Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has taken some criticism this week for failing to throw a challenge flag when running back Rashard Mendenhall appeared to score a touchdown against the Saints, but was ruled down just short of the goal line.
Now Tomlin says he regrets not challenging the play, too.
Tomlin, who had already lost one challenge against the Saints when the Mendenhall play came up, said the Saints’ scoreboard operators never provided him with a good enough replay angle to convince him to use his final challenge.
“When you’re on the road, you don’t get the [good] looks at replays,” Tomlin said. “I didn’t get that sense from our guys, particularly Rashard that he thought he was in, so I didn’t challenge.”
A challenge likely would have ruled the play a touchdown, and the Steelers would have taken a 7-0 lead. As it turned out, the Steelers ended up settling for a field goal and a 3-0 lead in a game they would ultimately lose, 20-10.