The Bergen Record

Instant analysis: NY Jets fall apart, allow 31 unanswered points in 37-15 loss to Steelers

By Albert Bainbridge IV, NorthJersey.com,

11 hours ago

Despite heading into Week 7 on a three-game losing streak, there were lofty expectations for the Jets heading into Sunday night against the Steelers.

QB Aaron Rodgers finally got his favorite weapon – wide receiver Davante Adams – in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier in the week.

The duo combined for over 7,000 total yards and 68 touchdowns during their time with the Packers, forming one of the best QB-WR batteries in recent NFL history.

It should lead to a better offensive performance right?

It did, but just for the first half.

Despite holding a 15-13 halftime lead, the Jets didn’t get on the scoreboard again, giving up 31 unanswered points in a 37-15 loss in Pittsburgh.

Rodgers and Adams connected only three times for 30 yards – including no receptions or yards in the second half – with the longest connection only going for 11 yards.

The more concerning part is how turnover-happy the four-time NFL MVP has been, adding two more interceptions in the double digit loss – throwing six INTs since the team headed to London in Week 5.

Yes, there are certainly excuses that could be made. The defense is depleted, with four of the five starters in the secondary (DJ Reed, Chuck Clark, Tony Adams and Michael Carter II) coming into this one hurt or were injured during tonight’s loss.

But every team has injuries, you have to fight through adversity, something the Jets have yet to do on either side of the ball consistently now through seven weeks into the regular season.

The kicking game continues to be a large area of concern, with place kicker Greg Zuerlein potentially looking for a new home after missing yet another field goal (blocked) in this game, his fifth miss after converting on 92 percent of kicks in 2023.

More: Who's the next Jets head coach? These 7 candidates could replace the fired Robert Saleh

The Jets, now three games under .500 with a 2-5 record, find themselves 3 ½ games behind the Bills in the AFC East and nowhere near the seventh and final wild card spot in the AFC East.

Here were our live updates and analysis for Jets vs. Steelers on Sunday night in Week 7:

Steelers 30, Jets 15: 12:09 remaining in fourth quarter

The nightmare continues in the second half for Gang Green, as the Jets have now been doubled on the scoreboard after they led coming out of the tunnel at halftime.

There's now very little margin for error on the road for Aaron Rodgers and company to get back into this game, down double digits on the road against one of the league's best defenses.

Jets' kicker Greg Zuerlein early season struggles continue, misses another FG

The Jets were primed to make it a five-point game following a drive where they got the ball deep into Steelers territory.

However, after the Steelers had one blocked kick called back earlier, the second one counts as the unit blocks Zuerlein's 35-yard attempt, keeping this an eight-point game late in third quarter.

The kicking woes continue for the Jets' place kicker, as even though the kick was blocked, it still counts as a miss, as he's now missed five field goals this season after going 35-for-38 on field goal attempts last year in 16 games.

Given Zuerlein's brutal performance to 2024, don't be surprised if the Jets are in the market for another kicker to try and find more consistency and stability from the position.

Steelers 23, Jets 15: 7:15 left in third quarter

Well things certainly changed in a hurry.

On the Jets' ensuing drive, Rodgers found Wilson along the sideline with what should've been a catch but hit the wide receiver right in the hands, with Steelers' Beanie Bishop being in the right place at the right time by grabbing the ball out of the air and returning it all the way to the Jets' one-yard line.

One play later, Wilson ran a QB sneak and found the end zone to extend Pittsburgh's lead midway through the third quarter.

Steelers 16, Jets 15: 7:49 remaining in third quarter

Pittsburgh retakes the lead for the first time since it opened the scoring 3-0 early in the first quarter.

The Steelers went on a 11-play, 76-yard drive following the Jets' opening second half drive that went for 21 yards on only four plays.

Contested catches continue to be the theme for the black and gold, with both big plays -- a 37-yard pass to wide receiver George Pickens and a 21-yard connection to tight tend Pat Freiermuth -- with tight coverage on both throws from QB Russell Wilson.

Halftime: Jets 15, Steelers 13

The Jets arguably had their best first half performance so far this season.

And yet, they find themselves up only two points in what feels like it should be a lot more.

Another interception from Aaron Rodgers leads directly to points, as Steelers' QB Russell Wilson finds wide receiver George Pickens from 11 yards out to make this a two-point game with less than a minute left in the second quarter to give the Steelers momentum heading into halftime.

After throwing only one INT through four games, Rodgers first half pick is now his fifth in his last three contests.

The four-time NFL MVP is on pace to have a second straight campaign of double digit interceptions after only two other instances where he had 10 or more INTs in the first 17 years of his future Hall of Fame career.

