Well isn’t that the million dollar question of the week!

Seriously Steelers Nation, this is one of those reasons NFL coaches get paid the big bucks… and we pay the big bucks to watch (that is, if you attend games, or have Sunday Ticket).

Everyone wants to comment on the 2 point conversion attempts the Steelers made on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Some say it was unnecessary, others will opine that Mike Tomlin was chasing points… but let’s start with the easiest attempts to justify during that game. With each team trading leads (seven of them) the final four attempts, 2 by each team, were more than justified. Had either team converted (neither did) they would have had a 3 point lead.

That’s a field goal… and a big deal. In other words, if Pittsburgh had converted on just one of their two point tries, Dallas couldn’t have had a chance to simply drive down the field, and kick a field goal to win with less than a minute remaining in the game.

Of course that’s now a moot point, since Ezekiel Elliott coasted in for the game-winning touchdown, but had he not, Dan Bailey already converted on the longest field goal ever made at Heinz Field.

That’s how big of a deal the two point tries were.

But were they necessary to start the game? This is where I’ll admit I’m out of my league. I don’t know what kind of chart, with what kind of analytics, head coach Mike Tomlin or offensive coordinator Todd Haley have in their hands. Someone, somewhere, clued them in that it was advantageous to try and go up the extra points… and that if they didn’t, it would still be okay.

Well that, and Tomlin is on record saying he goes for two “because I have Ben”. (That’s justifiable, I suppose.)

Regardless of if you agree with the strategy or not, what’s done is done. I, personally, did not have a problem with the attempts. Since I’ve already mentioned why the last two the Steelers tried (and likewise the last two Dallas tried) were a necessary evil, let’s break down the two that were controversial.

Attempt One

Ah, this will forever be known as the “Ladarius Green” welcome to Pittsburgh play.

The Steelers prized free agent tight end had been absent for all of the 2016 season, up until being moved to the active roster from the PUP list last Saturday. Following the Steelers first drive, and first score, number 89 entered the field to join the huddle for the two point attempt.

It’s no surprise that the play went to him, because it was clearly designed for him.

Le’Veon Bell will stutter step, then cross inward, as Green heads opposite, running a post pattern toward the back corner of the endzone. They get the favorable one-on-one man matchup, but Green is unable to come down with the ball.

I think that’s the biggest gripe among fans, is that this was Green’s first play. However, I think he had to be tested, and I think the Steelers had to put it out there, “on tape” as you will, so that teams must respect #89 in these instances. I’d also rather lose 2 than lose 6 in this situation, and I felt this was as good of a time as any to get Green going.

Consider the options Green will give the offense going forward. His presence alone could help open things up for others (and arguably already has).

Numero Dos

Ah, I loved the contingent of Mexican Steelers fans who made the trip from the country to our south on Sunday. Over 1,000 fans arrived in Pittsburgh, via Mexico, to take part in this game, so I felt like giving them a nod with the subtitle for the Steelers second two point try of the afternoon.

This was another isolation play, this time intended for Antonio Brown as the primary receiver.

Unlike the first attempt, this one is a colossal fail for multiple reasons; not all the Steelers fault.

First, Ben motions Brown to find the coverage. The Cowboys are in man coverage, bumping over to Antonio Brown as he moves to the other side. The coverage is good, so Ben must look for his second option.

There is none.

Here’s a few reasons.

First, if Ben looked off of AB faster, Jesse James engages with a blocker, releases, and comes free. By the time Roethlisberger finds him, it’s too late.

Second, the offensive line does a tremendous job giving him time, but no one gets open. Xavier Grimble, opposite James, does a similar block and release, coming across the middle from the opposite end. Ben is looking his direction, which could also be intended for Le’Veon Bell, who fails to go anywhere. Grimble is tripped up, and falls, as Ben looks for his options.

At this time, AB is viciously shoved out of bounds by his defender, and is out of the play.

This leaves James as the only option, now a poor one, and the pass falls incomplete.

I believe if Bell takes a linebacker with him, one of the two tight ends gets open. I also believe if Brown isn’t slammed near the end of this play, he too finds a way to make a play (as he and Ben usually do).

A lot of people are upset about this attempt and “chasing points”. It looks that way on the scoreboard, but at this point, the extra one point isn’t going to make a difference, and going for two here probably makes much more sense than even the first try to start the game.

Unfortunately none of the attempts on Sunday, by either team, worked out. In fact, Artie Burns makes a nice play to take one of Dallas’ two point tries away from Dez Bryant. In a game where Burns was largely victimized by the Dallas offense, it was one of the few bright spots in his play; and also shows that the two point conversion isn’t automatic, for any team.