Steelers drop to 5-9 after loss to Jets
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It will go in the books as a 6-0 loss to the New York Jets on what could have been a fun day to play some football. But it could have been just about any other Sunday during this frustrating season. “We had our chances,” quarterback Tommy Maddox said. “Just look at the last 10 games, all year, really. We had chances to win those games, too. In the fourth quarter, we just didn’t get it done.
“I think that makes it more frustrating than the other way (losing lopsided games). We had our chances all season and we know we’re better than this.”
“This” became 5-9, thanks to an opportunistic Jets offense that did just enough to win and an emerging Jets defense that kept the Steelers off the scoreboard for the first time since Sept. 3, 2000, a 16-0 loss to Baltimore. New York, meanwhile, improved to only 6-8, still holding out hopes of finishing at .500.
The loss officially eliminated the Steelers from playoff contention, a reality that had long been sealed, except for the mathematics.
“Not much thought to have, just disappointed,” said a dejected Steelers coach Bill Cowher. “Obviously, we didn’t want to play out like this.”
New York got all the points it would need when Doug Brien converted a 28-yard field goal to cap a 12-play, 56-yard drive. The Jets passed effectively in scoring with the first possession of the game. New York passed on six of their 12 plays. They converted two third-and-short situations with passes and grabbed a 3-0 lead with 8:20 remaining in the first quarter.
The Steelers moved the ball pretty well on their first possession, too, but Jeff Reed missed a 43-yard field goal after Maddox had overthrown Antwaan Randle El on third-and-7. On the drive, Jerome Bettis moved past Franco Harris and into eighth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list.
“He hit it really good,” Maddox said of Reed’s miss. “Kicking in this kind of weather is hit or miss. Obviously, their guy (Brien) did a good job today”
The Steelers managed a few more first downs on their next possession and Hines Ward posted his third consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season with a 15-yard gain on a second-and-10 play.
Also, Jets running back Curtis Martin went over 1,000 for the ninth time in his nine-year career. He trails only Barry Sanders, who ran for at least 1,000 yards in his first 10 seasons in the NFL. Martin finished with 174 yards on 30 carries.
“We made plays when we needed to to keep them out of the end zone, but he still ran for far too many yards,” defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen said. “Our defense was built to stop the run and today we didn’t do that very well.”
The Jets extended their lead to 6-0 when Brien connected from 41 yards out with three seconds remaining in the first half. The kick capped a 10-play, 51-yard drive that included a questionable pass interference penalty against Brent Alexander and a 29-yard screen pass to Martin.
As the first-half snow turned into the second-half freezing rain, the Jets realized it would be perfect weather for running the ball. The Steelers, on the other hand, decided to stick with its passing game, despite a healthy 4.9-yard rushing average for Bettis in the first half.
Fortunately for the Steelers, their run defense was up to the task and kept forcing Jets’ punts. However, New York punter Dan Stryzinski, a former Steeler, had one of his best games. He nailed a punt at the Pittsburgh 2-yard line with 6:23 remaining in the third quarter, forcing the Steelers to go 98 yards.
Dan Krieder then drew a 1-yard false start penalty before Bettis ran for 4 to the 5-yard line. Maddox passed to Plaxico Burress for a 17-yard gain to the Steelers’ 22-yard line. Shaun Ellis then drew a dead-ball personal foul penalty to keep the Steelers drive alive.
Maddox moved the chains again on a 10-yard pass to Randle El on third-and-5, but the drive stalled and Josh Miller punted.
But his punt could have been the most important play of the game. Chidi Iwuoma downed Santana Moss at the Jets’ 14-yard line and the Steelers defense forced a New York punt. Pittsburgh took over at the New York 43-yard line. From there, Amos Zereoue ran for 8 yards and a first down at the Jets’ 31-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
Maddox then passed to Ward for 25 to a first-and-goal at the Jets’ 6-yard line. On third down, Maddox’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by Ray Mickens. But Aaron Beasley was called for roughing the passer and the Steelers got another chance, a first-and-goal at the 3-yard line.
Maddox’s third-down pass was dropped by Ward and the Steelers had to settle for a 20-yard Reed field goal attempt. However, Reed missed again, this time wide left, and the Jets kept Pittsburgh off the scoreboard.
“There are no excuses,” Reed said. “I missed two kicks and we lost 6-0. My plant foot slipped on the second one, but, like I said, no excuses. I was wearing the right cleats and I shortened my steps, just like I’m supposed to do. What I didn’t do was make the kicks.”
Maddox said the third-down pass was intended to tight end Jerame Tuman in the back of the end zone, but that Ward was just trying to make a play on it.
“It was just a hustling play,” Ward said. “I’m not even the primary receiver on that play. By hustling, I kind of got in the way of Jerame.”
“Hines was coming across the other way,” Maddox said. “He saw the ball and just tried to make a play on it.”
Martin finished the game over 100 yards for the 47th time in his career, including a 56-yard run that got New York to a first-and-goal at the Steelers’ 10-yard line with 8:15 remaining.
On the next play, Lamont Jordan fumbled and Mike Logan recovered and Pittsburgh took over again at its own 23-yard line with eight minutes remaining.
Maddox got a first down on a pass to Lee Mays for 8 yards and, on third-and-four, passed to Ward for a 15-yard gain to the Jets’ 45-yard line. Maddox was forced from the pocket, but lofted a pass toward Ward, who drew a pass interference penalty against Mickens and the Steelers had the ball at the Jets’ 28-yard line.
Bettis then caught a pass and ran for a first down to New York’s 16-yard line with 3:15 remaining.
After three incompletions, the Steelers faced fourth-and-10. Ward fell down and Maddox’s pass fell incomplete.