Thanks to a third quarter interception Sunday by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark against the New York Jets, the team avoided becoming the first in NFL history to start a season with five consecutive games without a takeaway.
Clark picked off a pass by Jets quarterback Geno Smith intended for tight end Konrad Reuland at the Steelers one yard-line with 8:01 left in the third quarter to end the 18 quarter takeaway drought.
The turnovers did not stop there as linebacker Lawrence Timmons also picked off a Smith pass with 3:08 left in the game at the Steelers own three yard-line. The interception was mostly a result of good pressure on Smith by rookie linebacker Jarvis Jones.
Clark nearly had a second interception in the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold on to a pass by Smith intended for wide receiver Jeremy Kerley.
Linebacker Jason Worilds also forced a fumble by Smith in the first half, but the Steelers defense was unable to recover it before Smith.
Thanks to the Steelers offense not turning the ball over during the game, the team takeaway differential now sits at minus nine through five games.
