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Week 15 Game Recap: Jacksonville Jaguars 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 22
What you need to know
| Jacksonville Jaguars |
On a snowy, sloppy field Jacksonville manhandled the Pittsburgh defense and ran the ball very effectively. The Jaguars' offensive line looked at home in the inclement weather and set the tone for Jacksonville's success as Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew were able to pound the Steeler defense. Taylor's 145 rushing yards was his highest total in more than two years and marked his fourth straight game over the century mark.
The Jaguars failed to convert a third down in a closely played first half. However, Jacksonville's signature possession was a 20 play, 74 yard drive that took the first 9:40 of the third quarter. On the drive, the Jaguars converted two key fourth down and one plays. The Jaguars took a 22-7 lead on their next possession. However, The Steelers came back to tie the game with two fourth quarter touchdowns and a two point conversion before Jacksonville scored the decisive touchdown just after the two minute warning.
David Garrard struggled a bit with his accuracy, though he may have been affected by the conditions. However, Garrard threw a season high three touchdown passes. Garrard also threw a costly interception that led to a short Pittsburgh touchdown drive.
The Jaguars kicking game helped Pittsburgh stay in the game. Adam Podlesh struggled to handle a snap and then kicked an 18 yard punt to give the Steelers the ball at the Jaguars' 31 yard line. Pittsburgh took advantage of the short field for the first touchdown of the game. Podlesh would later mishandle a botched extra point attempt. Finally, Josh Scobee missed another extra point conversion.
Jacksonville's 421 net yards nearly doubled Pittsburgh's 211 and allowed them to dominate time of possession by more than 15 minutes.
The Jaguars have allowed only nine points on their opponents' first offensive possession all season and are now 8-0 when they score first. Jacksonville has scored at least 24 points in their last seven games. The Jaguars have an 11-8 record against the Steelers.
| Pittsburgh Steelers |
The Steelers were outplayed for most of the game. Jacksonville pounded the football on the ground for a total of 224 yards, while Fred Taylor became just the second Steeler opponent in the past 63 games to rush for 100 yards. Jacksonville was able to control the clock and ran up over 400 yards of offense while Pittsburgh struggled to sustain drives. The Steelers' first two touchdown drives were set up by field position and totaled only 43 yards. Pittsburgh finally put an eight play 84 yard drive together to tie the game in the fourth quarter. However, Jacksonville countered with a touchdown drive of their own. The Steelers tried to answer in the final two minutes, but Heath Miller was stopped just short of the first down marker on a fourth down play to end Pittsburgh's hopes.
Ben Roethlisberger injured his right shoulder during the Patriots' game last week and he did not practice much during the week. However, Roethlisberger was able to go. Like Garrard, he struggled with his accuracy at times. Some of his troubles might have been caused by the weather; Roethlisberger was seen trying to dry his glove on the sideline. If his shoulder was bothering him, it wasn't showing as Roethlisberger, was able to put plenty of zip on the ball and made a number of strong throws. With his three touchdown passes, he broke Terry Bradshaw's team record of 28 touchdown passes on the season; Roethlisberger now has 29 with two games to play. Despite his sore shoulder, Roethlisberger was not afraid to run with the ball. He picked up 11 yards and a first down on a key scramble and also had a four yard run.
Willie Parker entered the game leading the league in rushing. He was effective and tallied his NFL leading eighth 100 yard game of the season, but was given only 14 attempts for the game.
With the loss, the Steelers finished the home portion of their schedule at 7-1.
What you ought to know
| QB David Garrard, Pass: 17 - 33 - 197 - 3 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 4 - 8 - 0 |
Garrard did not have his best game when it comes to accuracy, but he threw a season high three touchdown passes and led his team to victory in a challenging road environment. Garrard completed just over half of his 33 passes. His 12 yard touchdown pass to Ernest Wilford put Jacksonville up shortly before halftime. He found Reggie Williams wide open for a short three yard touchdown to punctuate the Jaguars' long 20 play march to open the second half. Garrard hit Dennis Northcutt for a 55 yard touchdown on the first play of Jacksonville's next drive to give the Jaguars a 15 point lead. Garrard threw his second interception of the season. He was attempting to hit Greg Jones on the play, but the pass sailed high and was picked off by Anthony Smith, who returned it deep into Jacksonville territory.
