Jeff Reed Picked a Bad Time for His Worst Game

Before Jeff Reed arrived in Pittsburgh, field goal kicking was sometimes a scary event for Steelers fans. Any Pittsburgh fan who has been around a while can't help but remember Kris Brown's four missed field goals in a 13-10 loss to the Ravens in 2001. It was one of those rare cases where a field goal kicker can truly be blamed completely for a loss.

Reed has never had a game like that. Two years ago, he missed two field goals for the entire season. Before Sunday, he hadn't missed two field goals in one game in five years. So it's worth cutting Reed a little slack after he botched two makeable field goals in the Steelers' 17-14 loss to the Bears.Reed doesn't bear the weight of this Steelers' loss entirely. A Troy Polamalu-less Steelers secondary had trouble covering Chicago's tight ends, Santonio Holmes dropped what would have been the game-winning touchdown late in the game and the Steelers' offense seemed to melt away as soon as the rain picked up.

But it is notable that for all of his craziness off the field. Reed has been rock solid on it. This was only the third time in his eight-year NFL career that he had missed two. His most recent two-miss day came in a 13-3 win over the Dolphins in 2004 in a game that was delayed because of a hurricane. And even in that game (which was Ben Roethlisberger's first-ever start), Reed made two additional field goals in conditions that could best be described as ghastly. Reed also went 2-for-4 in a win over the Raiders in 2003.

So he had missed a pair of field goals before, but never in a loss. If Sunday was a one-time fluke, it's no big deal in the long-term scheme of things. Pittsburgh had tough losses last year (like a long-snapper-less loss to the Giants) that didn't derail them. And a loss to a non-conference foe is always preferfable to a conference loss. Now they need to make sure it just doesn't become a habit.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

9-21-2009 @ 10:34AM

robert said...

Thats o.k, it happens! Reed has also won many games for the steelers. Whats more disturbing to me is how the absence of one player ( polamalu) makes the defense look average. Everyone knows that troy is one of, if not THE, best safties in the nfl but is he the only one on the defense that can cover a WR? Get healthy soon troy. The steelers D needs you!

9-21-2009 @ 11:06AM

archermathews said...

To put the blame on Reed is plain stupid...Carter would be most of it and not to think Troy would have made a big difference is stupid too...Tackling was a big part too..Troy would have made them pay..Probably some interceptions too...just to many mistakes..

9-21-2009 @ 11:10AM

dwc77c said...

I'm sure Steeler fans as a whole will blame Reed, two makes and a win, maybe so, but good teams recognize opportunity and find a way to win. Steeler will be fine, let's hope so for the Bears.

9-21-2009 @ 11:11AM

knightscarp said...

Chalk 1 up for the good guys. There's a new sheriff in town and his name is Jay Cuttler

9-21-2009 @ 11:23AM

If you are so hyped up about your "new sheriff in town" , why dont you take the time to learn to spell his last name right?

9-21-2009 @ 11:32AM

MARYCARNDT said...

Thanks Reed!

9-21-2009 @ 11:33AM

hboler21 said...

Hey it was a great game. Reed will be fine he's won many games for the Steelers, just goes to show you that in the NFL you never know how it's going to turn out. The Bears hung in there and at the end made the plays to win game. The Steelers will bounce back, hey it's a long season ahead. Go Steelers!!!

9-21-2009 @ 12:00PM

Its only one game. Nobody thought the steelers were going to be 16-0! Now its on to cincinnati, who looked pretty damn good against greenbay. The steelers only play 3 more teams from the nfc this year. Those games are important, but just take care of business in the afc and see what the nfc offers up in febuary.

9-21-2009 @ 12:12PM

rugbymom said...

Big Ben has to take his share of the loss. Some of his passes were terrible. It sucks but the season is just beginning.

9-21-2009 @ 1:48PM

qbkeeper said...

The downfall started with the stupid Harrison penalty in the end-zone on an incomplete pass. The Bears were on the one yard line - it would have been 2nd and 10 on their own one. Instead it was 1st and 10 at the 16. The mindless mistakes killed us and took the Bears off life support. The secondary gave up on at least three passes that should have been intercepted and would have been if Troy was playing. And not to mention all the penalties on special teams! How frustrating it must have been to try and run the ball back knowing Ike was somewhere around the bend waiting to jack someone in the back who wasn't even in the play. I hope they each get fined by Tomlin for their infractions, maybe next time they'll think about their team and winning instead of themselves. Not the performance of a SB team.

9-21-2009 @ 4:04PM

cjkad said...

Ike has got to go!

9-21-2009 @ 8:14PM

dsmith2316 said...

JETS DEFENCe best in the NFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9-22-2009 @ 2:05AM

donamic1 said...

So the Steelers lost a game,big deal! And Reed is not the only one responsible. Holmes dropped a touchdown pass in the end zone & one other crucial one, the penelty in the Bears end zone hurt Pgh. And even as well as Big Ben played,he did throw a few bad passes. And oh! by the way, tell Ben NOT to telegraph a pass play when he breaks out of the huddle by LICKING his fingers on his throwing hand, this only tells the defence that a pass play is coming. The Steelers still need a big brusing back for those tough 2 or three yards. Forget the loss guys, you won the super bowl last year & lost a few games on the way. GO STEELERS

9-22-2009 @ 8:51AM

kastning4 said...

Really sick of hearing about the Polamalu-less Steelers. No mention of the Urlacher-less Bears

9-22-2009 @ 9:11AM

LoveSteelers said...

You would hear about the Urlacher-less Bears if the Bears had lost. Perhaps you will start hearing about the Urlacher-less Bears this weekend.

9-22-2009 @ 3:55PM

jj48isgreat said...

Oh, I understood all of your post. Really I did. You're must be upset because Urlacher isn't as great as Troy is. Otherwise, they would have also mentioned him as being out of the game...then you could have had your "The Bears are Urlacher-less". Cheer up, maybe they'll notice this weekend.

9-22-2009 @ 9:31AM

kastning4: Did you know that the Steelers are without TROY POLAMALU??!!! You could only imagine what the game would have been like if he weren't hurt!

9-22-2009 @ 12:25PM

Really, they're without Polamalu? So what part of my post didn't you understand?

9-22-2009 @ 4:00PM

kastning4: Oh, I understood all of your post. Really I did. You must be upset because Urlacher isn't as great as Troy is. Otherwise, they would have also mentioned him as being out of the game...then you could have had your "The Bears are Urlacher-less". Cheer up, maybe they'll notice this weekend.

9-22-2009 @ 10:44AM

BlacknGold4Ever said...

yes he missed 2 fg's holmes dropped a td pass and while he's not bad carter isn't polamalu. bad weather bears with home field advantage knew what cleats to wear and I lost count of how many times the steelers db's slipped when trying to make a cut to tackle someone. Don't forget it was REED who saved Hines' rear in ot week 1. I'm not happy but 1 game isn't the season and we'll be saying WE DEY, WE DEY after this Sunday.

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