Steelers expected to keep Jets reeling
(subhead)Memorable series moment
Steelers 38, Jets 10
Sept. 20, 1981 at Three Rivers Stadium
These New York Jets are on pace for 44 sacks this season, which is outstanding but well off the team record of 66 set 35 years ago back in 1981. That鈥檚 when the soon-to-be-named 鈥淣ew York Sack Exchange鈥� came to Three Rivers Stadium for a matchup of 0-2 teams. The Jets鈥� front four of Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons, Abdul Salaam and Mark Gastineau lined up against Jon Kolb, Craig Wolfley, Mike Webster, Steve Courson and Larry Brown, and the Steelers ran all over them. The Steelers gained 348 yards rushing 鈥� 13 off the team record 鈥� and ran for five touchdowns. The domination was so complete that the longest run by the Steelers went for only 23 yards. Russell Davis led the way with 100 yards, followed by Frank Pollard with 79 and Franco Harris with 68 yards. As for the Sack Exchange 鈥� so dubbed two months later when the four linemen rang the opening bell on Wall Street 鈥� only Klecko, with one of the two Jets鈥� sacks overall, got home that day.
(subhead)Tale of the tape
鈥淭he defensive line of the New York Jets is really the big part of that defense. The front end鈥檚 better than the back end. In Leonard Williams, Steve McLendon, Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson you鈥檝e got a front four that鈥檚 terrific against the run, but it鈥檚 curious because when you watch them and break it down they play with a high pad level. They get a quick hand extension, very quick, but when they pass rush they鈥檙e very methodical. There鈥檚 no Von Miller who鈥檒l scorch the arc around the tackle, no DeMarcus Ware to get that edge. They methodically move the pocket back and collapse it. The offensive line has its work cut out for them, because they all get after the passer even though they are methodical about it.鈥� 鈥� Steelers Radio analyst Craig Wolfley.
(subhead)Top question
Can the Steelers get rid of the ball before New York鈥檚 front four breaks down the pocket?
Mike Mitchell directed traffic in the Steelers secondary all week against an array of weapons that鈥檚 improving each day: Antonio Brown, an ever-improving Sammie Coates, a returning-to-health Markus Wheaton, Le鈥橵eon Bell and DeAngelo Williams. Mitchell could only chortle when asked what the opposing secondary has on its plate this week in facing that group. But the point here is that the Steelers can work around the hole they have at right tackle, where Marcus Gilbert and Ryan Harris are both out and third-teamer Chris Hubbard steps in. Can Hubbard prevent Wilkerson from sabotaging the Steelers offense? Or will Roethlisberger be able to get rid of the ball quickly to one of his many weapons? We all expect the answer to the latter question to be, 鈥淵es.鈥�
(subhead)Game breakdown
What to look for from the Steelers today at Heinz Field:
ON OFFENSE: If the Steelers can get the pass off, they鈥檒l be throwing into the 31st-ranked QB passer-rating defense and the worst defense for yards allowed per attempt (9.7). The Steelers have their weaponry at its peak while the Jets are expected to be without cornerback Darrelle Revis (doubtful, hamstring) and possibly the other starting cornerback Buster Skrine (questionable, knee).
ON DEFENSE: In Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Jets have one of the coldest quarterbacks in the league. He鈥檚 thrown 10 interceptions and only four touchdown passes. He gets rid of the ball 鈥� only sacked six times 鈥� but perhaps he ought not to sometimes. His primary receiver is Brandon Marshall, but he鈥檚 caught only 16 of the 39 times he鈥檚 been thrown the ball. Eric Decker is out with a shoulder injury, but the Jets have an underrated gem as the No. 3 WR in Quincy Enunwa (23 catches, 243 yards). However, he鈥檚 questionable with a knee injury. The Jets can run the ball with Matt Forte, whom Mike Tomlin thought of when he first scouted Le鈥橵eon Bell. Forte has rushed for 288 yards at 3.6 per carry and also has 11 receptions.
(subhead)Prediction
If Roethlisberger can get rid of the ball, which is very likely, and the defense can stop Forte, which isn鈥檛 as likely but is very possible, the Steelers should win this game handily. It鈥檚 a great spot for them, since Roethlisberger excels in the month of October and the team has historically fared well in the second of back-to-back home games. Steelers, 33-17.