Will McDonald IV continues his impressive start to 2024

On a 2nd and 20, McDonald brings down Wilson behind the line of scrimmage in what's been a career year so far for the former first round pick.

The sack is McDonald's third in as many games, as he's now second in the NFL with eight sacks, trailing only Giants' Dexter Lawrence, who has nine on the year.

Jets 15, Steelers 6: 5:55 left in in second quarter

What an odd way to end that scoring drive.

After running back Breece Hall nearly scored on a dump off pass from QB Aaron Rodgers that went 57 yards, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich threw a challenge flag that ended up being too late on if Hall scored two plays after the big gain, leading to confusion from the Steelers defense that led to Rodgers finding tight end Tyler Conklin for a one-yard touchdown.

The craziness wasn't done there as on the extra point, the referees ruled that a block extra point was called back due to Pittsburgh's Minkah Fitzpatrick using leverage to get over the line and block the kick.

Instead of kicking again, Ulbrich decided to go for two which paid off, when Rodgers found wide receiver Garrett Wilson for his the two-point conversion to now make it a two-score game.

Jets 7, Steelers 6: 8:20 remaining in second quarter

The Steelers make it a one-point game following the Jets' defense holding the Steelers to a second field goal on the night.

Pittsburgh's offense looked non-existent since its opening drive field goal until QB Russell Wilson found wide receiver for a 44-yard contested catch against Brandin Echols, the replacement for starting CB DJ Reed, who was ruled out for tonight's matchup after not practicing all week with a groin injury.

Jets 7, Steelers 3: 2:27 left in 1st quarter

After a quick three-and-out on their first drive, the Jets flip the switch on their next possession, going 82 yards on nine plays that was capped off with Breece Hall's third rushing touchdown of the season.

It was a great drive for Rodgers, who went 6-for-6, getting the ball to Hall, Garrett Wilson and newly acquired wide receiver Davante Adams, who caught his first pass as a member of the Jets for nine yards on the drive.

Steelers 3, Jets 0: 11:37 remaining left in 1st quarter

The Steelers strike first as they get on the board with a 46-yard field goal from place kicker Chris Boswell, who's off to a stellar start, as he's now made 17 of 18 field goal attempts to start the year.

A week after getting run over on the ground by Bills rookie RB Ray Davis, Steelers RB Najee Harris made multiple defenders miss on his first carry that went 18 yards following QB Russell Wilson's first pass as a Steeler going 18 yards on the play before.

Now it's Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams time on offense.

Jets vs Steelers inactives

STEELERS

QB Kyle Allen* (emergency third QB)
WR Roman Wilson
S Damontae Kazee
RB Aaron Shampklin
OLB Nick Herbig
C Zach Frazier
RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson

JETS

OT Carter Warren
OL Max Mitchell
RB Israel Abanikanda
EDGE Braiden McGregor
WR Malachi Corley
CB DJ Reed
CB Michael Carter II

NY Jets vs Steelers injury updates (as of Wednesday)

NY Jets : Did not practice: CB Michael Carter II (back), CB DJ Reed (groin), QB Aaron Rodgers (ankle) and WR Mike Williams (non-injury related). Limited practice: TE Tyler Conklin (hip), DL Will McDonald IV (shoulder), OL Morgan Moses (knee) and LB Chazz Surratt (heel). Full practice: WR Davante Adams (hamstring).
Steelers: Did not practice: OL Zach Frasier (ankle), RB Najee Harris (ribs), LB Nick Herbig (hamstring), S Damontae Kazee (ankle), RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle). Limited practice: LB Alex Highsmith. Full practice: TE MyCole Pruitt (knee).

NY Jets vs Steelers time today

Date: Sunday, Oct. 20
Time: 8:20 p.m.
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

What channel is NY Jets vs Steelers game on today?

TV channel: NBC

Watch Jets vs. Steelers live on Peacock

NY Jets vs Steelers history

Series record: Steelers lead, 20-7
Jets' last win: Oct. 2, 2022 (24-20)
Steelers' last win : Oct. 9, 2016 (31-13)

NY Jets vs Steelers prediction

The pick: Steelers 20, Jets 14

Here's why: This game could go completely off-script with the changing dynamics of Adams potentially making his Jets debut if healthy enough and Wilson likely starting under center for the Steelers. One thing is for certain, this will be a low-scoring contest with two solid defenses going head-to-head. The Rodgers-Adams connection will be a little rusty here as Pittsburgh continues to surprise as they earn the victory on Sunday night as home underdogs.