NFL
By: Melo Williams
The first quarter of the season has rapidly approached and the Pittsburgh Steelers sit with a 1-2 record with the New York Jets landing in Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers Week 4 at Acrisure Stadium.
This Week 4 matchup is between two teams struggling to find their identities. Two teams that’s desperate for a win to show that their only wins of the season wasn’t a fluke. The team that wins will be 2-2, while the team that loses will be two games under .500.
For Mitch Trubisky I believe this game is the make or break game to determine if Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is going to finally bench Mitch and go with Mason Rudolph or 1st round pick Kenny Pickett. Many around the organization feel it’s not if Mike Tomlin is going to bench Trubisky but a matter of when he’s going to bench him and the thoughts are it’ll be rather sooner than later. The Steelers have struggled offensively beyond their thoughts of struggling without Ben Roethlisberger and patience has pretty much run its course with offensive coordinator Matt Canada and Mitch Trubisky.
The major key for the Steelers to have a chance of winning even though it’s the Jets is DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE. I know the Steelers defense is banged up, missing T.J. Watt tremendously, it’s defensive coordinator Teryl Austin first year calling the plays, but the Steelers defense has looked horrible and vulnerable so much it doesn’t appear the defense can stop a nosebleed, with the exception of the first game of the season Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Pittsburgh has had 10 days to rest and with 2nd-year quarterback Zach Wilson scheduled to start after coming back from offseason surgery, Pittsburgh’s defense should be able to carry the Steelers to a victory if Trubisky and the offense struggle putting up points again.
The Jets’ offense is averaging 17.3 points per game (19th in the league), but they have averaged 370 yards of total offense (9th overall per game). Their third down conversion rate is 36.2% (19th), and their red zone offense rate is 50% (T-21st).
Pittsburgh’s defense has allowed an average of 394.7 yards per game, which is 24th in the league.
Former Jaguars’ linebacker Myles Jack has a team-high 35 tackles. Alex Highsmith has 4.5 of of the team’s nine sacks. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has two interceptions. The Steelers allow a 46.9% conversion rate on third downs, and their red zone defense rate is 50%. Pittsburgh has allowed an average of 22 points per game, 252 yards through the air, and 142.7 yards on the ground. Expect the Jets to try to run the ball and take some pressure off of Wilson.
Offensively it’s simple, the Steelers need to get the ball to their playmakers Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens and, tight end Pat Freiermurth and allow them to make plays. All four are good at getting yards after the catch.
Mitch Trubisky has completed 60.2% of his passes and has one rushing touchdown. Through three games, Trubisky has completed 63 of 103 pass attempts for 569 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Against Cleveland, Trubisky was 20 of 32 for 207 yards. If Mitch doesn’t start off well expect to hear Pittsburgh’s faithful at Acrisure Stadium chanting or screaming put Kenny Pickett in the game.
Najee Harris is the Steelers’ leading rusher with 128 carries. The Steelers have 272 yards rushing with a 4.1 yards per carry average and 90 yards per game.
Diontae Johnson is WR1 with a team-high 21 receptions and 196 receiving yards. Tight End Pat Freiermuth and wide receiver Chase Claypool both have 11 catches each. Rookie and crowd favorite George Pickens has 5 receptions and only 65 yards, zero touchdowns. Very frustrating for Pickens as we’ve come to learn from his recent comments in the media.
The Steelers rank 28th in passing offense with 182,7 yards per contest and rank 23rd in rushing offense (90). They have allowed eight sacks, their third-down conversion rate is 33.3 (24th), and their red zone conversion rate is 57 % (16th). The Jets have somewhat of a respectable defense, but not a defense that can prevent the Steelers from putting up points with the offensive players they have but it all falls on the play calling of offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
I’m not sure what we will see from both teams come Sunday, but I expect the Steelers to get on track against the Jets and get their first home victory of the year. Steelers 24 Jets 17.
