New York Jets: 10 Reasons the Steelers Will Fall Just Like the Patriots

The New York Jets now have knocked off the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots in the 2011 NFL Playoffs.

That's a pretty good run, and now they have the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ask any Steelers fan on Saturday night or Sunday morning about it and most of them would've told you they wanted to face the Jets because that means they stay at home.

After seeing what the Jets did against the Patriots, we may have to re-poll those same fans and see how they feel now.

It's one thing to go into New England the underdog, because then you can play the "nobody believes in us!" card. That's what the Jets did, and it worked in spades.

The Jets now come to Heinz Field, and here are 10 reasons why the Steelers will become just another victim.

10. The Jets Have Done It Before

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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 19: Drew Coleman #30 of the New York Jets reaches for a loose ball in front of Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the game on December 19, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wi

The Jets went into Heinz field in Week 15 and beat the Steelers. The precedent has been set and the Jets come into this game with even more confidence than they had versus the Patriots.

9. The Steelers Offensive Line Is What It Is

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Chris Kemoeatu #68, Maurkice Pouncey #53, Ramon Foster #73 and Flozell Adams #71 of the Pittsburgh Steelers look on during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Steelers' offensive line is the great mystery of the team. The Steelers thrive in spite of it, but that doesn't mean they should just shrug their shoulders and say, "Everything will be fine."

Ben Roethlisberger took a real beating in the first half of the Ravens game before the defense—for some reason—eased up.

If the Jets attack Roethlisberger like the Ravens did for the entire game instead of just a half, it could be a very long day for Steelers fans.

8. Bryant McFadden

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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 19: Braylon Edwards #17 of the New York Jets is tackled by Bryant McFadden #20 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during their game at Heinz Field on December 19, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images)

Bryant McFadden will be matched up against either Santonio Holmes or Braylon Edwards again.

McFadden had seven tackles in the last game versus the Jets, but that also means he was getting thrown to a lot.

McFadden can get burned in man-to-man coverage, so the defensive scheme the Steelers employ will go a long way toward determining how successful the Jets' passing game is.

If coverage breaks down, Mark Sanchez has proved the last few weeks he is up to the task of performing in a playoff game.

7. Keeping Ben Roethlisberger Contained

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers breaks a tackle by defensive end Cory Redding #93 of the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Penns

When Ben Roethlisberger scrambles, he tends to find a way to make plays. So the Jets will focus on keeping the receivers covered and mixing up the blitz packages to keep Roethlisberger contained.

After what the Jets did to Tom Brady, there's no reason to think they can't accomplish the same thing with Roethlisberger.

6. LaDanian Tomlinson

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 03: LaDanian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets runs against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 3, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. The Jets won 38-14. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

The Jets still have a pretty good running game and LaDanian Tomlinson had a decent game against the Patriots.

He didn't get a lot of yards (43), but he was averaging 4.3 yards per carry before the Jets began picking apart the Patriots' secondary and focused on the passing game.

The Steelers are ranked first against the rush, and that's where this bold prediction comes in: expect LaDanian Tomlinson to have a good game.

Rex Ryan has been putting together game plans this postseason that defy reason and there's no reason to think that won't continue.

5. Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Antonio Cromartie #31 of the New York Jets fields a kickoff which he returns 47-yards in the final minute of the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadiu

Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis just shut down Tom Brady and kept Peyton Manning contained enough to win that game.

Now it's Ben Roethlisberger's turn, do you think these guys are really scared of him?

Roethlisberger had a 52.3 percent completion rate in Week 15 and was sacked three times.

4. The Jets Defense

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 12: Bart Scott #57 of the New York Jets reacts the Miami Dolphins at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 12, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Bart Scott said it after the game on Sunday that their defense doesn't seem to get any respect lately.

Well now it is getting respect, and it is worth noting the Jets defense is ranked third in yards allowed, third against the rush, sixth in points allowed and sixth against the pass.

While Bill Belichick famously said: "stats are for losers," Belichick now is the guy making offseason vacation plans.

The Jets lived up to their stats and that puts them in the same class as the Steelers' defense. After a hard-hitting game against the Ravens, the Jets' defense may be a little fresher than the Steelers', but Roethlisberger will have more pressure this week.

3. Penalties

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Linebacker James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to playing the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Sha

The Steelers make a lot of dumb penalties with late hits, unnecessary roughness and blows to the head.

Those kinds of penalties can turn games in favor of the opposition, and the Steelers are going to have to play clean, because the Jets are taking advantage of other teams' mistakes in a much better way this postseason.

2. Mark Sanchez

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets celebrates after they defeated the Patriots 28 to 21 in their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty I

Mark Sanchez is playing better football. There's just no other way to put it. Not that Sanchez is playing perfect or that we should clear a space for him in Canton yet, but he is playing better football than he was a few months ago.

If Sanchez keeps playing how he did the last few weeks, the Steelers' secondary is going to have its hands full.

1. Rex Ryan

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Head coach Rex Ryan and James Ihedigbo #44 of the New York Jets look on from the sideline during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massach

Rex Ryan is loud, brash and he's far from being a perfect coach.

But Ryan got his team to finish the season 11-5, won a lot of games in the fourth quarter or overtime and put together two great game plans so far in the playoffs.

For anyone to say Rex Ryan doesn't have a chance to out-coach Mike Tomlin is foolish.

That's not a knock against Tomlin, but it is point out that Ryan just out-coached the guy who has three Super Bowl rings as a head coach.

Tomlin has one, and now he needs to get past Ryan if he wants a chance at getting a second.