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New York Jets At Pittsburgh Steelers - Mission Impossible Continues

By Joe Caporoso

Yes, New York Jets haters you have to deal with another week of Rex Ryan as the same old Jets are back in the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row. This week's opponent is distinctly different from the past two. The Jets will be returning to Pittsburgh, where they won 22-17 back in Week 15 to face the Steelers. Unlike the Colts and Patriots, the Steelers are built around their defense, rushing attack, and ability to throw the ball vertically. There is no hatred or personal vendettas this week as both teams have a healthy respect and admiration for each other.

Pittsburgh didn't look sharp early last week against Baltimore but used a few big plays late in the game to complete a comeback victory. Ben Roethlisberger is always a handful and the Steelers have quietly assembled a collection of very talented receivers who can stretch the field, led by Mike Wallace. Their defense is arguably the most difficult to run against in the NFL but the Jets had some success earlier in the year. Troy Polamalu is back in the lineup but he didn't look like himself last week against the Ravens.

It remains to be seen whether the Jets will get kick returner/Wildcat weapon Brad Smith back for this Sunday's game. Everybody else should be good to go.

Just like the past two weeks, we will be breaking down the offenses tomorrow, the defenses on Thursday, and the special teams on Friday, along with having a few feature articles throughout the week and all the other updates you will need.

A few reasons to feel confident about the Jets' chances to reach the Super Bowl:

  • They won in Pittsburgh a month ago, hence they should be comfortable and confident for this road trip.
  • The Jets ran for 106 yards on the Steelers in their previous meeting. Pittsburgh only averages allowing 62.8 yards per game on the ground.
  • Have you seen how the Jets defense has played lately?
  • Have you seen the types of catches Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and Jerricho Cotchery have been making lately?
  • Pittsburgh just allowed 24 points to a very average Baltimore offense.
  • Pittsburgh has won enough damn Super Bowls, this is our year.

Pittsburgh's stats from this season:

Passing

Passing Rushing Sacks
G Rating Comp Att Pct Yds Y/G Y/A TD INT Rush Yds Y/G Avg TD Sack YdsL
Charlie Batch 3 76.2 29 49 59.2 352 117.3 7.2 3 3 7 30 10 4.3 0 4 21
Dennis Dixon 2 79.4 22 32 68.8 254 127 7.9 0 1 5 32 16 6.4 0 5 41
Byron Leftwich 1 86.6 5 7 71.4 42 42 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7
Ben Roethlisberger 12 97 240 389 61.7 3200 266.7 8.2 17 5 34 176 14.7 5.2 2 32 220

Rushing

Rushing Receiving
G Rush Yds Y/G Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Y/G Avg Lng TD
Charlie Batch 3 7 30 10 4.3 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dennis Dixon 2 5 32 16 6.4 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jonathan Dwyer 1 9 28 28 3.1 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rashard Mendenhall 16 324 1273 79.6 3.9 50 13 23 167 10.4 7.3 24 0
Mewelde Moore 14 33 99 7.1 3 18 0 26 205 14.6 7.9 29 0
Antwaan Randle El 16 1 2 .100 2 2 0 22 253 15.8 11.5 34 0
Isaac Redman 16 52 247 15.4 4.8 23 0 9 72 4.5 8 16 2
Ben Roethlisberger 12 34 176 14.7 5.2 31 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mike Wallace 16 5 39 2.4 7.8 19 0 60 1257 78.6 21 56 10
Hines Ward 15 1 -2 -0.1 -2 -2 0 59 755 50.3 12.8 43 5

Receiving

Receiving
G Rec Yds Y/G AVG Lng TD
Antonio Brown 9 16 167 18.6 10.4 26 0
David Johnson 2 4 46 23 11.5 25 0
Rashard Mendenhall 16 23 167 10.4 7.3 24 0
Heath Miller 14 42 512 36.6 12.2 36 2
Mewelde Moore 14 26 205 14.6 7.9 29 0
Antwaan Randle El 16 22 253 15.8 11.5 34 0
Isaac Redman 16 9 72 4.5 8 16 2
Emmanuel Sanders 12 28 376 31.3 13.4 35 2
Matt Spaeth 6 9 80 13.3 8.9 13 1
Mike Wallace 16 60 1257 78.6 21 56 10
Hines Ward 15 59 755 50.3 12.8 43 5

Returns

Kickoff Returns Punt Returns
G KR YDS AVG Lng TD PR Yds Avg Lng TD
Antonio Brown 9 17 397 23.4 89 1 19 110 5.8 21 0
Mewelde Moore 14 3 47 15.7 17 0 0 0 0 0 0
Antwaan Randle El 16 0 0 0 0 0 14 56 4 15 0
Isaac Redman 16 4 81 20.3 21 0 0 0 0 0 0
Emmanuel Sanders 12 25 628 25.1 48 0 4 60 15 38 0

Punting

Punting
G Punts Yds AVG Lng In20 TB
Jeremy Kapinos 5 14 576 41.1 59 5 2
Dan Sepulveda 12 56 2550 45.5 62 16 8
Shaun Suisham 7 3 115 38.3 39 1 0

Kicking

Field Goals PAT
G 0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ FGM FGA PCT XPM XPA PCT pts
Shaun Suisham 7 1 - 1 4 - 4 1 - 1 8 - 9 0 - 0 14 15 90.0% 19 19 100.0% 61

Defense

Sacks Interceptions Tackles
G Sacks YdsL Int Yds IntTD Solo Ast Total
Flozell Adams 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Will Allen 9 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 4
Crezdon Butler 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ryan Clark 16 0 0 2 34 0 57 33 90
Nick Eason 9 1.5 11 0 0 0 7 9 16
James Farrior 16 6 29 0 0 0 80 29 109
Larry Foote 8 1 8 0 0 0 16 5 21
Keyaron Fox 10 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 7
William Gay 16 2 15 0 0 0 34 5 39
Casey Hampton 12 1 6 0 0 0 10 10 20
James Harrison 15 10.5 93 2 2 0 70 30 100
Chris Hoke 9 0 0 0 0 0 7 4 11
Ziggy Hood 13 3 29 0 0 0 15 5 20
Brett Keisel 10 3 15 1 79 0 17 16 33
Chris Kemoeatu 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Keenan Lewis 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
Anthony Madison 14 1 9 1 -1 0 3 4 7
Bryant McFadden 16 2 16 2 -3 0 74 7 81
Steve McLendon 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
Ryan Mundy 15 0 0 0 0 0 14 4 18
Troy Polamalu 14 1 15 7 101 0 49 15 64
Maurkice Pouncey 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Aaron Smith 6 0 0 0 0 0 7 8 15
Stevenson Sylvester 7 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3
Ike Taylor 16 1 11 2 9 0 46 14 60
Lawrence Timmons 16 3 10 2 5 0 95 37 132
Greg Warren 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
LaMarr Woodley 16 10 73 2 22 0 35 15 50
Jason Worilds 11 2 13 0 0 0 2 0 2

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