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Check out the best pics from Steelers vs Jets.
It wasn’t a great outcome but there were plenty of great moments from the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-10 loss to the New York Jets last week. So while the game didn’t turn out the way everyone hoped, please enjoy this gallery of the best photos from last week’s game.
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There’s plenty to worry about this week with the Ravens.
It all comes down to this. After starting the season 1-4, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at 8-7, scratching and clawing for a spot in the NFL playoffs. But to do it they need to find a way to get past their most-hated rival, the Baltimore Ravens. This entire season has been a roller coaster so it’s only fitting it ends with everything on the line.
Here are our four big worries this week.
Too obvious? The Steelers will go back (and forth) to Devlin Hodges again this week after benching him last week against the New York Jets. Hodges was forced to return from his benching when Mason Rudolph was injured and is going to be the man to try to lead this team into the playoffs.
Joe Haden got robbed of an interception by poor officiating.
Starting in 2018, the changes to the "catch rule" eliminated the need to survive the ground. In #PITvsNYJ, this should've been ruled a completed catch. The WR fulfilled all 3 criteria required:
1 – Possession
2 – Two feet down
3 – A "football move" (in this case, a 3rd step) pic.twitter.com/IIFe4hdDF3— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) December 22, 2019
The NFL spent much of last season trying to sort out what a catch was. Actually, this problem goes back further than that. But we thought they had a workable definition that would give teams some understanding as well as officials. But on Sunday, officials proved that theory wrong.
In Sunday’s game it appeared Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden had an interception of New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. But the officials didn’t even give it a second though that it was an incomplete pass. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t throw the challenge flag and the game just moved forward.
Former NFL referee Gene Steratore explained in-game and then later on Twitter that this was absolutely an interception and had Tomlin challenged it, might have given the football to the Steelers.
This might seem inconsequential considering the Jets were forced to punt two plays later. But if you consider the idea of momentum, getting the football back on a turnover as opposed to a punt it far more significant.
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Ramon Foster talks about life without Ben Roethlisberger.
Ramon Foster with thoughtful answer about life without Ben Roethlisberger — “We’ve ridden a really good helicopter for a long, long time. Now we all see the significance of that position…People that complain about our guy, whenever he’s in, stop. We realize what it is now, ok?”
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 22, 2019
You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. That is the sentiment conveyed by Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard Ramon Foster after the team’s 16-10 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.
Foster offered up some wise words when he spoke to the media after the game about what it is like coming to the realization they no are playing without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
“We’ve ridden a really good helicopter for a long, long time,” Foster said in reference to Roethlisberger. “Now we all see the significance of that position…People that complain about our guy, whenever he’s in, stop. We realize what it is now, ok?”
I guess I’m a little confused about the timeline of this revelation. Are the rest of the Steelers just realizing in Week 16 how much better this team is with Roethlisberger under center? It’s easy to take it for granted when you have a future Hall of Fame quarterback leading your team. But if this revelation is a call to action for the Steelers, I wish it had come sooner.
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The Steelers lost multiple starters on Sunday.
Steelers beat up coming out of New York. In addition to Maurkice Pouncey (knee), Mason Rudolph (shoulder) and James Conner (thigh), Bud Dupree suffered a shoulder injury and will likely get an MRI, per source. Not ideal health for Week 17 playoff push.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 23, 2019
Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets was ugly in multiple levels for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only did the Steelers play terribly, but there was also a long list of injuries to come from the game.
After the game, head coach Mike Tomlin noted all the ones we saw during the game. Quarterback Mason Rudolph hurt his shoulder, James Conner suffered a thigh injury and center Maurkice Pouncey hurt his knee. But according to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, linebacker Bud Dupree also suffered a back injury and will have an MRI. Dupree was able to return after he hurt his back but it might be worse than first feared.
The big one here is Rudolph. Not that he inspires confidence but Rudolph played well before his injury against the Jets. If he cannot go this weekend, Pittsburgh will go into a must-win game with Devlin Hodges as the starter and Paxton Lynch as his backup. Lynch hasn’t played a meaningful game of football in two years.
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Which Steelers was best in Week 16?
