steelers were favorites to win the SB and ended up losing in the playoffs, thats choking to me.

Please tell me what years they were favored to win the Super Bowl. Maybe 1....absolutely not 3.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I still blame that loss on Stewart.  IIRC, the Steelers had just beaten the Broncos in Denver late that season and should have won that game - I believe they were better than Denver that year.  Stewart's 3 redzone turnovers killed them - if they'd have mustered even 3 points total on those three drives, we'd have had overtime.  F'n Kordell.

I don't think it is as simple as saying if the Steelers had gotten three points on any of those drives, they would have gone to overtime or even won. Denver's defense was playing well and forcing turnovers, so Denver's offense was pretty conservative in the second half. Had the score been closer (Pitt trailed by 10 until late), who is to say Denver wouldn't have been more aggressive on offense? Notice that once Pittsburgh made the score 24-21, Denver got two first downs, ran the clock out and Pittsburgh never saw the ball again.

I can think of at least 3 years right off the top of my head Steelers were favorites to win the SB and ended up losing in the playoffs, thats choking to me.

What years? Last year was probably the only year they were the favorite going into the playoffs. In '94, the year they lost to SD in the AFC title game, the 49ers and Cowboys were the favorites to win it all.

In '95, the year they lost to Dallas in the Super Bowl, they were not even the favorite in their conference. The Chiefs were.

In '97, the year they lost to Denver in the AFC title game, Green Bay was the favorite going into the playoffs and, once again, the Chiefs, who were on a rampage, were the AFC favorite (before losing to Denver in the divisional round).

In '01, the first time they lost to the Patriots in the AFC title game, the Rams were heavy favorites to win it all. They, obviously, were upset by the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

I know it isn't that simple, and there's no guaranteeing they would have won, but based on the fact that they'd beaten Denver at Mile High just a few weeks before, I felt they were a slightly better team going in. 3 red zone turnovers are just too much to overcome - I still think they'd have won that game without those blunders, but that's really neither here nor there. Denver won, and they deserved to win.Nice job on the favorites each year. I thought there may have been one year where they were favored going in, but that may have just been ME who favored them (I was thinking '97 - again, still believe they could have won it all if not for Kordell's untimely mistakes,) I wouldn't say they were favored going into the plyoffs last year at all, even being 15-1, considering they were a home dog in the AFC title game. I'd say New England was clearly the favorite going into last year's postseason.

 

[Pat Patriot]

What years?  Last year was probably the only year they were the favorite going into the playoffs.

The Steelers were home 'dogs against the Patriots last year in the AFC Championship Game.

Thats because the week before the Steelers played like dog poo but beat the Jets and the Pats destroyed the Colts. Going into the Playoffs, the Steelers were the slight favorite.

I would love to see a link showing this. I have searched and the best I could come up with was an article written a few weeks before the end of the season that showed the Patriots were the favorites to win the Super Bowl, followed by the Eagles, Steelers and Colts. LinkyI do know that the Patriots were the favorites to win every playoff game they played last year, something you cannot say about the Steelers. I also remember that most of the analysts felt that Patriots, with Brady and Belichick, would repeat as Super Bowl champs. The knock on the Steelers going into the playoffs last year was that no rookie QB had ever won the Super Bowl.

So if you can point me to a link showing the Vegas odds going into last year's playoffs I would really appreciate it. If not, I will standby my recollection that the Patriots were favored to go to and win the Super Bowl last year.

The Patriots werent even favored against Indy at home in the 2nd round until the day of the game. I got the Pats at pick in that game and made a ton of money.The Steelers were the #1 seed in the AFC which was much stronger than the NFC. They were 15-1. They had already beaten the Pats at home earlier in the year 34-20. They had beaten both the Pats and Eagles back to back earlier in the season. Until proven otherwise, I will stand by the fact that the Steelers were favored to win it all until they #### the bed against the Jets.

 

[SSOG]

If you want to call the guy a choker in the AFC Championship game, that's one thing. I disagree, but at least you have some ground to stand on (since he's 1-4 all-time in AFCCs).That said, how can you call the guy a choker in the PLAYOFFS? He's got a 10-9 career postseason record... which means he has, to this point, won more frequently than he has lost in the playoffs. That is not a choke.

 

[Godsbrother]

What years?  Last year was probably the only year they were the favorite going into the playoffs.

The Steelers were home 'dogs against the Patriots last year in the AFC Championship Game.

Thats because the week before the Steelers played like dog poo but beat the Jets and the Pats destroyed the Colts. Going into the Playoffs, the Steelers were the slight favorite.

