Prediction
The days of having a fall back crutch are all but over. When the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) visit the New York Jets (5-9) this Sunday, they will be in control of their own playoff destiny. Win the last two games of the year and they are in as the AFC 6th seed. If the Steelers split their final two games, they will have to hope the Tennessee Titans lose when they face the Houston Texans next week in the regular-season finale.
Even though the Jets have a formidable run defense, the Steelers will have to find a way to gain some yards on the ground to help aide an offense that is having trouble passing the ball.
The formula has worked well for the Steelers most of the season, but it seemed the team abandoned the run far too soon last week against the Bills, a game in which they watched a 10-7 lead turn into a 17-10 loss.
“I don’t know about that,” Tomlin said about passing too much. “A little situation in the second half may have dictated a little bit more. At halftime, it was close to 50-50. I don’t know if it’s always about the number. You like to kick yourself sometimes and say maybe we should have run it more here, maybe we should have passed it a little bit more on first down — things like that.
“It goes back to efficiency. We have to be efficient when we do call the run and the pass and expect that we’ll obviously protect the ball as well.”
This will be a game in which the Steelers will have only themselves to blame if they lose. With all of his weapons available for the first time in months, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner should be able to have Duck Hodges prepared to put some points on the board for the struggling Steelers offense.
The defense should be able to put enough pressure on Sam Darnold to cause a few turnovers.
Play smart, efficient, and do not, by any means, turn the ball over.
This team has endured plenty of hardships this season and has found ways to continue winning despite the adversity it has faced. It will be another close game that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but at the end of the day…