After getting shellacked by the Ravens last week, the Jets have had ample time to prepare for a Steelers squad whose playoff hopes are on life support.
New York is getting healthy on defense and could see the return of at least three key contributors this weekend. The game carries little meaning in the grand scheme of things, but a solid showing against Pittsburgh could help bolster the team’s mentality heading into the offseason as it gears up for next season.
The Steelers are a strange team. Their offense should be one of the best in the league with solid weapons in the receiving and running game, but they’ve struggled at times throughout the season due in large part to a rash of injuries. Nevertheless, they sit at 8-6 with a shot at the playoffs. They’re starting undrafted free agent rookie Devlin Hodges once again, who has struggled at times but remains 3-1 as a starter.
This game won’t define the Jets’ season, but it could define the Steelers if New York can hold off Pittsburgh. With that being said, here are four keys to the Jets defense in Week 16.
Sack the duck
The Steelers’ offense has been hit-or-miss with Devlin Hodges under center, but the Bills showed everyone this past week that pressuring Hodges can limit his ability to run the offense.
The Bills sacked Hodges four times last week and the young Steelers quarterback finished with four turnovers, and a 43.9 quarterback rating in a costly 17-10 loss.
The Jets haven’t been great at getting to the quarterback lately and could struggle against a Steelers offensive line that has allowed the 25th-most sacks in the league this season. Sacks will be hard to come by, but just pressuring Hodges might be enough to slow down Pittsburgh’s offense.
Watch out for James Washington
James Washington has emerged as the Steelers’ big-play receiving threat in only his second season with the team.
The 5-foot-11, 213-pound Washington only has 39 receptions on the season, but has racked up 694 receiving yards and three scores thanks to his ability to break off huge gains at any point in the game.
Despite his low reception total, Washington actually ranks third in air yards before catch (13.5), fifth in yards per reception (17.8) and 10th in yards per target (10.1). He has established a solid relationship with Hodges, garnering 19 targets over the past three games, including 11 against the Bills. The Jets must key on Washington more than any other receiving on the Steelers roster — especially if JuJu Smith-Schuster misses another game.
Limit the running game
The Steelers haven’t been able to run the ball as well as they have in the past due to a bevy of injuries to James Conner, Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell.
All three are back this week, but when the Steelers can’t run the ball, their offense suffers. Pittsburgh is 2-6 when it rushes for fewer than 100 yards. The Jets have only allowed a team to rush for more than 100 yards five times all year.
If the Jets’ defense is healthy this week, they’ll have a better chance at stopping the run than they did the past two weeks where they gave up over 100 yards to the Dolphins and the Ravens. Granted, Baltimore is the best running team in the league, but the Dolphins were one of the worst and still managed to run on the Jets. Conner, Samuels, and Snell are a dynamic trio that New York must contain if they want to be successful in holding the Steelers on offense.
Stay healthy
It’s something a little out of their control, but the Jets’ defense will have an easier time stopping the Steelers if they get back to full health.
Safety Jamal Adams and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams are pivotal players for Gregg Williams’ defense and both are poised to return after missing this past week. Cornerback Brian Poole, another key defensive starter, could also play this week.
The Jets have been one of the most injury-riddled teams in the league this season — especially on defense. Getting healthy won’t solve a lot of the deficiencies the team has on defense, but it’ll be a step in the right direction when it comes to slowing down Pittsburgh’s offense.
