No trash talk as the New York Jets march to Heinz Field
Granted that National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell effectively told the Jets to shut it, but that wouldn’t have been enough to reign in Rex Ryan’s rowdy bunch. Maybe it’s because unlike the New England Patriots, the Jets don’t want the
Pittsburgh Steelers fired up against them. The Jets and the Steelers aren’t division rivals and there is no hatred between the two teams. In fact, there is quite a lot of respect.
The Jets recognise that the Steelers are one of the best teams in the league. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who couldn’t stop insulting New England’s quarterback Tom Brady, is apparently an admirer of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
“I love Ben, man,” said Cromartie. “Ben's a competitor.”
However, respect for the Steelers must not be confused with fear. The Jets weren’t intimidated by the Indianapolis Colts or the New England Patriots, and they certainly won’t be intimidated by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Colts, Patriots and the Steelers
have dominated the American Football Conference (AFC) in past years, and won the conference championship in the AFC every year since 2003. The Jets knocked out the Colts and the Patriots from the running for the AFC Championship, and that has left just the
Steelers standing in their way.
“Big Ben, he's next on our list,” receiver Braylon Edwards said. While Ben may not rank among the elite quarterbacks of the NFL - like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Tom Brady - but Roethlisberger has proven his abilities and that he can lead the Steelers
to victory time and time again. In seven seasons, Roethlisberger has led the Steelers to five Playoff appearances and four division titles. Pittsburgh won the AFC Conference Championship in 2005 and 2008 with Roethlisberger. The Steelers went on to win the
Super Bowl both times.
Ben is one win away from his third AFC Title, and New York will try to make sure he doesn’t get it this year.
“They're a really good defence,” Roethlisberger said. “They try and confuse. That's the big thing they do. ... You don't know where people are lining up and how to identify them.” The Jets were able to stop Peyton Manning for a single touchdown. Brady scored
two but was also intercepted once. “The Jets' defence beat the two best quarterbacks in the game at their place,” Roethlisberger said. “I don't know how I'm going to do it.”
New York’s Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis would be Roethlisberger’s main hurdles. Revis would like to cover Hines Ward on Sunday and Cromartie could be on Mike Wallace. That arrangement worked for the Jets in the 2010-11 regular season. Pittsburgh
was defeated 17-22 and Big Ben was limited to just one touchdown, but his team-mates still have faith in him.
“(Ben) may not be Brady or all those other guys, but when I see him in the huddle I know we've got a chance to win,” Ward said. “He's a proven winner.” The Steelers would no doubt be preparing a strategy to deal with the Jets just as the Jets are trying
to work out how to counter the Steelers.
New York’s coach Rex Ryan realises that outplaying Big Ben and the Steelers will be nothing like dealing with Manning or Brady. “(Manning and Brady) approach things a little different,” Ryan said. “Roethlisberger will beat you up. ... I've never seen a guy
take the hits he can take, and also make people miss the way he does, and be as accurate on the run.”
While the Jets will certainly have their hands full with the offence, it will be quarterback Mark Sanchez who will have the hardest time at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh’s offence is simply brutal. They lead the league in number of sacks, and Sanchez was unable
to throw a touchdown pass against the Steelers. Pittsburgh doesn’t allow many rushing yards, but the Jets were still able to run against them, and score two rushing touchdowns. To beat the Steelers in the championship game, Sanchez will have to find a way
to deal with Pittsburgh’s pass rush.
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