Rex Ryan Defends Lack Of Playing Time For Tim Tebow

Jets Nation -- well, at least the tiny corner of Jets Nation here at SB Nation New York -- is up in arms about Tim Tebow only playing three snaps at quarterback for the New York Jets on Sunday in a 27-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Rex Ryan had to deal with the 'why didn't Tebow play more on offense' questions on Monday.

"I thought we were doing a great job offensively early in the game, especially the beginning of that game. Almost the entire first half, I thought we were moving the ball well. For us, we're always going to do what's in the best interests of (our) team, what (we) think is going to give (our) team a chance to be successful.," Ryan said. "We did have some Wildcat plays going into that game, but as the game went on, we're down by 10 points late in that game, I even thought about it. But it was more like, ‘Hey, we're down, let's see if we can't make some plays.' We knew we we're getting a lot of press coverage on the outside, we thought we could make some plays."

Translation: We were losing and Tebow can't throw.

"We've always said from day one that we can do it 20 times, 40 times, 10 times, two times, whatever, but we determine that. It's not just going to be that these specific things have to be lined up. It's just that that's exactly what happened in this game," Ryan said. "Does that mean that given the exact same scenario against a different opponent that we may or may not use it? That'll be (up to) us. We'll always do what we think is in the best interests of our football team."

As we pointed out earlier today, that meant sticking with Mark Sanchez, who completed a Tebow-esque 10-of-27 passes.

Jets Vs. Steelers 2012: Jets Fans Go From High To Low Following Week 2 Loss

After an impressive opening weekend victory against the Buffalo Bills, Jets fans came down to earth a bit as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated New York, 27-10. Many fans are over-reacting to the loss, and the NY media doesn't usually help matters at all.

The writers at SB Nation's Jets blog, Gang Green Nation, took a step back and looked at things a little more pragmatically than most, as you can see by their post-game reaction. The last sentence of the article sums their point up nicely:

It's a long season. If you want to say you are concerned by some things you have seen, and the Jets need to correct them, I will agree with you. But there is time to fix what is wrong, and there are still some good things we can take from the first two weeks.

The Jets will have their chance to rebound next Sunday as they head south to Miami to face the 1-1 Dolphins. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. ET and can be seen on CBS.

For more on the Jets, please be sure to check out our blog Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Is Tebowmania Dead? Tim Tebow Disappearing From Jets' Offense

Tim Tebow has played only 12 offensive snaps in two games, including only three Sunday against Pittsburgh.

Jets Vs. Steelers Analysis: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Do you remember in Independence Day when Bill Pullman picks up the newspaper and grunts "That game couldn't have been pretty."

No? Really? Am I the only person who knows ID4 that well?

Well, if you hadn't watched the New York Jets' 27-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and picked up the paper on Monday and looked at the box score, you would have said the same thing as the great President Thomas Whitmore.

Indeed it wasn't pretty for the Jets, who failed in all three phases of football on Sunday in falling to 1-1 on the season. Before we dish on what was bad, and hoo boy was there a lot of bad, we'll get the very short amount of good from yesterday's poor showing out of the way.

(via sbnation)

The Good

It might already seem like a decade ago, but the Jets' first drive of the game was as good as anything you'll see from Mark Sanchez. He was 4-of-5 for 80 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, of course, that was the bulk of the Jets' offensive production for the entire game as they looked lost for the most part after their first drive.

The Jets used the Wildcat on three plays (in a row, interestingly enough), starting with Tim Tebow's 23 yard run. On the next play, Tebow handed to Joe McKnight for his only carry of the day, a 12 yard scamper. Unfortunately, Shonn Greene ruined the party with a six yard loss, at which point Sanchez retook the reins in a less-than-ideal situation. But as MeatLoaf once so eloquently put it, two out of three ain't bad.

Bilal Powell showed some flashes and led the Jets in rushing with 33 yards on nine carries. More on this in a bit.

Garrett McIntyre, ladies and gentlemen. Starting in place of the injured Bryan Thomas at outside linebacker, McIntyre recorded seven total tackles, including four for losses and added two sacks. Unfortunately, when Garrett McIntyre is your best player on the field, that leaves a lot left for us to discuss in the next section.

The Bad and The Ugly

It's kind of hard to make a discernable difference between "The Bad" and "The Ugly" from Sunday's Jets performance, so we're going to mesh it all together into one big slopfest. We start with the offense, which was shutout after their opening two drives netted their entire scoring output of 10.

