Jets Crash and Burn in Pittsburgh
Those sounds you hear are the collective sighs of millions of Jets fans in the wake of their team’s humiliating 24-19 defeat last night to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. In a contest that wasn’t nearly as competitive as the final score might indicate, not only did the “Same Old Jets” fail to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in 42 years, but even worse, they failed to show up for the first half for what could have been a defining game for the franchise and their larger than life coach alike.
Instead, the J-E-T-S head home, home, home to shovel snow like the rest of us.
The Good.
It came too late to make a difference in the outcome of the game, but once again Jets fans had to be pleased with the late game composure demonstrated by their second-year QB Mark Sanchez. Sanchez’s battle-tested road playoff moxie has been well documented, but it’s been his 4th-Quarter efficiency that really sets him apart from his peers. Not unlike Eli Manning, the former USC star seems to operate best when the game is on the line, especially in the no-huddle offense (and when teammates are nearby).
It’s just a shame that Jets Offense Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer seemingly hasn’t a clue about how best to utilize his Quarterback through an entire 60-minute affair. This was painfully obvious as the Jets mirrored New England’s AFC Divisional Game late game drive a week ago, which was long on time consumption and short on points.
The Bad.
After leading the NFL in rushing in 2009, the 2010 Jets decided to “jettison” 1,000 yard rusher Thomas Jones in favor of future Hall of Fame Running Back LaDanian Tomlinson. It was hoped by the Jets that pairing “LT2,” a veteran pass catching threat out of the backfield, with the incumbent Shawne Green would present Jets opponents with match-up problems galore.
Well, based on Tomlinson’s 16 yard game effort against the Steelers (including an absolutely backbreaking 4th-quarter goal line stuff), one might say the move backfired. It wasn’t just Tomlinson though.
In fact, the Jets offense mustered just one rushing yard during the entire first half.
One?! How is that even possible? A player simply falling down should net at least two yards. Unless that player is Tomlinson, apparently.
The Ugly.
Ultimately, the Jets lost this game due to the effort, or lack thereof, of their typically reliable defense in the first half. The Steelers had the Jets at hello, and the 24-3 halftime deficit was as insurmountable to the team as it was shocking to their fans.
But wait… wasn’t defense supposed to be the calling card of one Mr. Rex Ryan? Weren’t fundamentals (like tackling, wrapping up and staying in lanes) something that the Jets had worked on in practice all week?
That’s why they play the games, folks, but the truth is that talking about doing something in advance is a lot different than actually doing it. It makes it doubly worse that the Jets’ incessant pre-game chatter off the field was exacerbated by a lack of focus, effort and heart on it.
Better luck next year, Rex & Co.
The Payoff Pitch brings you Jamie O’Grady’s distinct take on New York and national sports every Monday. Having previously worked as a Contributing Writer for MLB.com., Jamie is also a practicing lawyer and an unapologetic Yankees, Knicks and Giants fan. He lives in Mount Kisco with his wife, Sarah, and son, Jack.
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @BronXoo
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.