New York Jets vs Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday 6:30 ET)

On Sunday the New York Jets head into Heinz Field for a week 15 rematch with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although there has not been as much trash talk as there was last week, both teams plan to due their talking on the field. This game has so many great players and match-ups; Big Ben vs Sanchez, Tomlin vs Ryan, and Revis vs Ward. At the end of the day the biggest matchup is team vs team, the Jets vs the Steelers and the winner gets a trip to Superbowl XLV.


X-factor for Pitt, Mike Wallace:  With the Jets expected to match-up Darrelle Revis on Hines Ward, that leaves either Antonio Cromartie or Jets nickelback Drew Coleman on one of the fastest receivers in the NFL, Mike Wallace. When these two teams met in week 15 Wallace went off for 102 yards on 7 catches. If Wallace has a repeat of his week 15 performance the Jets will be in serious trouble.

X-factor for NYJ, Shonn Greene: For the Jets, the X-factor is their second year runningback out of Iowa, Shonn Greene. In the week 15 matchup versus Pittsburgh, Greene had just 12 carries for 40 yards, but in this years playoffs he has 36 carries for 146 yards(just over 4 yards per carry) and one touchdown. However this week he faces the best rush defense in the NFL and a Steeler defense that allowed just 126 total yards to a pretty good Baltimore offense. For the Jets to win this game they will need to, as Rex Ryan puts it “Ground and Pound” and Greene will be a major part of that.


Key matchup, Revis vs Ward: There is no question that this is the key matchup of the game. You have the leagues best cornerback vs a former Superbowl MVP. In their matchup in week 15 Ward didn’t see much of Revis, as he was mainly covering the Steelers number 2 receiver Mike Wallace. Ward isn’t the fastest guy or the biggest but what makes him so good, is that when Big Ben scrambles and buys time, Hines Ward always works back to the ball and makes a play. If Revis can take Ward out of the game then that will go a long way in stopping Roethlisberger from making plays outside the pocket.


Prediction: Steelers 20 Jets 16

Although the Jets pulled out a victory in week 15 at Heinz Field, the Steelers were without possibly their best player in Troy Polamalu. I think Polamalu will have a huge game and the Jets offense won’t be able really move the ball vs the Steelers defense. However the Jets will keep it close by making plays on defense and with Brad Smith in the return game. In the end I think Big Ben just makes more plays then Mark Sanchez, and Pittsburgh will be headed to Dallas on February 6th.