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The New York Jets host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in a game of two teams headed in very different directions. The Jets are on an 8-game losing streak, just made a quarterback change, and have only broken 20 points three times all season. On the other hand you have the red hot Steelers, who have won three straight games by scoring at least 30 points and have watched Ben Roethlisberger throw 14 touchdowns and no interceptions during that stretch.
This game presents a huge matchup issue for the Jets, who rank 12th in the NFL in pass yards allowed per game but have allowed a league high 24 passing touchdowns (the next closest team has only allowed 18). The Steelers’ receiving corps is a matchup nightmare for the Jets, and they will be hard pressed to find a way to slow them down.
Everything starts with Antonio Brown, who is making a pretty compelling argument to be considered the best receiver in the NFL this season. He leads the NFL in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and first downs, while ranking fourth in receiving touchdowns and 20+ yard receptions as well as sixth in yards after the catch. Brown is a precision route runner with elite hands who is extremely explosive in the open field, and the Jets are going to have a very hard time slowing him down.
Next to Brown, the Steelers have two young receivers who are coming into their own. Markus Wheaton has 31 receptions for 391 yards and 2 touchdowns this season, and his big play ability will present a challenge for Kyle Wilson. On the outside, Martavis Bryant has stormed onto the scene, catching five touchdowns in the three games he’s been active this season. Bryant, whom the Jets controversially passed on in favor of Shaq Evans in this year’s draft, looks like a future star and presents the type of big, physical, downfield threat the Jets have struggled with.
Add in solid tight end Heath Miller and running back Le’Veon Bell, who is second among NFL running backs in receptions, and the Jets have their work cut out for them. They have struggled to defend the pass all season, and their depleted secondary is relying heavily on players who weren’t even on the team a month ago.
It remains to be seen if Darrin Walls will be back from injury, but he will start and draw Brown if he is. Marcus Williams seems the most likely candidate to start on the other side, though Phillip Adams and Josh Thomas could factor in. I expect the coaching staff to continue their never ending quest to destroy Antonio Allen’s career and move him back to safety this week to cover Miller. As far as Bell goes, Demario Davis and David Harris will have to a much better job at picking up the back out of the backfield and shutting down big runs after the catch.
Obviously none of these matchups are in the Jets’ favor, so it is crucial that they get a strong pass rush. The Jets have the 5th most sacks in the NFL while Pittsburgh has allowed the 7th most sacks. The opportunity is there for Muhammad Wilkerson and the rest of the Jets’ front seven to pressure Roethlisberger and try to help their secondary. When passes are completed, sure tacking is absolutely essential against a group of receivers that thrives after the catch. If the Jets can prevent short passes from being turned into long gains, they will have a chance.
Roethlisberger is the 7th Pro Bowl quarterback the Jets have faced this season and the Steelers are the 7th top 15 passing offense they have played (Pittsburgh is currently 4th in pass yards per game). If the Jets can’t figure out how to slow down opposing passing attacks, they are going to keep losing. Unfortunately, that looks like a very tall task this week, and the banged up Jets are going to have to turn in an incredible performance to be able to beat the Steelers.
Greg Sulik is a New York Jets writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @GregSulik or add him to your network on Google
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