In many ways, Sunday Night felt like a must win for the New York Jets. You wouldn’t know that by the way they performed. The Jets got embarrassed on primetime television by the Pittsburgh Steelers 37-15.
New York now falls to 2-5 on the season. Though they aren’t mathematically eliminated, and they could go on a run to make the playoffs. After last night’s performance, the playoffs feel one hundred miles away for the Jets.
This team came into the season with a lot of hype, and expectations. It’s safe to say it has been a complete disaster for the Jets. They traded for Wide Receiver Davante Adams, who even played on Sunday. The impact of that though was not felt as New York has so many problems outside of who is catching passes from Aaron Rodgers.
In the first quarter, Pittsburgh started with the ball first with Russell Wilson making his season debut. New York once again struggled against the run all game as Pittsburgh were able to drive down the field and get an opening field goal to go up 3-0.
The Jets opening drive was the complete opposite as they went three and out with Rodgers taking a sack on third down. It looked like he could have hit Allen Lazard over the middle but didn’t see it in time.
The Jets defense played good for the first half, as they mostly were able to get off the field. Still down 3-0, New York was able to put a drive together with Adams, Garrett Wilson. Breece Hall, and Lazard all got the ball. The drive ended with Breece Hall scoring a rushing touchdown to put the Jets up 7-3.
Breece Hall gets the @nyjets on the board!
📺: #NYJvsPIT on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/UiUGDtk8VA— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2024
In the second quarter, Pittsburgh was able to put a drive together with a big catch by George Pickens. The Jets did not have Sauce Gardner follow Pickens all game, which felt like a bad decision with other cornerbacks D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter III out. New York’s defense was able to hold strong though forcing Pittsburgh to three, making the score 7-6.
The Jets offense was able to respond in big time fashion with a 50 plus yard catch and run by Breece Hall to put them at the Steelers one yard line. Which ended with a Rodgers touchdown pass to Tyler Conklin. After a penalty on the extra point, New York went for two and got it with a Wilson catch, putting the Jets up 15-6. The Jets were in control of the game at this point on both sides of the football. The Offense had two great scoring drives, and the defense was putting pressure on Russell Wilson.
Rodgers to Conklin for SIX!
📺: #NYJvsPIT on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ZDeKZHUFL7— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2024
The Jets had a chance with under two minutes to play in the half to put up more points. This where the game completely changed with a Rodgers interception thrown in the middle of the field towards Wilson. It was picked off by rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. who made the game changing play. As the Steelers went on to drive with ease down the field resulting in a Pickens touchdown to make the score 15-13 at half.
After that bad turnover by Rodgers, the Jets simply never stood a chance for the rest of the game. They were just out of life from that point on. To start the half, New York couldn’t get points on the board and had to punt.
The Steelers responded with big catches by Pickens and Pat Freiermuth, but the Jets defense held strong again forcing Pittsburgh to settle for three.
Then maybe the worst play of the season happened for the Jets.
Have a night, Beanie Bishop Jr.!
The rookie has his second INT of the game 🔥
📺: #NYJvsPIT on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/dGxn4DyTtU— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2024
It goes right through Wilson’s hands into his pad, up into the air and picked off. Bishop with his second interception of the night returns it to the one-yard line. Followed up by Russell Wilson one yard rushing touchdown to put the Steelers up 23-15. That interception pretty much sums up the Jets season. A disappointing embarrassment followed by more embarrassment.
As the Jets, down eight were able to drive down the field through the air from Rodgers. They had to settle for three though, a 35-yard kick but it was blocked. A blocked field goal at the worst time for New York.
A 35-yard field goal is a chip shot in the NFL most of the time but for the Jets it just feels nothing is easy for them. The defense stood no chance at this point as in the fourth quarter, the Steelers drove right down the field as Wilson threw a touchdown pass to Van Jefferson to put them up 30-15.
The Jets offense was flat, and not able to do anything the rest of the game. Their defense was just as bad not being able to stop the Steelers rushing attack. The Steelers added on to the embarrassment with a last-minute rushing touchdown by Najee Harris to make the final score 37-15.
The Jets got humiliated on Sunday Night football to fall to 2-5. This is not the playoff team everyone thought they could be. Rodgers had a shaky night, he didn’t look comfortable, or confident. The offensive line continues to be undisciplined with penalties and they can’t create any running lanes for Hall.
The receivers have mental mistakes at the worst times, the defense can’t stop the run at all. The kicking is bad. Everything is just bad right now for New York. They can’t get out of their own way.
The Jets are playing bad football right now, it’s that simple. They have not been able to play a complete good 60 minutes of football all year.
As of right now, with all the hype, and expectations this team had this year. This might be the most disappointing and overrated Jets team of all time.
They are likely going to have to win their last seven out of ten games just to have a chance at the playoffs. The way they are playing right now, they won’t even come close to pulling that off.
Next week they head up to New England, to play the Patriots on Sunday at 1 p.m. eastern in what is obviously a must win football game.