Garrard ran for only eight yards on one scramble, but did a nice job avoiding sacks by moving around the pocket. His other run was a sneak that converted a fourth and one into a first down. He was credited with a loss of one yard on two kneel down plays to end the game.
| RB Fred Taylor, Rush: 25 - 147 - 1 |
Taylor had his fourth consecutive 100 yard game and his best rushing effort in more than two years. He ran hard and broke tackles frequently. Taylor, who last week moved into the eighteenth spot on the all time rushing list, went over the thousand yard mark for the seventh time in his career. He has the most career rushing yards of any player, who has failed to make the Pro-Bowl. Taylor had six runs of at least ten yards, including a 38 yard burst and a 12 yard touchdown run that sealed the game. Taylor now holds the opponent's records for rushing yards in a game and for his career at Heinz field.
| RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Rush: 12 - 69 - 0, Rec: 5 - 30 - 0 (6 targets) |
Jacksonville went primarily with the hot Fred Taylor. However, Jones-Drew still chipped in with 69 yards on his 12 attempts. His biggest gains went for 17 and 20 yards on draw plays in third and long situations. Both runs were good for first downs. Jones-Drew also converted two fourth down and one runs. Like Fred Taylor, Jones-Drew also ran hard and broke tackles for extra yardage.
Jones-Drew led the Jaguars in catches with five for 30 yards. He dropped a sure touchdown pass. On the next play, Garrard went right back to him, but he was stopped at the goal line.
Jones-Drew averaged 18 yards on two kickoff returns.
| RB Greg Jones, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0, Rec: 1 - -2 - 0 (2 targets) |
Jones was stuffed for no gain on a third and one play. He caught one pass on a second and goal play from the one yard line, but lost two yards.
| WR Dennis Northcutt, Rec: 4 - 81 - 1 (7 targets) |
Northcutt was Jacksonville's most targeted receiver and led the Jaguars with 81 receiving yards. He was well-covered on his 55 yard touchdown grab, but Anthony Smith got turned around and lost the ball; Northcutt had an easy score.
| WR Ernest Wilford, Rec: 2 - 22 - 1 (6 targets) |
Wilford hauled in two passes for 22 yards. Garrard found him wide open on a roll-out for a twelve yard touchdown. The catch was Wilford's first touchdown this season. Wilford was held on another deep attempt, but the officials did not see the penalty.
| WR Matt Jones, Rec: 2 - 25 - 0 (3 targets) |
Jones was involved in a limited number of plays and caught two passes for 25 yards.
| WR Reggie Williams, Rec: 1 - 3 - 1 (5 targets) |
Williams was uncovered for a three yard touchdown reception. It was his only catch of the game. He dropped two other attempts thrown his way.
| TE Marcedes Lewis, Rec: 2 - 38 - 0 (3 targets) |
All of Lewis' targets came in the second half. He caught passes for gains of 18 and 20 yards.
| PK Josh Scobee 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 3 XP, 5 points |
Scobee hit his only field goal attempt, a 36 yarder in the first quarter. He lost an extra point attempt to a mishandled snap and missed another wide left.
| JAX Rush Defense |
Jacksonville allowed The Steelers to rush for 111 yards on only 17 attempts. The Steelers averaged 6.5 yards per attempt. Justin Durant led the unit with eight solo tackles and two assists.
| JAX Pass Defense |
Pittsburgh tallied only 106 net passing yards on 33 attempts, a paltry 2.8 yard gain per pass play. The Jaguar defense sacked Ben Roethlisberger five times and had him under pressure numerous other times. Brent Hawkins had two sacks, while John Henderson, Paul Spicer, and Bobby McCray each contributed a sack. Spicer's forced a fumble, but Roethlisberger was able to regain it. Although the Steelers gained little yardage through the air, they were able to get three touchdown passes. Hawkins almost prevented one of them by tipping a pass that wound up as a touchdown catch for Heath Miller. Daryl Smith nearly picked a Roethlisberger pass off.
| QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pass: 16 - 33 - 146 - 3 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 15 - 0 |
Roethlisberger injured his shoulder in the New England game and was questionable for the game against Jacksonville after throwing little during the week. He was able to play, however, and looked to be fine. He was able to put power on his passes and was willing to scramble for yardage. Roethlisberger was not as accurate as usual, though that might have been at least partly to do with the weather conditions. He passed for only 146 yards on his 33 attempts, but made plays to keep the Steelers in the game. His pass attempt to Heath Miller was tipped by Brent Hawkins, but found Miller in the end zone, anyway. Later, Roethlisberger rallied the Steelers back to tie the game with fourth quarter touchdown passes to Hines Ward and Nate Washington.
