A trap game it was as the Steelers were sitting on top of the AFC North ready to take sole possession of first place against one of the worst teams in football and roll into the playoffs but they played the game.
The New York Jets, 1-8, and losers of eight in a row, beat the high-flying Steelers 20-13 for their second win in one of the worst games of the season. The offense did absolutely nothing but turn the ball over forcing the defense into very poor field position all game. Considering the poor field position the offense and Special teams gave them all game the defense played an outstanding game holding the Jets offense led by Michael Vick to mostly field goals after being given excellent field position after the turnovers. The turnovers yielded 17 points in the first quarter. In all fairness the Jets should have scored a lot more points but the defense held them to just 3 points for the rest of the game.
Vick had a so-so game passing for just 132 yards on 10 of 18 passing for 2 touchdowns. And even though the Jets is noted to have a solid ground game, Chris Ivory was held to 54 yards on 14 carries and Chris Johnson 23 yards on 7 carries. Percy Harvin had an OK game with 33 yards rushing and 23 through the air.
Ben Roethlisberger’s numbers looked impressive but he never got his game going. The Steelers won the opening toss but for some strange reason chose to give up the ball, which led to the only solid drive of the day by the Jets in which they marched down field for a field goal.
Roethlisberger was 30 of 43 for 343 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Antonio Brown had 8 receptions for 74 yards to keep him on top of the NFL in receptions 79, and yardage 1074. Le’Veon Bell was held in check not by the Jets defense but by the limited time the offense was on the field. He had 36 yards on 11 carries. For some reason Heath Miller has become the forgotten man with only 3 catches.
Now the Steelers face another weak team in the Tennessee Titans 2-7 coming off a 21-7 lopsided defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens.
The Titans led by rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger just may be weaker than the Jets, but once again they may be good enough to beat the Steelers who haven’t shown they can beat anyone outside of Heinz field.
The Ravens (6-4) bottled up Mettenberger, who went 16 for 27 for 179 yards and an interception in his first road start in the NFL. He was sacked five times and rarely got the chance to comfortably plant both feet in the pocket. He should expect more of the same against the Steelers.
Tennessee didn’t get its initial first down of the second half until 4:37 was left in the game. Soon after that, newcomer Danny Gorrer intercepted a pass to clinch the victory.
The Titans (2-7) have lost seven of eight. It was 7-all at halftime, but Tennessee had three three-and-outs in the third quarter while the Ravens took control.
The Titans running game is just as unimpressive as its passing game. Bishop Sankey had 58 yards on17 carries and only has 360 yards for the season on 92 carries. Shonn Green backs him up with 196 yards on 48 carries.
The air attack is nothing to write home about either. Kendell Wright was the top receiver with 4 catches for 53 yards giving him just 403 yards for the season on 39 catches. The other three receivers are Delanie Walker, 38 receptions for 512 yards, former Steelers receiver Nate Washington who has only 19 catches for 267 yards, and Justin Hunter with 21 receptions for 368 yards. .
If the Steelers can get past the Titans they will go into their bye week at a healthy 7-4, but with big questions of just how good, or bad is this team?
In the AFC North the Cleveland Browns crushed the Cincinnati Bengals 24-3 to take sole possession of first place in the conference at 6-3, dropping the Bengals down to 5-3-1 with the Steelers and Ravens at 6-4. The Browns are showing everyone that they are for real and will be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC North, which is still the only conference with 4 winning teams.
This week the Steelers play the Titans on Monday Night Football, the Bengals face the New Orleans Saints (4-5), the Browns play the Houston Texans (4-5) and the Ravens will enjoy a bye week.
Predictions: Steelers over the Titans, Browns over the Texans, and the Bengals over the Saints.