It’s always tough to put up a poll like this after a loss. The Pittsburgh Steelers fell flat against the New York Jets this week and honestly, there wasn’t much positive to draw from a game like this. Nevertheless, there were a few players who stepped up, did their job and played some great football.
But the question is, who was the best?
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This really comes down to two guys on offense and two guys on defense. Offensively, it was impressive to see Mason Rudolph come in and play as well as he did. It was unfortunate he got hurt because that really turned the tide of the game.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson was the best skill player of the day. He had eight catches for 81 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. The rookie continues to lead the team in all major statistical receiving categories.
On defense you can have your pick between the two outside linebackers, T.J. Watt or Bud Dupree. Both guys had some success rushing Jets quarterback San Darnold and Watt forced yet another turnover.
Cast your vote and tell us who should be this week’s player of the game.
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Does this offense have any business in the playoffs?
Sunday was an ugly one for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This was supposed to be an easy win. After slipping up at home last week against the Buffalo Bills, this game was supposed to be how the Steelers got their groove back heading into the playoffs. But instead, it was a case of more injuries and less offense en route to another loss.
Here are our four big takeaways from the loss.
At this point, the media is going to all-but forget about Tomlin as the coach of the year but make no mistake, the work he’s done with this team in spite of all the injuries and turnover has been nothing short of miraculous. Even this week, being forced to shuffle starting quarterbacks the team never gave up, never stopped playing hard and that is a reflection of the coach.
Mike Tomlin hints the blame should be shared for this loss.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers needed it most, the team couldn’t find a way to get a win. This was a game the Steelers had every opportunity to win but they fell short on multiple levels. The media and fans are going to go out of their way to try to pinpoint blame for the loss to the New York Jets. This will serve as great fodder as everyone tries to create their own narratives.
But don’t ask head coach Mike Tomlin to offer any particular player or unit up.
“Pick whatever soft spot you want,” Tomlin said. Tomlin made it clear there is plenty of blame to spread around for a loss like this. The Steelers had their playoff hopes in their hands but might have let it slip away.
With the loss, the Steelers can only make the playoffs if they beat the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17 along with a loss by the Tennessee Titans.
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JuJu Smith-Schuster was only targeted three times and he had two drops.
JuJu Smith-Schuster takes the blame for the loss pic.twitter.com/xUK75MIble
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 22, 2019
It came down to the wire and despite a comedy of errors by the Pittsburgh Steelers, they found themselves in a position to win late in the game. But a pass by quarterback Devlin Hodges flew through the hands of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to stall out the drive. This was a catch, if Smith-Schuster hauls it in, likely scores to give the Steelers an opportunity to win it with the ensuing extra point.
After the game, Smith-Schuster was clearly distraught by how the game ended. “I make that catch, I go into the end zone, we score, that’s it,” Smith-Schuster said. “At the end of the day, the game’s on me, that’s my fault, sorry everybody.”
The contrition by Smith-Schuster was genuine but you can bet it would shield him from waves of criticism from fans and the media. The reality is while Smith-Schuster’s drop was huge, it really never should have come down to that final play.
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The AFC Wildcard picture got very muddy on Sunday.
There’s a lot of unpack, so let’s get right at it. The Pittsburgh Steelers lost on Sunday to the New York Jets 16-10. This dropped the Steelers record to 8-7 and for now, has pushed them out of the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. That spot is now occupied by the Tennessee Titans who also lost this week.
What has to happen going forward? First and foremost the Steelers have to find a way to beat the Baltimore Ravens next week on the road. If this doesn’t happen the rest doesn’t matter. The good news is the Ravens locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC today with a win over the Cleveland Browns. This means there’s a real chance they will rest the bulk of their starters including quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The next thing that must happen is the Titans have to lose to the Houston Texans in the regular-season finale. Houston still has playoff seeding to play for and could find themselves the No. 3 seed if they can beat the Titans and the Chiefs lose to the Chicago Bears. Will this give them something to play for?
It’s unfortunate the Steelers lost to the Jets this week but the season isn’t over. But realistically, even if the Steelers should somehow have everything fall into place, this team is so limited on offense it might not matter.