The Jets' receivers had an awful day, led by Santonio Holmes. Holmes absolutely has nobody else to blame for his horrible performance against his former team. Sanchez threw his way 11 times. Sure, not every throw was on the money, but Holmes only hauled in three catches for 28 yards. He dropped numerous passes, and spent most of the day looking for calls on the Pittsburgh defense, some of which he actually was able to coax the officials into. But overall it was a terrible game for Holmes, who this time can't complain that he was ignored by the game plan or by his quarterback. His poor output was solely on him.

The rest of the Jets' receivers were manhandled by the Steelers' defensive backs. Stephen Hill was only targeted two times and had no receptions. In the second quarter, Sanchez appeared to hit Hill deep down the sideline on a post-corner route, but the rookie couldn't haul it in. It wasn't a blatant drop, but it was also a makeable play. Jeremy Kerley caught the Jets' longest passing play of the game, a 45 yarder which helped set up their only touchdown of the game on their opening series. But Kerley also had a key hand in the loss by muffing a third quarter punt. The Jets had problems with turnovers on special teams last season. There's almost nothing more backbreaking in a football game than turning the ball right back over after your defense has made a stand.

Pittsburgh won the time of possession battle 36:36-23:24. A big reason for that is the Jets' inability to run the ball with any effectiveness, and it starts with Greene. The more you watch Greene - this is now his second season as the Jets' feature back - it becomes more and more apparent that he just isn't a starting-level NFL running back. He hits the hole with no gusto whatsoever, doesn't even attempt to make anybody miss (I guess you have to give him credit for knowing his limitations), has ball security problems, and has almost never, ever had two consecutive good games. When Bilal Powell averages a measly 3.7 yards a carry, and that has an Upper East Side apartment full of Jets fans clamoring for him, you know you have a problem at running back.

You'd be hard pressed to find a worse starting running back in the entire league right now. Go ahead, look at the depth charts around the NFL, and tell me one team that would be better off if they had Greene at running back over their current starter. I honestly don't think you can. With that, it is of my personal opinion that Greene is the NFL's worst No. 1 running back. The Jets should either start Powell next week against the Dolphins, or at the very least split the carries 50/50 between the two.

Now, we move to the Jets' defense, which obviously had a huge hand in the discrepancy of time of possession. New York couldn't get off the field when it needed to the most, allowing the Steelers to convert eight of their 15 third downs. Not having Darrelle Revis hurt, as Kyle Wilson and Antonio Cromartie both had rough days - especially Cromartie who made a terrible play on Mike Wallace's third quarter, 3^rd-and-16, 37-yard touchdown, in which Ben Roethlisberger's pass seemed to hang in the air for about an hour. In total, Roethlisberger picked the Jets' secondary apart to the tune of a QB rating of 125.1, the highest ever against Rex Ryan's Jets' defense. Through two weeks, the Jets' defense is averaging 27.5 points allowed a game.

However, Ryan did a good job of dialing up the correct blitzes to get pressure on Roethlisberger. It's true that Big Ben is one of the best in the league at avoiding pressure and extending plays, but the Jets' tackling in the backfield was an abomination. New York had countless opportunities for sacks that they whiffed on, including on Wallace's touchdown. In total, the Jets' tackling was downright bad all over the field, but was magnified the most on the missed sack opportunities.

The loss put the Jets back to Earth a little bit, but it's no death knell. They simply played a poor game, in a place where its very tough to win against another good, desperate team. Would you rather have lost on the road against Pittsburgh, or at home against the Arizona Cardinals (here's looking at you, New England)? With that, the entire AFC East is 1-1, and if Denver loses on Monday at Atlanta, most of the conference will be 1-1 as well. The Jets missed an opportunity to take an early lead in the division, so it's disappointing, but it's not exactly a game to be up in arms about.

If they fall in Miami next week? That's another story.

New York Jets Injury Report: Roster Intact After Steelers Loss

The New York Jets avoided any serious injuries on Sunday in their loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jets-Steelers Final Score: Pittsburgh Defeats New York, 27-10

Ben Roethlisberger completed 24 of 31 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns Sunday to propel the Pittsburgh Steelers past the New York Jets, 27-10, at Heinz Field. Roethlisberger helped the Steelers (1-1) score 21-unanswered points, 14 in the second half, to hand the Jets (1-1) their first loss of the season and place some doubt in the mind of the New York fanbase that watched its offense struggle against a physical Pittsburgh defense, which was without Troy Polamalu.

