A season has undoubtedly turned around in the past three weeks, as the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) won three straight games rather convincingly, all at Heinz Field. Now, to continue the winning streak and to keep pace in the crowded AFC North division, the Steelers visit the struggling New York Jets (1-8) on Sunday afternoon.
The Jets, led by head coach Rex Ryan, have lost eight games in a row. The only win for the last place team in the AFC East came in Week 1 against the Oakland Raiders, who are the only remaining winless team in the NFL this season. New York is one of just four teams with zero or one win and the eight-game losing skid is tied for the longest by any team this season along with Oakland.
Pittsburgh is going in the completely opposite direction, atop the league’s most competitive division and coming off wins of 17 and 20 points over Indianapolis and Baltimore. A win Sunday at the Jets would put Pittsburgh solely in first place, a half game ahead of the Cleveland Browns (6-3). Cincinnati is 5-3-1 after a loss Thursday against Cleveland and Baltimore sits at 5-4, currently in last place.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has certainly been a force to be reckoned with this season, especially in the last two games. His 12 touchdowns (six vs. Indianapolis, six vs. Baltimore) are the most thrown in a two-week span by any QB in league history. He has 22 on the season while throwing just three interceptions and is second only to Andrew Luck in passing yards. Antonio Brown has been his top target, totaling the most receiving yards in the league through nine weeks. Pittsburgh also boasts a strong running game, as Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount have combined already for nearly 1,000 yards. Each averages over four yards per carry.
While Pittsburgh arguably has the most balanced and lethal offense, the Jets cannot make such claims. Geno Smith and Michael Vick have combined to run a passing offense that ranks dead last in the league at just 184.4 yards per game (Pittsburgh ranks fourth at 294.4 yards per game). New York’s ground attack ranks a very respectable third (139.9 yards per game), but that has not translated to many points. The Jets average barely 17 points per game, while allowing 28 per game on defense.
Not only is the quarterback situation unclear for the Jets, but there are many questions regarding the future of Ryan and general manager John Idzik. It was widely reported earlier this week that a plane flew over the team’s practice Wednesday with a banner calling for Idzik’s dismissal. The players and coaches are unhappy and were upset with this stunt, likely paid for by a disgruntled fan.
New York’s defensive statistics are not bad, ranking 12th against the pass and seventh against the run. However, turnovers by the offense have put the team in bad situations again and again, allowing short field position and often putting the team behind early and for good. Whether it is Smith or Vick, Eric Decker is the best option at receiver and the Jets have Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory in the backfield. The team also recently acquired Percy Harvin from the Seattle Seahawks; his 11 receptions last week led the team in a loss to the Chiefs.
In last spring’s draft, the most impactful player selected by the Jets was tight end Jace Amaro, who is second on the team in receptions this season. With a handful of weapons, any amount of success and consistency at the quarterback position could have resulted in a much different season for New York. Instead, a loss Sunday would make things even worse for a team desperate for consistency and leadership.
When: Sunday, November 9, 2014 – 1:00 pm EST
Where: MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ
Watch: CBS (Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon)
Spread: Steelers -3.5 (via Bovada)
Last Meeting: Pittsburgh has won three straight in the series, dating back to a 24-19 win in the AFC Championship in January 2011, earning a berth in Super Bowl XLV against Green Bay. The last time they played, Pittsburgh won 19-6 at MetLife Stadium, in October of last season.
Keys for Pittsburgh:
1) Make life even more miserable for Vick (or Smith, if he gets in the game). Vick was actually pretty solid against Kansas City last week, going 21-28 without an interception. He is not nearly as mobile as he once was, so keeping him in the pocket and forcing situations where he must throw could make for a long day once again for the Jets offense.
2) It is a banged up secondary for the black and gold these days, still without Ike Taylor and now missing Troy Polamalu and reserve safety Shamarko Thomas. This means those stepping in will need to play well or else this could be the week New York’s offense finally clicks.
3) Roethlisberger probably will not need six touchdowns this week, but that does not necessarily mean he cannot or will not! Exhausting the Jets defense, attacking often and threatening big plays, and visiting the red zone frequently should continue to be Pittsburgh’s m.o. in this matchup.
Keys for New York:
1) Leave it all out there instead of continuing to phone it in. Play for pride, play for your coach, play to ruin another team’s season. Beating Pittsburgh could be this team’s legacy in a season that otherwise will likely be a total loss. If Vick cares enough and plays to this fullest potential, it will be contagious for the rest of the team.
2) Playing this offense is a test for anyone right now, let alone a 1-8 team. The Jets have talent and playmakers on defense, including defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson and safety Dawan Landry, among others. Yet they have forced merely three turnovers – THREE! – as a unit all season. One interception and two fumble recoveries through nine weeks will usually result in a poor record. New York needs to force a couple turnovers to have a chance in this game.
3) Just as important as forcing turnovers will be, the offense cannot cough it up either. Pittsburgh has feasted on turnovers in the last three games, scoring touchdowns, earning great field position and deflating the likes of Houston, Indianapolis and Baltimore. Even one mistake by the Jets early in this game may very well prove too damaging to overcome.
Prediction: This, for many Steelers supporters, looks, smells, tastes and feels like a “trap game.” First place is on the line, the team is clicking on all cylinders, and the team’s patented, seemingly annual “trap game” has already passed…remember Week 4 against Tampa Bay? Pittsburgh will show up and…so will the Jets. The really, really awful Jets. Pittsburgh wins 30-13.
