The ball was floating excessive and much and deep, and most of the 66,578 people inside Acrisure Stadium absolutely believed one thing good needed to occur. Good issues occur to the Steelers on a regular basis, in spite of everything. Dangerous issues occur to the Jets.
Kenny Pickett’s toss might have been the definition of a Hail Mary heave, however absolutely one in every of Pittsburgh’s tree-tall receivers might pluck this out of the sky. Certainly one of many Jets’ defenders might put his arms the place they shouldn’t be, maintain hope alive. Certainly the truth that the Jets have been 1-16 within the state of Pennsylvania all time — 1-10 in opposition to the Steelers, 0-6 in opposition to the Eagles — would repair, karmically, a correct ending.
However as a substitute the ball settled within the arms of Jets security Lamarcus Joyner at the back of the tip zone. For the second time in three weeks the Jets didn’t solely make a spectacular comeback on the highway, one for either side of Lake Erie, they'd handle to stiff-arm an extended path of unlucky historical past.
And now 2-16 within the nice Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
“It wasn’t the prettiest sport ever,” Robert Saleh stated, “However we held up effectively.”
Perhaps there'll come a time when the Jets head coach will really feel compelled to touch upon the standard of his staff’s wins, however he's nonetheless at that time in his profession the place amount is much extra essential. After an prolonged spin within the wilderness, below three totally different head coaches and a gaggle of quarterbacks the place the Jets misplaced in nearly each manner possible — and some that defied description — making the type of big performs that win video games isn’t merely every part.
It’s the one factor.
“In important conditions,” Saleh stated, “our guys stepped up.”
They did, throughout the board. There was the child quarterback, after all, who confirmed some rust early, who can nonetheless ship textbook-perfect throws on one snap and horrific ones the subsequent. However Zach Wilson managed to chisel his first nice NFL reminiscence out of Western Pennsylvania granite, main two landing drives within the sport’s closing 7 ½ minutes.
“That was among the most enjoyable I’ve had taking part in soccer,” stated Wilson, who completed 18-for-36 on the day (after beginning 6-for-16) for 252 yards, including one landing throwing and one other receiving. “The feelings, the ups and downs, making an attempt to beat adversity, such a cool battle by the blokes.”
Stated Quinnen Williams, who had a sack and a deal with for loss on a high quality day: “To see him having enjoyable on the market … that was wonderful.”
However Wilson wasn’t alone. The Jets’ perpetually persecuted offensive line appeared prefer it was teetering getting ready to disaster all day, however on the finish was in a position to defend Wilson simply sufficient and cratered simply sufficient holes to permit for a first-ever huge day for rookie again Breece Corridor, who floor his option to 68 yards speeding and the game-winning rating.
It was the Jets protection that set all of that up. For a number of anxious moments, it appeared just like the Jets have been going to do for Pickett what they did a number of years again for Baker Mayfield in Cleveland, whose temporary tenure as a Browns folks hero started when he beat the Jets on a Thursday night time after getting promoted on the half. Pickett performed effectively, and his two landing runs allowed the Steelers to take a 20-10 lead.
However he additionally had a important rookie gaffe. With the Steelers on the Jets 36, the clock grinding down to three ½ minutes, he was pursued by Solomon Thomas and Jake Martin and threw a fluttering duck towards his tight finish, Pat Freiermuth.
However Freiermuth was blanketed by Sauce Gardner — (an apart: he's the true deal) — the ball bounced within the air, and Michael Carter II pounced on it. These are precisely the type of momentum-upending performs the Jets have craved for years. Wilson and the offense honored it by utilizing all however 16 seconds of the remaining 3:34 to punch it in.
“Such an important feeling,” Williams stated. “Such an important win.”
Now the Steelers might not fairly be the Steelers of latest classic, beginning over with a brand new quarterback after 18 seasons of Ben Roethlisberger. Nevertheless it’s changing into clear the Jets aren’t the Jets of latest classic, both.
“There's,” stated Braxton Berrios, the punt returner who additionally chipped in a important catch on the Jets’ first TD of the fourth quarter, “positively a tradition shift.”
At 2-2, it's laborious to argue in any other case. There are specific NFL precincts — like Pittsburgh — the place 2-2 would possibly encourage disgust and dismay.
The Jets usually are not a kind of choosy precincts. The Steelers are used to being Boardwalk — or no less than Pennsylvania Avenue — the Jets extra like Baltic Avenue. They took 2-2 fortunately again with them to the airport. And doubtless didn’t want the aircraft as soon as they bought there.
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