A week after torching the Buffalo Bills defense, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez looked shaky completing just 10 of 27 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown. Sanchez's play was especially suspect in the second half were he was just 6-for-17 for 58 yards. Tim Tebow saw little action carrying the ball just once for 22 yards.

Early on, the Jets did have everything clicking as they scored on their first possession of the game -- an eight-play, 90-yard drive that featured a 45-yard reception by wide receiver Jeremy Kerley and ended with a 14-yard reception by wide receiver Santonio Holmes from Sanchez -- to take a 7-3 lead with 4 minutes, 24 seconds to play in the first quarter.

New York led 10-6 after a 38-yard field goal by Nick Folk capped a 12-play, 61-yard drive with 9:38 to go in the first half.

From there, it was all Pittsburgh which reclaimed the lead near the end of the first half by driving 80 yards in 11 plays. The march was capped by a 1-yard touchdown reception by Heath Miller.

The Steelers pushed their lead to 20-10 with a 37-yard third-quarter touchdown reception by Mike Wallace, and capped the game's scoring with an impressive 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that sucked more than 10 minutes off the clock and gave Pittsburgh a 27-10 advantage with 3:41 remaining.

Overall, a victory in Pittsburgh was a lot to ask for but there will, again, be question marks heading into Week 3's match up at the Miami Dolphins.

For more on the Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation. For more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

Jets-Steelers Score Update: Pittsburgh Leads 20-10 As Jets' Offense Disappears

The New York Jets' offense has sputtered in the second half — really, ever since the Jets marched down for a touchdown in their first drive of the game — and the Jets now find themselves down, 20-10, to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the end of the third quarter.

Mark Sanchez has been as invisible as a quarterback can be. He's completed just three passes in the second half, and has looked bad all day. He's 7-17 for 102 yards and a touchdown. He's missed a few throws high, and it's a wonder he hasn't been intercepted at this point. The running game has also been nowhere to be found. Outside of a Tim Tebow 22-yard keeper, the Jets are averaging a little more than three yards per carry.

The Steelers got their touchdown on a great end zone catch by Mike Wallace, who barely got both feet in — the replay confirmed it — and Ben Roethlisberger has been surgical in his dissection of the Darrelle Revis-less Jets secondary.

For more on the Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation. For more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

John Conner Injury: Jets Fullback Goes Down With Leg Injury

New York Jets starting fullback John Conner went down with what appeared to be a right knee injury with about nine minutes left in the third quarter. Conner, the only fullback on the team's active roster, was clutching his right knee and still on the ground when the CBS feed went to commercial, and there was no sign of him on the field when the commercials ended, nor any mention of him on the telecast.

Behind Conner, who provides little to no usage as a runner or receiver out of the backfield, Shonn Greene, who left briefly with a head injury himself before returning for the second half, and Bilal Powell, who played in Greene's place, have combined for 54 yards rushing on 17 carries. Conner has seen his appearances diminish this year under new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, but the Jets will still miss him if he is out for extended time.

For more on the Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation. For more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

Shonn Greene Injury: Jets RB Returns For Second Half

Shonn Greene left the New York Jets' Week 2 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the second quarter with a head injury, but after being looked at by trainers in the locker room, he was able to start the second half. To reinforce how healthy he was, the Jets looked his way on their first three plays of the drive, and he was able to pick up a first down all by himself (and the offensive line).

Greene ran seven times for 23 yards in the first half, so he wasn't exactly tearing up the field, but the Jets have long appreciated his ability to get upfield — he's rarely tackled for loss – despite his lack of big-play ability. In the Jets' Week 1 victory against the Buffalo Bills, Greene had 27 rushes for 94 yards and a touchdown. He had 1,054 yards and six touchdowns in his first year as a full-time starter in 2011.

For more on the Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation. For more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

Jets Vs. Steelers Score Update: Pittsburgh Leads, 13-10, At The Half

The first half of the Week 2 game between the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers has been a back-and-forth affair. Despite the head injury to Shonn Greene, the Jets were leading until just more than a minute was left before intermission. That's when Ben Roethlisberger hit Heath Miller in the corner, beating David Harris, to give the Steelers a 13-10 lead. After a nice return from Joe McKnight, the Jets decided to let the clock run out. The Jets will receive to start the second half.

