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Pittsburgh – Some might argue that bad game management by the Jets at the end of the first half was the turning point of this game.
Jets were up 15-6 late in the first half, Rodgers forced a pass over the middle, at mid-field, to Garrett Wilson that was picked off, and the Steelers took advantage of the short field and scored to make it 15-13.
Some might argue this pass wasn’t worth the risk and changed the momentum of the game.
The Jets had all the momentum at the time.
Perhaps go with some conservative throws and try to get in field goal range and go up 18-6 . . .
It’s kind of unusual dyanamic.
You trade for a receiver (Davante Adams) early in the week and he become a focal point of your passing attack on Sunday.
Now, granted, Rodgers and Adams, played together from 2014-21 in Green Bay, but obviously they were away from each other for like 2 1/2 years, and perhaps needed some time to get on the same page with a new team in a system that is similar, but these systems do change to a degree from year to year, especially the verbiage.
So for him to go right into the starting lineup and play as much as he did this week, might have been a little much.
There were three misfires between Rodgers and Adams.
In the first quarter, there were two passes way off target to Adams – one on the first series,an out to the right side that was too wide, and then on the third series, a misfire on a crossing route.
The Jets’ first possession of the second half ended when Rodgers missed Adams on a crossing route.
Then in the fourth quarter, down 15, on fourth-and-four, Rodgers tried throwing to Adams on a quick slant, and defensive tackle Keanu Benton blocked the pass. Rodgers only looked one place and Benton read his eyes.
Rodgers threw a pick in the third quarter, not his fault, but it was a pass to Garrett Wilson down the right side, that bounced off him, and was picked by nickel back Beanie Bishop, the same player with the late first-half pick. Wilson also had a false start in the fourth.
It almost seemed like Wilson was pressing, perhaps related to the arrival of Adams.
Adams is a terrific player, but not sure he needed to start and play most of the snap on offense when he arrived in the middle of the week.
Seemed a little forced so fast and might have thrown off the passing game a little.
Should he have had a role? Absolutely. As big as it was considering when he arrived. No way . . .
There was a 34-yard run early in the fourth that set up the Steelers TD that made it 30-15. It was right at Quinnen Williams. This final TD of the game, a run by Najee Harris on fourth-and-two, was right at him as well.
He had one assisted tackle on the night.
Some might make the argument he’s not living up to his massive contract this season . . .
Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith called a brilliant game tonight for Pittsburgh in Russell Wilson’s first start, creating some nice and easy throws for him.
There were reports the Jets were interested in hiring Smith last off-season, but he didn’t want to work under Nathaniel Hackett, so he went to Pittsburgh . . .
Jets really missed D.J. Reed in this game. There were some issues on the side he usually mans . . .
October 20, 2024
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