I would love to see a link showing this. I have searched and the best I could come up with was an article written a few weeks before the end of the season that showed the Patriots were the favorites to win the Super Bowl, followed by the Eagles, Steelers and Colts. LinkyI do know that the Patriots were the favorites to win every playoff game they played last year, something you cannot say about the Steelers. I also remember that most of the analysts felt that Patriots, with Brady and Belichick, would repeat as Super Bowl champs. The knock on the Steelers going into the playoffs last year was that no rookie QB had ever won the Super Bowl.

So if you can point me to a link showing the Vegas odds going into last year's playoffs I would really appreciate it. If not, I will standby my recollection that the Patriots were favored to go to and win the Super Bowl last year.

The Patriots werent even favored against Indy at home in the 2nd round until the day of the game. I got the Pats at pick in that game and made a ton of money.The Steelers were the #1 seed in the AFC which was much stronger than the NFC. They were 15-1. They had already beaten the Pats at home earlier in the year 34-20. They had beaten both the Pats and Eagles back to back earlier in the season. Until proven otherwise, I will stand by the fact that the Steelers were favored to win it all until they #### the bed against the Jets.

Hmmmph. I feel that I already showed by my link that the Patriots at 14-2 with Brady as a TWO-timer SB winner, were the favorites to win a third SB over the 15-1 Steelers led by a rookie QB going into last year's playoffs.

If you want to convice me you better have something concrete. Otherwise I say BS, especially considering that is a FACT the Steelers were underdogs against the Pats at home.

 

[Bri]

Does anyone else think Bill Cowher might be the biggest choke artisit of all time, besides the Atlanta Braves? Once again the steelers are headed to the AFC championship game, but how many times have weve seen this before?

Maybe, Denny Green and Marty seem to have a stake in this too.What I don't get about him is this. Cowher pulled some trick plays in several playoff games over the year and I can't think of one he lost. Why does he STOP once he gets to a big game?I'm referring to some DL coverring Coates(or Pats TE??) and Bledsoe throwing it right to them completely caught off guard. The whole slash shpeal was sorta fun to watch while he played WR. I know there's more, anyone? Anyhow somewhere in there he loses his "nerve" and I figure it's not just gimmick plays and may be oversimplifying more of his scheme. IMO He's one of the best coaches of this era. To me, no Supe is cancelled out by tons of quality FA losses

 

[SSOG]

Does anyone else think Bill Cowher might be the biggest choke artisit of all time, besides the Atlanta Braves? Once again the steelers are headed to the AFC championship game, but how many times have weve seen this before?

Maybe, Denny Green and Marty seem to have a stake in this too.What I don't get about him is this. Cowher pulled some trick plays in several playoff games over the year and I can't think of one he lost. Why does he STOP once he gets to a big game?

I'm referring to some DL coverring Coates(or Pats TE??) and Bledsoe throwing it right to them completely caught off guard. The whole slash shpeal was sorta fun to watch while he played WR. I know there's more, anyone?

Anyhow somewhere in there he loses his "nerve" and I figure it's not just gimmick plays and may be oversimplifying more of his scheme.

IMO He's one of the best coaches of this era. To me, no Supe is cancelled out by tons of quality FA losses

Didn't he try a surprise onsides kick in the superbowl?

 

[Steel City]

Yes, Cowher is a post-season choker. He lost the Super Bowl with O'Donnell and his three interceptions. Lost the AFC Championship vs. Denver while forcing Kordell to throw 3 picks. He had Kordell throw 3 more picks against the Patriots. And he gave Ben permission to throw three more last year. His QBs have killed him. But, you know what?This kid under center right now is special. Special.I GOTTA FEELING!!!!!

 

[CrossEyed]

Does anyone else think Bill Cowher might be the biggest choke artisit of all time, besides the Atlanta Braves? Once again the steelers are headed to the AFC championship game, but how many times have weve seen this before?

Maybe, Denny Green and Marty seem to have a stake in this too.What I don't get about him is this. Cowher pulled some trick plays in several playoff games over the year and I can't think of one he lost. Why does he STOP once he gets to a big game?

I'm referring to some DL coverring Coates(or Pats TE??) and Bledsoe throwing it right to them completely caught off guard. The whole slash shpeal was sorta fun to watch while he played WR. I know there's more, anyone?

Anyhow somewhere in there he loses his "nerve" and I figure it's not just gimmick plays and may be oversimplifying more of his scheme.

IMO He's one of the best coaches of this era. To me, no Supe is cancelled out by tons of quality FA losses

Didn't he try a surprise onsides kick in the superbowl?

Tried and succeeded. He also went for it twice on 4th down last week in the same drive. He doesn't get more conservative in the playoffs. Anyone who says that hasn't consistently watched the Steelers.