Mark Sanchez opened the Jets' first drive with a 45-yard completion to Jeremy Kerley and later threw a touchdown to former Steeler Santonio Holmes. Greene and Bilal Powell, who subbed in after Greene left the game, had seven carries each for a combined 48 yards. Sanchez was 4-of-10 for 80 yards and that single touchdown. Kerley, with that long reception, leads the team in receiving.

Former Jet Jerricho Cotchery had a big reception to set up Miller's touchdown on third down, before Yeremiah Bell, a free agent acquisition from Miami this offseason, popped him at the one-yard line. Bell leads the Jets in tackles with four at the half.

For more on the Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation. For more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

Shonn Greene Injury: Jets Running Back Shonn Greene Leaves Game With Apparent Head Injury

New York Jets running back Shonn Greene is in the locker room during his team's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, after taking a shot to the head courtesy of safety Ryan Mundy. Greene, who started for the Jets, appeared woozy when coming back to the huddle after the play, and quarterback Mark Sanchez saw and sent him to the sideline. Greene was getting checked out on the sideline, then went jogging to the locker room just a few minutes later.

Greene, who was lambasted last season for his largely unproductive performance after being given the starting job, had a nice opening game in the team's blowout win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. He had 27 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown. He did fumble twice, but the Jets were able to recover both of them.

With Greene out, the Jets will rely on Joe McKnight and Bilal Powell as their running backs, and Sanchez is likely going to be throwing more often.

For more on the Jets, make sure to visit Gang Green Nation. For news and notes around the league, check out SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Jets vs. Steelers 2012: Game Preview, Kickoff Time, TV Schedule And More

The New York Jets will travel to Heinz Field for a clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon.

Jets Vs. Steelers: Joe McKnight Could Play At Cornerback, Per Report

New York Jets running back Joe McKnight could see some time on defense when the Jets take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to a New York Daily News report.

The Jets may expand Joe McKnight's role in an unconventional way against the Steelers on Sunday. The Daily News has learned that McKnight, who was beaten out by Bilal Powell for the Jets' third-down running back job, practiced at cornerback this week

Pittsburgh, which used to be a ground-and-pound team, now seemingly have a pass-first offense with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm. With Darrelle Revis out with a concussion, the Jets could be thin at cornerback.

McKnight does have experience playing defense. As the Daily News pointed out, McKnight was a cornerback and free safety in high school, before transitioning to a full-time running back at USC.

If McKnight is used on defense, it almost certainly won't be in a featured role. Still, don't be alarmed if you see the Jets running back playing defensive back on Sunday -- it's by design.

Check out Gang Green Nation for more on the Jets.

Jets Injury Report: Darrelle Revis, Dustin Keller Listed As Out

Rex Ryan and the New York Jets released their Week 2 injury report Friday afternoon, and star cornerback Darrelle Revis (concussion) is among four Jets that are listed as out for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Revis suffered a mild concussion during the team's season opener against the Buffalo Bills. The Jets will now look to their 2010 first-round draft pick Kyle Wislon to help fill the void against Pittsburgh's dynamic receivers.

However, the team could find themselves in a even bigger hole at the cornerback position this Sunday, with cornerbacks Isaiah Trufant (ankle) and Antonio Cromartie (sholder) also finding themselves on the injury report.

The Jets will also be without starting tight end Dustin Keller (hamstring), tackle Dennis Landolt (knee) and outside linebacker Bryan Thomas (hamstring) for Sunday's matinee.

Of the four players listed as out for Friday's game, Revis was the only player to practice on a limited or full basis Friday.

For more on the Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation. For more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

Tim Tebow Press Conference, 09.14.12: Trade Demand Rumor 'Pretty Funny'

On who could run the Wildcat best other than him...
I don't know, that's a good question. I feel like we have a lot of talented guys on this offense. I feel, if practiced, a lot of guys could step up and do it.

On Joe McKnight...
Well, his athleticism, his skillset, is very unique. He's someone that is very fast, very athletic, can be kind of like a slash, a receiver, (and) a running back. He can do a lot of things and that's someone that's very rare.

On how big of a factor the Wildcat can be against Pittsburgh ...
Well, we want to be a factor and be able to be effective and execute and be efficient when we're in there. But, I think that also depends on play calling time and how many opportunities they put in (for) the Wildcat. We just want to find ways to hold on to the ball, to get first downs, to keep our defense off of the field and if we can do that through the Wildcat, that'd be great.

On if he likes the fact that other teams don't know how he will be used...
I don't know. I guess there's some sort of (benefit in) them having to plan without knowing exactly (what we're going to do), which is good. (It) definitely takes up more of their practice time and reps and thinking about certain things. So in that way, I think it's a good thing.

