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| ARI at CIN | CAR at GB | CHI at SEA | CLE at BAL | KC at IND | MIA at PHI | NE at BUF | NO at HOU |
| NYG at DET | OAK at MIN | PIT at NYJ | SD at JAX | STL at SF | TB at ATL | TEN at DEN | WAS at DAL |
Week 11 Game Recap: Pittsburgh Steelers 16, New York Jets 19
What you need to know
| Pittsburgh Steelers |
The Steelers fell behind 7--0 on the fourth play and were forced to play catch most of the game. When they finally took a three point lead in the fourth quarter with a gritty comeback the Steelers' defense couldn't hold it. They allowed the Jets to drive 76 yards in two minutes to tie the game with :26 seconds left.
QB Ben Roethlisberger was sacked a total of seven times, completed 15 of 25 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown, but threw one interception and also lost one fumble. Willie Parker carried 21 times but only managed to gain 52 yards. Najeh Davenport fared a little better, and was able to ground out 39 yards on just eight carries. He also caught four passes for an additional 22 yards.
Santonio Holmes left the game in the fourth quarter and was seen having his ankle taped on the sideline. He led all receivers with five receptions for 75 yards and scored the only Pittsburgh touchdown. Hines Ward caught two passes for 47, and TE Heath Miller hauled in two more for 36 yards.
In overtime, the Jets won the toss, received the kickoff, but went three and out. Pittsburgh didn't do any better, but the Steelers' punt was returned by Leon Washington 33 yards to the 26 yard line setting up Mike Nugent's winning 38 yard field goal.
| New York Jets |
The Jets started quickly, scoring on the fourth play of the game. With Kellen Clemens starting in place of Chad Pennington, the Jets relied on the running of RB Thomas Jones and a swarming defense to upset the heavily favored Steelers. Clemens looked comfortable under center, and when he found a target he was not afraid to let loose with that big arm of his. He finished with modest numbers, 14 of 31 for 162 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but late in the fourth quarter he managed to engineer a 76 yard drive in two minutes to tie the game and send it into overtime.
Thomas Jones was the star of the game for the Jets. He rushed 30 times for 117 yards and became the first RB to rush for over 100 yards against the Steelers since Edgerrin James in 2005. Jones ran hard, broke quite a few tackles, and performed the way New York expected when they signed him to a free agent contract in the off season.
Clemens, like most inexperienced quarterbacks, frequently looked for the tight end. All three Jets' tight ends combined for six receptions, with Chris Baker nabbing four and scoring New York's only touchdown. Laveranues Coles caught a 56 yard flea flicker on the game's second play but was tackled at the one yard line. He sprained his ankle and was only targeted twice more, though he tried to return to the field. Jerricho Cotchery was unusually quiet, and caught his only pass, for five yards, in the fourth quarter. The principle beneficiary of Coles' absence was Brad Smith, who was targeted eight times, five in the fourth quarter alone, and caught three passes for 26 yards.
The Jets were able to sack Roethlisberger seven times and kept heavy pressure on him throughout. Even though New York settled for field goals when they had first and goal three times and failed to convert two fourth down plays in the fourth quarter, they were able to move the ball with the game on the line. Trailing by three points late in fourth quarter they drove for the tying touchdown with :26 seconds left in regulation. In overtime, they forced Pittsburgh to go three and out. Leon Washington returned the punt 33 yards which set up Mike Nugent's winning 38 yard field goal.
What you ought to know
| QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pass: 15 - 25 - 195 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 5 - 0 |
Roethlisberger struggled throughout this game. He was sacked seven times, completed 15 of 25 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown, but threw one interception and also lost one fumble. He managed to get Pittsburgh into position to win, but the Steelers' defense couldn't hold the lead in the fourth quarter.
Entering this game, Roethlisberger had a QB rating of 110, second best in the NFL, and had already thrown 22 touchdown passes.
| RB Willie Parker, Rush: 21 - 52 - 0 |
Parker had a tough time finding running room against the inspired the Jets' defense. Though he only averaged 2.5 yards per carry the Steelers never benched him even when Davenport found more running room.
| RB Najeh Davenport, Rush: 8 - 39 - 0, Rec: 4 - 22 - 0 (5 targets) |
Davenport actually had a better YPC average than Willie Parker, 4.9 to 2.5, and also caught four passes for 22 yards. He is a punishing runner who can break tackles and provide a powerful change of pace to the speedier Parker.
| RB Carey Davis, Rush: 2 - 16 - 0 |
In limited duty, the big fullback had two carries for 16 yards. In the third quarter, on third and 17, Davis ran a draw play for nine yards, which helped set up Jeff Reed for the FG that tied the game 13--13.
| WR Santonio Holmes, Rec: 5 - 75 - 1 (8 targets) |
Holmes was injured in the fourth quarter and was seen having his ankle taped on the sideline. He was the leading receiver in the game, catching five passes for 75 yards and scoring the only Pittsburgh touchdown. He has been fighting nagging injuries all season so look to see if his name shows up on the injury reports. Holmes is having a break out season and is a legitimate deep threat.
| WR Hines Ward, Rec: 2 - 47 - 0 (4 targets) |
He may no longer be the clear cut number one WR in Pittsburgh but he is still a legitimate threat. He averaged 23.5 yards on the two balls he caught and prevented the Jets' secondary from ganging up on Holmes.
