Pittsburgh Steelers Will Avenge Their Jets Loss, and Here Are 7 Reasons Why
The Pittsburgh Steelers stand one win away from a trip to their eighth Super Bowl appearance. Standing in their way is the New York Jets. Who are fresh off of two "personal" game victories against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts and Bill Belicheck and the New England Patriots.
This game has yet to establish the trash talking status that has become a staple of the Jets and their coach, Rex Ryan. Ryan has been quoted as saying that he "loves" the Steelers as well as numerous players on the team. Apparently it's only "personal" to Ryan and his Jets if they are avenging a loss to a team that beat them the last time they played.
On the other side the Steelers continue on with their business as usual approach. And this season their business has also been to play "personal" games, avenging losses (from last year and this year) to; Cleveland (last year), Baltimore (earlier this year, without Big Ben), Cincinnati (twice last year) and Oakland (last year). Maybe Ryan should make this game "personal," because regardless if they say it or not, the Steelers are taking it personal. "We take every loss personal," said James Harrison earlier this season.
Not only are they looking to avenge their Week 15 loss to the Jets, a game in which neither safety Troy Polamalu or tight end Heath Miller played, but they are also looking at the Jets as the only thing standing between them and a chance to play in the franchises eighth Super Bowl. And maybe a shot at the Chicago Bears, who also beat the Steelers last season.
It Is Personal!
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Whether the Jets know it, or want to talk about it, this game is personal to the Steelers. The Jets made it that way when they beat the Steelers in Week 15.
The Steelers do not forget losses and rarely lose to the same team twice in one season. The Jets narrowly escaped with a victory in Week 15. Which was the last time the Steelers tasted defeat. The loss left a bad taste with a lot of the Steelers who feel that was a game they should have easily won.
The Steelers have a history of learning from their mistakes and usually do not repeat bad performances in a second meeting with an opponent. Add in the fact that Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and tight end Heath Miller (and possibly defensive end Aaron Smith) are expected to play this week. Meaning that the Steelers are getting healthy at the right time, playing at home and looking to avenge their last loss at the hands of the Jets.
Troy!
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Troy Polamalu missed the Week 15 matchup between the Steelers and the Jets. His presence (or lack there of) was never felt more when Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez ran untouched into the end zone on a bootleg. A play that would have never have worked, or even been called, had Polamalu been in the game.
Polamlu makes a difference in every game he plays. Whether he makes the game changing play or forces the opposing offense to play to one side of the field, which the Ravens tried to do only to have Ryan Clark ruin that plan. He covers so much ground and has the speed to recover when his instincts fail him. He limits the play-calling ability and is always in the mind of the quarterback.
Polamalu not only excels at defending the pass, he also excels as run stopper. He, other than Ryan Clark, is probably the Steelers best open field tackler. His speed and run-through-the body style of hitting has been compared to Ronnie Lott. Who also forced offenses to change the way they called their plays.
The Jets will be forced to account for Polamalu on every play, which will not be easy considering he has the freedom to be wherever he feels he needs to be as long as his assigned task is covered. Troy will have an impact on the outcome of this game, but this time it will be in a positive manner.
Heath Miller
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Heath Miller also missed the first meeting between the Steelers and the Jets. But has returned after missing two games with a concussion.
His impact was probably not truly felt until the final play of the game when Steelers backup tight end Matt Spaeth dropped his second pass in the end zone with no time on the clock. Spaeth did have three catches for 27 yards, but he was the target of Ben Roethlisberger eight times.
Spaeth obviously does not have the pass-catching ability of Heath Miller, but he also lacks the feel of the game that he brings and the "I'm going to hit you before you hit me" mentality of Miller.
Not to say that Spaeth is the worst tight end in football, but he is a back-up for a reason. Miller is not only reliable to catch the pass, he can also be relied upon to not fumble. He has fumbled the ball only four times (and lost only two) in his six-year career.
Miller also has a touchdown catch in both games he has played since returning from his injury. He is also a far better run blocker and pass protector that Spaeth.
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Defense!
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The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is again one of the best in the NFL and based on the second half against the Ravens, they are peaking at just the right time.
They led the regular season in run defense (by 27 yards), points allowed and sacks. The finished second over all in total yards allowed. They held the Ravens to only 28-yards in the second half and 126-yards for the game.
They are healthy, and if defensive end Aaron Smith returns, they will have another seasoned veteran to add to that already tight Steel Curtain. If Smith is unable to go, the Steelers do not lose much, making up for experience with youth and energy, by continuing to play an improving Ziggy Hood.
The Steelers linebacking group is one of the best ever. James Harrison appears over his midseason retirement dilemma and fines for hitting players too hard. He had seven tackles, three sacks and two additional hits on Joe Flacco.
Heinz Field!
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Other than the dedicated Jets fans (and everybody else who hates Tom Brady and the Patriots), the Steelers Nation became the second biggest supporters of the Jets as they battled the Patriots last Sunday. Not because they were worried about playing the Patriots in Foxboro, but because a Jet victory meant that the Steelers could stay home and would be hosting the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field.
The Pittsburgh crowd and their Terrible Towels were at their very best (and loudest) during the second half of the Ravens game. The Steel Curtain defense repeatedly shut down the Baltimore offense, holding them to only three-second half points. While the Steelers offense moved up and down the field racking up 24-second half points.
The fans will be there early and will be pumped and ready to go this Sunday as they cheer for the hometown Steelers as they face off with the Jets. The Steelers and the Heinz Field crowd will feed off of each other, just as they did against the Ravens
Steeler Receivers
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While I agree that Darrelle Revis is one of the best corner backs (if not the best) in the NFL, the Steelers simply have too many receivers for him to cover.
Mike Wallace is arguably the fastest receiver in the league. He posted an average 21 yards per catch this season, 26 of which went for over 20 yards. He finished fifth in the league in receiving yards, while only ranking 42nd in catches (with 60).
Future Hall of Famer Hines Ward is still one of the most dependable receivers in the NFL. He sets the tone for the Steelers receivers as he did on the Steelers first possession mixing it up with Raven safety Ed Reed. He strives in big moments as he did against the Ravens with his third-quarter touchdown that tied the game.
Add in the emergence of rookie wideouts Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, (seven catches for 129-yards combined against the Ravens) and there are just to many receiving threats for the Jets to account for. Revis island is just not big enough for everybody.
Big Ben!
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When all things are said and done, Big Ben will be the main reason the Steelers beat the Jets this Sunday to avenge their earlier loss and advance the Steelers one step closer to their seventh Super Bowl title.
Big Ben has learned to limit his mistakes (only five interceptions this season) and also how and when to take over a game. Roethlisberger single-handedly led the Steelers offense to 24 second-half points, with the play of the game being his 58-yard completion to Antonio Brown on a third and 19 play. A play that he convinced offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and coach Mike Tomlin to go with.
Big Ben also needs this game and this Super Bowl to help erase the negative microscope that he has placed himself under. He has been here before and is a proven winner. He can take the hits that the Jets dished out to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady and keep the play going.
He will be the difference in this game and he will move one step closer to his third Super Bowl title looking to cement himself as one of the all-time great quarterbacks in the NFL.
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