On the reports stating he will ask for a trade in 2013...
That's what these guys told me about a little bit ago. I find that pretty funny. It's about as true as me living in Hoboken, I think. (laughter) I guess it's just part of what you have to deal with, is rumors and stuff like that, I don't know. All I can say is, I love being here as a Jet, I'm thankful for it and I want to be here for a long time. I guess you just have to put up with stuff like that.

On if he has anything against Hoboken...
(Laughter) Nothing, except everybody says I live there, still to this day.

On if he sees similarities between working with Coach Ryan and Coach Westhoff...
Yeah, there are definitely some similarities.

On the similarities between Coach Ryan and Coach Westhoff...
(The) passion. The way they just coach, it's kind of similar as far as, (they are) just very outgoing, serious, but kind of humorous at the same time, if that makes sense. (They are) never afraid to step in there, in the middle of plays. (It) doesn't always have to be perfect, it's kind of coaching in a bit of a chaotic way, which is kind of on the run and it's fun. I think that's effective, as well.

On whether Westhoff has talked to him about other players he has used in a similar way...
Yeah, he has talked to me about certain things he did with Brad Smith and other guys. Being around Coach Westhoff, you hear a lot of stories. He's one of the best I've been around as far as telling stories. So you hear a lot of stories about old guys and stuff that he did in all sorts of situations.

Jets-Steelers Official Injury Report: Darrelle Revis, Dustin Keller Out

We already reported the news that New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis will not play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a mild concussion. Tight end Dustin Keller (hamstring) will also not play. For Pittsburgh, running back Rashard Mendenhall (knee) is doubtful, and linebacker James Harrison (knee) and safety Troy Polamalu (calf) are questionable.

Here is the complete reportL

JETS

OUT: TE Dustin Keller (hamstring), G Dennis Landolt (knee), CB Darrelle Revis (concussion), LB Bryan Thomas (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE: RB John Conner (knee), CB Isaiah Trufant (ankle)
PROBABLE: LB Nick Bellore (shoulder), CB Antonio Cromartie (shoulder), DT Mike Devito (calf), WR Stephen Hill (calf), WR Jeremy Kerley (back), S LaRon Landry (heel), LB Joshua Mauga (rib), G Brandon Moore (hip), DT Sione Pouha (back), WR Chaz Schilens (ankle), S Eric Smith (hip, knee)

STEELERS

OUT: LB Stevenson Sylvester (knee)
DOUBTFUL: RB Rashard Mendenhall (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: LB James Harrison (knee), S Troy Polamalu (calf)
PROBABLE: RB Jonathan Dwyer (foot), DE Evander Hood (back), T Max Starks (illness)

Darrelle Revis Officially Out For Jets-Steelers Game

Following mixed reports throughout the week, the New York Jets and coach Rex Ryan have officially ruled Darrelle Revis out for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Revis has been unable to practice all week as he continues to suffer symptoms from a possible concussion he sustained last weekend against the Buffalo Bills.

The All-Pro corner was medically cleared to resume physical activities on Wednesday, and stretched with the team. However, he was never cleared to resume practice.

During Sunday's victory against the Bills, Revis accrued four tackles and an interception.

Kyle Wilson, in his third year with the Jets, is likely to fill in for Revis. Wilson, like Revis, was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the NFL draft.

For more on the New York Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation and for everything on the Jets-Steelers Week 2 showdown, check back with this stream.

Darrelle Revis Injury Update: Corner Making Progress, Practices Following Concussion

New York Jets shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis participated in individual workouts in the team's practice on Friday, according to New York Post beat writer Bart Hubbuch via Twitter.

Revis suffered a concussion in New York's 48-28 Week 1 victory over the Buffalo Bills, but said Thursday that he was feeling better and would leave his playing status for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the hands of doctors. Head coach Rex Ryan echoed that sentiment, saying the All-Pro cornerback will not play if he is not 100 percent, and that his ultimate status could be determined as late as Saturday. His involvement in practice on Friday signals at the least that his condition is improving.

The concussion most likely occurred when Revis was accidentally kicked in the head by teammate Bart Scott, following an attempted tackle of Buffalo running back C.J. Spiller.

For more on the New York Jets and Darrelle Revis, head over to Gang Green Nation and for all everything on the Jets-Steelers Week 2 showdown, check back with this stream often.

