Down 20-10 early in the fourth quarter, the Jets stormed back to beat Pittsburgh 24-20. What changed in the fourth for a Jets offense that was sluggish up to that point?
“They won third downs,” said Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. “We didn’t win them. They’re getting the ball to the guys they wanted to get it to. We didn’t stop them. When they get the ball where they want to get it, it’s tough to win.”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was asked what happened to his defense in the fourth quarter.
“Some attrition things, fatigue, etcetera, but also execution by the Jets,” Tomlin said.
“Attrition” is a creative word to avoid using injuries as an excuse in an answer.
But man, the Steelers were beat up in their secondary by the fourth quarter.
They entered the game without starting left cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon who was inactive, then lost start strong safety Terrell Edmunds to a concussion in the second quarter, then starting right cornerback Cam Sutton pulled a hamstring in the second half, and Fitzpatrick hurt his knee late in the game. That is the entire Steelers starting secondary.
The Jets and Zach Wilson (who completed all six passes on the last drive) deserve credit for taking advantage of this, and pulling out the win.