Roethlisberger was pressured throughout the game and was sacked five times. He has now been sacked 43 times on the season. He likely would have been sacked more times, but Roethlisberger is particularly adept at avoiding sacks and making plays while under pressure. On one play, Roethlisberger was already wrapped up and on his way down. Somehow, he was still able to flip the football to Willie Parker, who took off for a 27 yard gain. The play was credited as a run, because Roethlisberger's pass to Parker was backwards, but it is exemplary of Roethlisberger's strength and nifty feet.
Roethlisberger scrambled twice and gained 15 yards, including an 11 yard run, when he put his shoulder down and fought for first down yardage.
| RB Willie Parker, Rush: 14 - 100 - 0, Rec: 2 - 9 - 0 (4 targets) |
Parker had his NFL best eighth 100 yard rushing game of the season and leads the league in rushing yardage. He entered the game also leading the league in attempts and runs of more than 20 yards. Parker was effective, but was limited by the Steelers' difficulties on offense and received only 14 rushing attempts. His best gain came on a pass play: As Ben Roethlisberger was being sacked, he was able to flip the ball to Parker, who found open running room and gained 27 yards. Because Roethlisberger flipped it backwards, it was a lateral and Parker's yardage is counted as rushing yardage. Parker also had runs of 16, 13, and 13 yards. All but one of his big runs went around the left end of the Steelers' line.
Parker caught two passes for a total of nine yards.
| RB Najeh Davenport, Rush: 1 - -4 - 0, Rec: 2 - 6 - 0 (2 targets) |
Davenport's only attempt was a draw play on a third down and 15 play. Davenport had no chance and was immediately swallowed up for a four yard loss. He had two three yard receptions.
Davenport returned two kickoffs for 42 yards.
| WR Hines Ward, Rec: 4 - 31 - 1 (9 targets) |
Ward shared the team lead in targets and receptions. He caught an eleven yard touchdown pass in heavy traffic, but also dropped a pass that would have converted a first down and a big gain.
| WR Santonio Holmes, Rec: 4 - 34 - 0 (9 targets) |
Holmes tied for the Steelers' lead in targets and receptions with Hines Ward. His long catch went for 18 yards and converted a third down and 18 into a first down on Pittsburgh's game tying drive. Holmes also had a 16 yard catch just before halftime, but fumbled the ball. Najeh Davenport recovered the football as the first half expired. Holmes caught the Steelers'' two point conversion to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
| WR Cedrick Wilson, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (2 targets) |
Wilson caught a 12 yard pass. Wilson, who was a high school quarterback took, a pitch on Pittsburgh's two point conversion attempt and fired a strike to an open Santonio Holmes in the back of the end zone to tie the game.
| WR Nate Washington, Rec: 1 - 30 - 1 (4 targets) |
Washington's only reception was a 30 yard touchdown strike. He came down unnaturally on his left leg and left with the injury, but later returned to the game.
| TE Heath Miller, Rec: 2 - 24 - 1 (4 targets) |
Miller caught the Steelers' first touchdown pass. He was the target on the play, but the pass was tipped by Brent Hawkins. Fortunately, for Pittsburgh, the pass continued in its original direction right to Miller. He now has a career high seven touchdowns on the season. Miller later dropped what would have been another touchdown reception. Miller's other catch came on the Steelers' final play of the game. He was stopped for a six yard gain on fourth down and seven to go. Miller made a great diving effort, using his hand as a catapult, but the officials marked him just short.
| PK Jeff Reed 0 - 0 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points |
Reed did not attempt a field goal. He nailed both of his extra point tries.
| PIT Rush Defense |
The Jaguars ran successfully on the Steelers like no team in recent memory. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew frequently broke tackles and made Pittsburgh defenders miss. Overall Jacksonville gained 224 hard fought rushing yards and netted 5.3 yards per attempt. Taylor became just the second Steeler opponent in 63 games to total 100 yards on the ground. The Steelers missed defensive end Aaron Smith, who was lost for the season with a torn bicep. Troy Polamalu returned after missing time with a knee injury and made several key stops. He led the unit with seven solo tackles and three assists.
| PIT Pass Defense |
The Steelers pass defense held David Garrard to just over a 50 percent completion rate. However, the unit was unable to generate consistent pressure and did not get a single sack. Garrard threw three touchdown passes. On two of the three plays, his wide receivers were wide open for easy scores. Garrard's 55 yard touchdown to Dennis Northcutt was well-covered, but Anthony Smith lost track of the ball and ended up turned around and out of sorts. Smith is responsible for three touchdowns in the past two games. He redeemed himself somewhat with an interception that he returned to the Jacksonville twelve yardline to set up a touchdown. Larry Foote nearly made a one-handed interception of a David Garrard pass, but could not quite haul the ball in.