Jets Vs. Steelers, Key Matchups: Injuries to Darrelle Revis, Troy Polamalu Could Open Things Up

The popular contention is that Sunday's tilt between the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers will be a defensive battle. However, there are injuries to both team's most important defensive players, which could possibly see this game open up if neither can go.

For the Jets, its Darrelle Revis, who suffered a mild concussion late in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. As of Friday morning, Revis had been cleared to work out but not cleared for contact, and Rex Ryan has said that he won't let Revis fly out to Pittsburgh on Sunday if he hadn't been cleared. It looks like the Jets will go into Pittsburgh without the best corner in the NFL. And while Troy Polamalu isn't what he used to be and is getting up there in age, the Steelers are a better defense with him. Polamalu has not practiced this week after injuring his calf against Denver, and additionally, linebacker James Harrison is still nursing a knee injury and may not go. Could these key injuries on defense open the door for both offenses? Here are some key matchups in Sunday's high-profile game:

- Jets' Patchwork Secondary vs. Steelers Receivers/Ben Roethlisberger - If Revis can't go, Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson will have to cover the Steelers' dynamic receivers Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. Expect Ben Roethlisberger to test both early and often. You don't have too many chances to hit big passing plays against the Jets when Revis is out there, so I expect the Steelers to take some chances if Revis is out. Additionally, that means more time for Isiah Trufant and Ellis Lankster in the Jets' defensive backfield, which could present some opportunities for Emmanuel Sanders.

-Mark Sanchez vs. Steelers Defensive Backfield - Just like the Steelers trying to take advantage of Revis being out, the Jets might have a few chances to go downfield if Polamalu can't go. Mark Sanchez looked as confident and as comfortable last week as he's ever looked in an NFL game, so his confidence should be pretty high entering a tough place to play. But the Jets can't give too much respect to this vaunted Steelers defense, especially with some of their injuries. The Jets should attack the Steelers downfield the way they did the Bills last week.

-Jets' Defensive Front vs. Steelers' Offensive Line - The Steelers have had a poor offensive line for a few years now, and it doesn't look like it's gotten much better this year, thanks to some more injuries. Last week against the Broncos, Big Ben was sacked five times. The Jets didn't sack Ryan Fitzpatrick last week, and it will be interesting to see if they can turn that around this week. As always Roethlisberger will look to extend plays, often getting himself in a little bit of trouble. But the Jets can make him do that more than he usually wants to if they can disrupt things up front. It would be a good time for Quinton Coples' first NFL sack, or Aaron Maybin to shake off last week's nondescript performance and make an impact.

-Steelers' Run Defense vs. Shonn Greene/Tim Tebow - If I were the Jets, I'd challenge the Steelers downfield, but I have a feeling Rex Ryan and Tony Sparano are going to really want to keep the ball on the ground. Shonn Greene still hasn't proven anything, needing 27 carries against a softened, beaten Bills defense to gain 94 yards. As usual it comes down to the Jets' offensive line, but Greene just hasn't shown any ability to make something out of nothing or gain a few extra yards than his blocking has given him. If the Jets are going to heavily rely on him this week, as I think they are, Greene's going to have to do a bit better than stumbling for three yards on every carry. And oh yeah, there's Tim Tebow, who the jets are definitely going to feature again in the Wildcat and probably use a little more creatively this week. Tebow only had 11 yards on five carries in his Jets debut last week. A few big runs from him would help keep the Steelers' defense off their toes.

Week 2 NFL Picks: Jets Vs. Steelers

After a solid season-opener, many experts believe the New York Jets will lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 2 on Sunday.

Jets Injury Report: Darrelle Revis And Dustin Keller Highlight Jets Injured

The injury report for the New York Jets is out for Thursday, and cornerback Darrelle Revis still did not practice. The all-pro has been out after suffering a concussion against Buffalo in the opener, and it looks unlikely that he'll be playing this Sunday against the Steelers.

Dustin Keller suffered a setback in practice with his hamstring. He was limited on Wednesday, but was held out completely on Thursday. Bryan Thomas, Isaiah Trufant and LaRon Landry were also held out of Thursday's session.

Wide receiver Stephen Hill had a nice game on Sunday, but he was limited Thursday with a calf problem. Josh Mauga, Eric Smith, John Conner, Sione Po'uha and Jeremy Kerley were also limited on Thursday.

