A lot will be on the line when the Jets and the Steelers take the field on Sunday.
New York’s Week 16 showdown with Pittsburgh might not seem like it carries a lot of meaning at first glance, but a deep dive into the matchup reveals its importance. The Steelers need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, while a pair of Jets are going up against their former team for the first time.
What do Jets fans need to know before kickoff? Let’s take a look at some pregame storylines.
Le’Veon Bell’s chance at revenge
Le’Veon Bell has been downplaying the meaning of his first game against the Steelers since leaving the organization all week, but let’s face it. New York’s star running back is going to be out for revenge on Sunday.
Pittsburgh never met Bell’s contractual demands last offseason, which led to him sitting out all of 2018 and signing with the Jets in March. Bell endured plenty of criticism from within the organization while he was sitting out and it’s safe to assume some members of the Steelers organization are still harboring sour grapes against the 27-year-old.
Bell is going to be looking to stick it to his former team in Week 16. It’s only human nature that he’s going to be looking to prove a point to the organization that refused to keep him in town at his desired price tag.
Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes
The Steelers aren’t out of the hunt for the final AFC Wild Card spot if they lose to the Jets in Week 16, but they’ll be hard-pressed to make the postseason if they do succumb to a 5-9 New York squad.
Sitting at 8-6, Pittsburgh is currently in possession of the sixth seed in the AFC playoff picture. The Steelers have an edge over the 8-6 Titans by the slimmest of margins — conference winning percentage.
If Pittsburgh loses to the Jets on Sunday, it can say goodbye to that tiebreaker. Factor in a Week 17 matchup with a dominant Baltimore Ravens team and it’s safe to say this is the game the Steelers absolutely have to have if they want to make the playoffs this year.
Minkah Fitzpatrick reunites with his old coach
Another week, another Adam Gase reunion with one of his former players.
Minkah Fitzpatrick will reunite with his former head coach in Miami on Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins shipped Fitzpatrick to Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2020 first-round draft pick earlier in the season and the deal has paid dividends, as Fitzpatrick has been a dominant force for the Steelers in the secondary.
Gase praised Fitzpatrick’s play with Pittsburgh earlier in the week and it looks like Sunday’s reunion will be an amicable one.
Reverse fortunes on the injury front
It’s fitting that the Jets and the Steelers are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to injuries heading into Sunday.
New York is still banged up as it has been all season and will be without two key offensive players on Sunday. Tom Compton and Demaryius Thomas are both doubtful to play and while the Jets are getting a bevy of key defensive players back on the field, Compton and Thomas not playing on Sunday give Gang Green two gaping holes to fill at key positions.
The Steelers, meanwhile, are in a perfect position on the injury front. They’re getting everyone back healthy on Sunday, including star receiver JuJu Smith- Schuster.
