For a 2-4 New York Jets team, things don’t feel like all hope is lost – at least, not yet. This past week, the Jets traded for Davante Adams, reuniting him with his former quarterback in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers. Now that Adams is in New York, pessimism has turned to optimism. And with it, a newfound sense of hope can become contagious. At least, as long as the team is able to win their Week 7 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh enters this matchup with a new starting quarterback in Russell Wilson. Wilson makes his debut after rehabbing a calf injury that has kept him sidelined since Week 1. At 4-2, the Steelers need to keep momentum going if they want to continue to be competitive in a tough AFC North division.
This Week 7 meeting is an interesting one to break down, so follow along to learn the key players, matchups, and history between these two football teams.
New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Series History
The Jets and Steelers have played each other 27 times in NFL history, in a mostly one-sided affair favoring Pittsburgh. However, recent history has been favorable to the Jets, who have won three out of the last four matchups between the two teams.
The last meeting between these two teams was a 24-20 Jets victory led by Zach Wilson. However, most New York fans will remember these meetings from a playoff matchup nearly 13 years ago, where the Steelers sealed a last-minute victory over the Jets in the playoffs during the 2010 season.
Key Players for the Jets
Despite the addition of Adams to the offense, the key players for the Jets continue to be their offensive line. Not only have they struggled to create consistent running lanes this season, but they’ve allowed constant pressure on Rodgers.
Left tackle Tyron Smith has looked like a shell of his former All-Pro self. The 33-year old is second in the NFL in sacks allowed with five, while his 16 pressures allowed ranks 15th among qualifying offensive linemen (min. 100 snaps). And outside of Alijah Vera-Tucker, the rest of the line has been mediocre at best.
That doesn’t bode well for their Week 7 matchup, where the Jets take on Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt (Nick Herbig will be inactive). Highsmith and Watt are one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL. If the Jets aren’t able to keep them in check, it will be a long day for Rodgers and the offense.
Defensively, New York will need to bring the pressure against Wilson. In his first start of the season, the 35-year old will likely experience rust. The Jets will need to take advantage of that.
However, the biggest responsibility will fall on Jamien Sherwood. Sherwood was given the “green dot” this week, meaning he will be the Mike linebacker in the Jets defense. He will be the one relaying the plays to the defense and making sure the players are set in their assignments. On top of that, Sherwood must perform well in his own right. The effectiveness of Sherwood in this matchup will determine the success of the Steelers offense in more ways than one.
Key Players for the Steelers
It seems kind of obvious to name the quarterback a key player in each matchup. However, it’s a little more important in Week 7 for the Steelers.
Switching to a new quarterback brings challenges for the rest of the offense. The cadence is different, as are the tendencies and timing. In order for Pittsburgh to execute well, they will need to gel with Wilson under center – and fast. It’ll be the first time the starting unit has played consistently with Wilson since the summer. And if they want to have success on offense, nothing is more important than Wilson’s performance on Sunday.
Defensively, the front seven needs to put pressure on the Jets quarterback. As mentioned above, the offensive line of New York has been a sieve to start the season. If the front seven of Pittsburgh can create pressure on Rodgers, it will alleviate the pressure off of the secondaries in the back-end.
In essence, it won’t matter if the Jets have Adams and Garrett Wilson if Rodgers is consistently on his back.
Keys to Victory for the Jets
With Adams in New York, the Jets have to find a way to distribute the ball proportionally to its playmakers. In theory Adams’ addition should bode well for everyone on the offense. However, that gelling process can take time. Unfortunately for New York, time is a luxury they don’t have. And with the offense already having communication issues, this is a factor that needs to be addressed, and executed well.
Another key for the Jets in this matchup is to stop the run. Forcing a 35-year old Russell Wilson to carry the burden of the offensive production is not what the Steelers want to do. The Jets defense has struggled to stop the run so far this season. However, if they’re able to force Pittsburgh to be one-dimensional, there will be opportunity for turnovers and creativity on the defensive side of the ball.
The final key for the Jets in this matchup is keeping Aaron Rodgers clean in the pocket. While some critics have determined Rodgers isn’t the same caliber of player as he was in the past, the four-time NFL MVP has shown flashes of brilliance through six weeks. If the Jets can keep Rodgers clean, they’ll have a chance to win this game.