The Steelers had four players that did not participate on Thursday afternoon. James Harrison and Troy Polamalu were the big names that did not practice, with Max Starks and Stevenson Sylvester on the sidelines as well. The Steelers had nobody listed as limited, and Rashard Mendenhall participated fully for the second straight day.

For more on the Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation and continue to check out SB Nation New York.

Fantasy Football Start/Sit Week 2: Jets Edition

Before last Sunday, I thought there was a great possibility that the 2012 New York Jets could have the worst combined fantasy football prospects in the entire league? And why not? Gang Green was coming off a preseason in which their starters didn't score a touchdown, with a shoddy offensive line and one proven receiver. And oh yeah, there was that whole Mark Sanchez/Tim Tebow quarterback controversy thing.

Well after Week 1, the Jets looked like fantasy all stars. Those unproven receivers, Stephen Hill and Jeremy Kerley combined for four touchdowns. Embattled running back Shonn Greene racked up over 90 yards (on 27 carries but shhh...that doesn't matter in fantasy) and found the end zone in garbage time. Even Sanchez was one of the top fantasy QBs with a completel 266 yard, three touchdown performance. Much like the Jets' in actual football, the fantasy Jets shocked everyone in Week 1.

But now Week 2 provides a much more stern test as the Jets travel to Pittsburgh for a date with the Steelers. As you prepare your fantasy team for Week 2, here's what you should do with any Jets you have on your roster.

Start

Santonio Holmes - WR: Holmes is going back to his old stomping grounds, and while he didn't reach the end zone in Week 1, he caught 4 balls for over 60 yards. He also nearly hauled in what would have been a highlight-reel touchdown grab, so it looks like the Jets are trying to make a more concerted effort in finding him consistently. He's a solid WR2 or flex play.

Shonn Greene - RB: Expect this to be a pretty close, defensive battle, which means Greene should get a lot of carries. He has to do a better job of holding onto the ball and he was lucky to not lose either of his two fumbles last week, but he's unquestionably the Jets' top back without much competition from Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight. His biggest competition for carries this week might be Tebow, oddly enough.

Jets Defense/Special Teams: The Steelers' offensive line allowed five sacks last week to the Broncos. The Jets don't have as dynamic a defensive front as Denver, but expect Rex Ryan and Mike Pettine to make a conerted effort to get to Ben Roethlisberger. While historically the Jets don't have a ton of success against Pittsburgh, they've always kept Roethlisberger in check.

Nick Folk - K: I thought last week was a good time to play Folk because I thought it would be a close, defensive battle where the Jets would have trouble getting in the end zone. That didn't happen last week, but I think it'll happen on Sunday.

Sit

Mark Sanchez - QB: Sanchez looked great in Week 1, but there are still too many top fantasy quarterbacks that you'd rather have unless you're in some sort of really deep league. He's solid as a bye-week play, but this early in the season, I'd pass.

Stephen Hill - WR: Hill was so good in his pro debut last week, but I wouldn't expect the Steelers to leave him as free as Buffalo did. Hill did struggle in the preseason, and what separates the top players from the rest is that they can perform at a high level week in and week out. Maybe Hill will be that type of guy, but you need to see him do it for a few weeks in a row in order for him to be a slam dunk start.

Jeremy Kerley - WR: Essentially the same thing can be said about Kerley in terms of consistency. We still need to get a long-term idea of what this Jets offense is really like before we think about starting their 3rd wide receiver in fantasy.

Dustin Keller - TE: Keller only had one catch last week. Unless you're in a really deep league, you can probably find a better option somewhere in the league.

NFL Odds Week 2: Jets Vs. Steelers

The New York Jets haven't silenced all criticism with their 48-point outburst in a win over the Buffalo Bills, as they're underdogs by nearly a touchdown as they head into a Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The slight by oddsmakers might be a little bit less unfounded than people worrying whether the Jets would score a touchdown in 2012 after a dreadful offensive performance in the preseason. Despite a Week 1 loss at the hands of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, nobody doubts the Steelers are one of the best squads the AFC has to offer. Their defense is as strong as ever, and the team looks to get back Rashard Mendenhall after struggling to move the ball on the ground with backup Isaac Redman in Week 1.

That leaves the Jets as the perceived lesser team heading into the matchup, and after using criticism as fuel in their first game, perhaps that's a good thing for the team's fans.

Here's the lines heading into Sunday's game:

Opening line: Steelers -6.5

Current line: Steelers -6

Money lines: Pittsburgh -250, Jets +210

Over/under: 41.5

For more on the Jets, head over to Gang Green Nation and continue to check out SB Nation New York.

