New York Jets vs Pittsburgh Steelers: Why Gang Green lost 31-13 in NFL Week 5
The New York Jets were blown out by the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-13 at Heinz Field in Week 5. Gang Green falls to 1-4, last in the AFC East division. Who is to blame for this NFL loss?
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Steelers cruise to 31-13 win against Jets at Heinz Field | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Steelers defeated the New York Jets, 31-13, to improve to 4-1. |
| Source: www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2016/10/09/Steelers-New-York-Jets-Week-5-Heinz-Field/stories/201610090196 | |
New York Jets defensive line
380 passing yards. 4 touchdowns. These are the final stats for Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at the end of the Jets vs Steelers game. The 380 passing yards were the most he had thrown in a single game all season long. When the NFL average for completing passes is 65%, he completed 34 of 47 attempts for 72.3% completion.
So where was the pass rush?
Where were Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams?
Time and time again, Roethlisberger had 3 seconds to throw the football, which in the NFL feels like an eternity. Every time the ball was snapped from the center, the Jets defensive line were stood up and stopped by the offensive line. If receiver Antonio Brown was covered by the secondary, Big Ben had ample time to go through his progressions and toss the ball to running back Le’Veon Bell. This is why Bell slashed New York’s coverage with 9 catches for 88 receiving yards, not to mention him going through the DL with 20 carries for 66 rushing yards. The lack of pressure from Wilkerson, Richardson and Williams allowed Ben to constantly check down to his outlet receiver Le’Veon, on top of throwing deep passes like the bomb to WR Sammy Coates for a 72 yard TD.
Todd Bowles
Steelers 24 Jets 13
7:36 left in the 4th Quarter
4th down and 2 on the Jets 46 yard line
Down by 2 scores, Todd Bowles decides to to punt the ball back to Pittsburgh instead of trying to convert the 2 yards on 4th down. With the line of scrimmage at Pittsburgh’s 23 yard line, on 2nd down and 8 at 6:55 minutes, Big Ben passes the football to Bell who runs for 16 yards to the Steelers 39 yard line, getting a new set of downs. This conversion ended New York’s chances of getting the football back and essentially ended the game. Pittsburgh went on a 5:38 minute, 11 play drive for 74 yards to the Jets 5 yard line, ending with the Sammy Coates TD. Gang Green had not been able to put pressure on Roethlisberger throughout the NFL game nor stop long drives by the Steelers offense.
What made Bowles think that the Jets defensive line was suddenly going to pressure the QB or that the secondary was going to cover the WRs and Le’Veon in the 4th quarter?
Down by 11 points, the Jets had a better chance to get 2 yards on 4th down rather than stop the Steelers on the next series. If NY failed to get the 1st down, Pittsburgh was still going to get the ball back on the Jets 46 yard line. By punting the ball back to his opponent, Bowles did not give his team a chance to get a new set of downs and make a comeback. He essentially gave the game away.
The lack of pass rush from Wilkerson, Richardson and Williams on Roethlisberger allowed the Steelers to pick up yards and go on extended drives. The terrible decision by the head coach Todd Bowles to not go for it on 4th down in the 4th quarter was the final nail in the coffin for the New York Jets. Bowles lived by his defensive line during the game and died by his defensive line in the final Pittsburgh drive. These 2 ,hand in hand, were the reasons why Gang Green lost to the Steelers.
