Yet again, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Todd Bowles, and the New York Jets defense all disappoint in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- New York Jets 13 (1-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers 31 (4-1)
- NFL, Week 5, Final, Box Score
- Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
It was an ultra conservative call in an aggressive NFL. It’ll never allow a team to see consistent success over the long haul.
The Pittsburgh Steelers handled the Jets by the final of 31-13 at Heinz Field on Sunday.
New York played well in the first half of the game, matching the Steelers yard-for-yard. In fact, it was Nick Folk who put the Jets on the board first with a field goal on the first drive of the game.
The good vibes didn’t last long, however, as Ben Roethlisberger and Sammie Coates torched Marcus Williams on a 72-yard 9-route:
Big Ben goes DEEP.
That's Sammie Coates.That's 6 points. #NYJvsPIT #HereWeGo https://t.co/ht83zLumT1
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
On a 3rd-and-7, Bowles simply hasn’t learned his lesson yet in making sure his very average corners have help over-the-top. Instead of getting a lighter sub package on the field, he left David Harris and Darron Lee out there and played provided a single-high safety look.
Roethlisberger finished with a ridiculous 380 yards and four touchdowns on 34-of-47 passing. Coates went for 139 yards and two scores on six grabs.
It wasn’t all Pitt in the first half. Ryan Fitzpatrick played solidly, including finding Brandon Marshall on this TD grab, New York’s only TD on the game:
Fitz got away with one here. Underthrown, but B-Marsh doing the CB dirty. 13-7 #NYJ #NYJvsPIT pic.twitter.com/t3E9jyxOM2
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) October 9, 2016
The drive was set up by Rontez Miles coming up huge on a fake field goal attempt dialed up by Mike Tomlin:
Rontez Miles with the great special teams play. Keep this one in your memory banks. #NYJ #NYJvsPIT pic.twitter.com/58vJNXAQPn
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) October 9, 2016
Up 13-7 with under two minutes remaining, it was the last positive momentum the Jets carried all afternoon. Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense owned the Jets defense in the second half.
There were coverage busts:
This is what you call WIDE open…@Steelers Touchdown! #NYJvsPIT https://t.co/41rdGtmDJ9
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
There was Antonio Brown doing his regular Sunday thing:
He's in!
Big Ben finds @AntonioBrown…@Steelers TOUCHDOWN! #NYJvsPIT #HereWeGo https://t.co/C3jKFsgjMG
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2016
The pass rush from Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, and Leonard Williams was downright pathetic. Big Ben had all day in the pocket.
The Jets offensive line was also porous. Fitzpatrick was running for his life on seemingly every five and seven step drop.
Both offensively and defensively, there was no imagination, especially coming out of the locker room to begin the 3rd-quarter.
The loss moves the Jets to 1-4 on the season. Next up will be the Arizona Cardinals out west in Week 6. Pittsburgh now moves to a very impressive 4-1 on the young campaign.
Game Notes:
Brandon Marshall was the sole star of the Jets offense finishing with 114 yards and a TD on eight receptions.
Both David Harris and Nick Mangold left the game with injuries and did not return.
Darryl Roberts, who received solid playing time and played well with Darrelle Revis out, was also banged up in the second half.