Jets Vs. Steelers, Wednesday Injury Report: Darrelle Revis, Jeremy Kerley Do Not Practice

The New York Jets' injury report has been released, and All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis did not practice Wednesday as the Jets prepared for Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers (4:05 p.m. ET on CBS). Revis was listed as having a concussion and reports say he has been cleared for practice Thursday, but has to avoid contact.

Also not participating in practice were wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (back), offensive tackle Dennis Landolt (knee) and linebacker Bryan Thomas (hamstring).

Limited in practice were: safety Eric Smith (knee, hip), tight end Dustin Keller (hamstring), fullback John Conner (knee), defensive tackle Sione Po'uha (lower back) and wide receiver Stephen Hill (calf).

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (calf) did not practice Wednesday. The case was the same for linebacker James Harrison (knee), linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (knee) and running back Jonathan Dwyer (foot).

Defensive end Ziggy Hood (back) was listed as limited, while running back Rashard Mendenhall (knee) fully participated.

For more on the Jets, be sure to check Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York.

Darrelle Revis Injury Update: Cleared For Physical Activity, Not Contact

New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis was cleared for physical activities (running and lifting weights) by team doctors on Wednesday, but has yet to be cleared for contact. Revis suffered a concussion in the Jets' Week 1 victory over the Bills and is hoping to be on the field this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Rex Ryan indicated that the slow progression was the natural process for a player returning from a concussion.

"Obviously, there's stages that he has to get to," Rex Ryan said on Wednesday, referring to steps required by the NFL before a player with a concussion can return fully. "it could be limited (in practice) tomorrow, for instance.... But I don't think he's going to have live contact even if he gets better until much later in the week."

If Revis is unable to go on Sunday, Kyle Wilson would start opposite Antonio Cromartie in his place.

For more on the Jets, be sure to check Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York.

Jets Vs. Steelers: Mike Tomlin Conference Call

After an impressive season-opening win against the Bills, the Jets now hit the road for a tough test against the Steelers in their home opener at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh is smarting from a loss to the Broncos, and will be looking to pull even and get on the board with a win. Mike Tomlin held a conference call and addressed what his team is doing to prepare for the Jets. As expected, Tim Tebow was a topic of conversation, and Tomlin said he wasn't sure what to expect from the Jets back-up quarterback and utility man, stating:

"I don't necessarily have the answer to that. That's something that they control, from a play-calling standpoint. I know that we better be prepared for more than what I saw him do in the game on Sunday. That wasn't very different from what was done in Miami with the likes of Pat White, Ronnie Brown, or others. Obviously, he's a capable passer. That's an element of it that we need to be prepared for."

Tomlin said preparing for the Wildcat look on offense is not quite the undertaking it was a couple years ago, with several teams now using it regularly. The Steelers coach said his team will be ready if Tebow lines up in the Wildcat, but "the process of preparing yourself to play it, is not as difficult as it once was, just because you get exposed to it more often than you did say four or five years ago."

Tebow got the best of the Steelers last season, knocking them out of the playoffs with that dramatic overtime win. Tomlin's team will be ready to exact a measure of revenge on Sunday, but they're not going out of their way to prepare for the multi-dimensional look the Jets can offer at quarterback.

For more on the Jets, please be sure to check out our blog Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Jets Vs. Steelers: Jets Look To Prove Week 1 Wasn't A Fluke

The Jets have a tall order on Sunday when they visit the Steelers trying to prove that their Week 1 win wasn't a fluke.

Jets' Rex Ryan: 'We Think We're A Good Football Team'

The Top 5: Essential Jets-Steelers Games

Darrelle Revis Injury Update: Jets' Cornerback Has 'Mild Concussion'

New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis suffered a mild concussion in a Week 1 win over the Buffalo Bills. Revis was accidentally kicked in the head during the Jets' 20-point win over their division rival, and initial reports indicated that he did not suffer a concussion. But head coach Rex Ryan confirmed that his star cornerback did suffer what he called a mild concussion:

I just watch the tests. I understand it's a mild concussion. He seems to be feeling good. Whatever those scores are, apparently that's low, but again, I'll lean on the doctors and trainers, and we'll see how he progresses during the week.

Ryan confirmed that Revis is not required to sit out the Jets' Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but said he'll continue to follow doctors' orders as the week moves along. The Jets' head coach reiterated that he would err on the side of caution.

For more on the Jets, please be sure to check out our blog Gang Green Nation and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.