Jets at Steelers
The New York Jets have been taking some “Hard Knocks” in what was supposed to be a super season. The AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers plan to dish out plenty more, too.
The reeling Jets, who are coming off two consecutive wretched performances and a public relations nightmare, may have a hard time avoiding a third consecutive loss on Sunday in Pittsburgh, where they have never won.
Led by boisterous head coach Rex Ryan, the Jets proclaimed their greatness often while being filmed by HBO crews for the training camp series “Hard Knocks”.
All it did was put a big target on their backs - and opponents are having great fun taking aim.
New York (9-4) has gone nine straight quarters without an offensive touchdown. The Jets were embarrassed, 45-3, in a primetime showdown with the New England Patriots two weeks ago and they followed that up with another stinker last week.
New York was inexcusably flat in a 10-6 home loss to the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins on Sunday, and there was plenty of blame to go around.
Quarterback Mark Sanchez regressed, finishing 17 of 44 for 216 yards with an interception and a fumble in the loss.
Former Steeler Santonio Holmes dropped a sure touchdown pass, and worst of all, their strength and conditioning coach inexplicably tripped a Dolphins’ player who was covering a punt near the sideline.
Sal Alosi apologized and was fined $25,000 in addition to being suspended indefinitely after the team learned he had ordered players to form a wall on the sideline.
Alosi’s gesture was symbolic of what the Jets have been doing the last few weeks – tripping over their own two feet.
The supposive Super Bowl favorites aren't a lock to even make the postseason. Two of their last three games are road contests against division leaders (Pittsburgh and the Chicago Bears).
Sanchez’s erratic play has been the biggest concern for the Jets. The former Southern California star has the fourth-lowest passer rating (74.2) and third-lowest completion percentage (53.3) in the league.
New York has relied on its potent running game for most of the season, but even that didn’t work last week. The Jets were held to just 87 yards – 56 yards off their season average.
The Jets could struggle to get back on track against the league’s best run defense (60.1 ypg).
Pittsburgh (10-3), meanwhile, is going through similar offensive woes. However, its defense is masking the recent incompetence of a unit that has just two touchdowns in the past three games.
Led by All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh's defense has allowed just 36 points during their four-game winning streak.
Polamalu and LaMarr Woodley each returned an interception for a touchdown and Pittsburgh limited Cincinnati to 190 total yards in a 23-7 victory last week.
Polamalu, who missed the final seven games of last season with a knee injury, has been the biggest reason the Steelers have righted the ship after a 39-26 loss to New England on Nov. 14.
He made a game-clinching interception in a 19-16 win over the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 28. He then came up with the key forced fumble of quarterback Joe Flacco in a 13-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens the following week.
Polamalu has six interceptions, one shy of matching his career high. The Steelers are 24-3 all-time when he has at least one interception (including playoffs).
This will be the first meetings since 2007, when Mike Nugent kicked a 38-yard field goal in overtime, giving the Jets a 19-16 victory. That game was at the Meadowlands, however.
The Jets are 0-6 in Pittsburgh all-time.
Holmes would love to help them pick up their first win at Heinz Field. The Super Bowl XLIII MVP, Holmes was traded to the Jets this offseason for a fifth-round pick after running into some off-the-field issues.