| WR Cedrick Wilson, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (2 targets) |
In limited duty, Wilson caught one pass for nine yards.
| TE Heath Miller, Rec: 2 - 36 - 0 (3 targets) |
The big tight end had a relatively quiet game, but New York limited the entire Pittsburgh offense. He caught two passes for 36 yards.
| TE Matt Spaeth, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets) |
Spaeth caught his only target for six yards.
| PK Jeff Reed 3 - 3 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 10 points |
Reed made field goals from 37 and 33 yards and then hit the go ahead three pointer in the fourth quarter from 48 yards away. He also kicked his only extra point attempt.
| PIT Rush Defense |
Thomas Jones ripped up the Steelers run defense all afternoon. With New York starting an inexperienced quarterback, one could reasonably expect Pittsburgh to shut down the run, but Jones became the first RB to gain at least 100 yards since Edgerrin James did it in 2005. Entering this game, the Steelers were ranked number one in the NFL against the run and had allowed the fewest points.
| PIT Pass Defense |
Kellen Clemens was not called upon to pass the Jets to victory. He only completed 14 of 31 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown, and he was sacked twice and intercepted once. Entering this game, the Steelers were ranked number one in the NFL against the pass and had allowed the fewest points.
| QB Kellen Clemens, Pass: 14 - 31 - 162 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 15 - 0 |
Clemens was comfortable under center and certainly acted like the future of the New York Jets. While his numbers were not exactly eye popping, 14 of 31 for 162 yards and one TD, he showed plenty of leadership. When Clemens found a target he was not afraid to let loose with that big arm of his, and late in the fourth quarter he managed to engineer a 76 yard drive in two minutes to tie the game and send it into overtime. The key play was his 15 yard scramble. He eluded the blitz, picked up a key first down, and demonstrated a facet of quarterbacking which Pennington lacks.
| RB Thomas Jones, Rush: 30 - 117 - 0, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets) |
Jones had a great game, averaging nearly four yards per carry against the tough Steelers defense. The Jets never stopped feeding him the ball and he never stopped hitting the hole hard and fighting for every inch he could. With an inexperienced QB now under center, the Jets may be been more committed to running the ball, a great omen for owners who made Jones a high draft choice. He became the first player to gain at least 100 yards against the Steelers since Edgerrin James in 2005.
| RB Leon Washington, Rush: 2 - 10 - 0 (1 targets) |
Washington played sparingly in the offense, carrying twice for ten yards, but he caused real damage returning kicks. Pittsburgh had been able harness Washington through most of the game with pooch kicks and squibs. In overtime he fielded a low wobbly punt before it hit the ground and raced 33 yards to Steelers' 28 to set up the winning field goal.
| WR Brad Smith, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0, Rec: 3 - 26 - 0 (8 targets) |
Smith was targeted eight times, five in the fourth quarter alone, and caught three passes for 26 yards. He also lined up under center and ran an option around right end. The Jets seem to be looking for creative ways to use the former option quarterback.
| WR Justin McCareins, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (6 targets) |
McCareins saw more playing time when Coles left the game, and picked up a key first down in the fourth quarter.
| WR Laveranues Coles, Rec: 1 - 56 - 0 (3 targets) |
On the second play of the game, Coles caught a 56 yard flea flicker and was tackled at the Pittsburgh one yard line. In the second quarter he took himself out of the game and limped to the lockerrom. He returned briefly in the third quarter, but then remained on the sideline with what was called a sprained ankle.
| WR Jerricho Cotchery, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (7 targets) |
Clemens had a tough time connecting with Cotchery although he certainly tried. With Coles limited the Steelers sometimes rolled to Cotchery's side and sometimes the passes were not accurate. In the fourth quarter, Clemons' pass for Cotchery along the left sidelines was intercepted. It seemed like Cothcery was not expecting the ball. On the Jets' next possession he caught his first pass of the game.
| TE Chris Baker, Rec: 4 - 34 - 1 (6 targets) |
Baker scored the only touchdown for New York and could become a favorite target for the inexperienced Clemens.
| TE Joseph Kowalewski, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets) |
The second year tight end from Syracuse caught the only pass thrown to him.
| TE Jason Pociask, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets) |
Pociask caught the only pass Clemens threw to him.
| PK Mike Nugent 4 - 4 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 13 points |
In a game where he had to be perfect to give the Jets a chance to upset Pittsburgh, he was. Nugent made his only extra point, and all four field goal attempts. He hit from 25 yards in the first quarter, 19 in the second, and then from 33 yards to tie the game with :26 seconds left in regulation. In overtime he was good from 38 yards for the win.
| NYJ Rush Defense |
The Jets played inspired defense, holding Willie Parker to a 2.5 yard per carry average and a total of just 52 yards. Davenport had more success, but as a team Pittsburgh only averaged 3.4 yards on the ground, which was a factor in New York's upset.
| NYJ Pass Defense |
New York was able to limit Ben Roethlisberger to one touchdown pass while sacking him seven times. They put tremendous pressure on him throughout the game, causing an interception and forcing a fourth quarter fumble.
