By Alex Kozora
A statistical approach of the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-13 defeat at the hands of the New York Jets.
– The Steelers’ offense has been maddeningly inconsistent throughout the season. They’ve scored 30+ points in five games while being held to 13 or fewer in three.
First time that’s happened since 2008.
– Much of the Steelers’ success the previous two weeks can be attributed to its red zone offense. Against the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens, they were 8-9 scoring touchdowns in the red zone. Yesterday? 0-3.
– It came with the game almost over but Ben Roethlisberger threw for 300+ yards in the third straight game. First time he’s done that since Week 7-9 in 2011.
– The run game was stagnant again Sunday. Over the last three games, they have only 15 first downs rushing.
– Le’Veon Bell has been held under four yards per carry in the last three weeks. And for the second straight week, Bell had more yards receiving than rushing.
– On the plus side, Bell has already set the team record for most receptions by a running back in a single season. The old record was held by John L. Williams with 51. Bell’s eight receptions Sunday gives him 55 on the year. He’s now 69 yards behind Tom Tracy for the most single season receiving yards record.
– Running the ball has been an issue for the Steelers against the Jets. In the last three meetings, the Steelers have a combined 98 yards on the ground.
– Antonio Brown is the first Steelers’ receiver to fumble twice in a game since…Antonio Brown in 2012. Prior to him was Santonio Holmes in 2006.
– Brown’s streak of 13 straight games with at least one 20+ yard reception ended Sunday.
His reception long of 15 yards yesterday was the shortest he’s had since the final week of the Week 17 of the 2012 campaign.
– Martavis Bryant has 14 career catches and six touchdowns in his short career.
– His 80 yard TD catch was the first such grab since Mike Wallace’s 82 yard score in October of 2012. Bryant is the first rookie receiver to have an 80+ TD since Charles Johnson did it in 1994.
– The Jets came into the game allowing 24 touchdown passes, by far the most in the NFL. They gave up just one Sunday.
– Michael Vick completed just ten passes Sunday. It’s the second time this year a team has completed ten or fewer passes and defeated the Steelers (Brian Hoyer, 8). This is the first time since 1999 the team has lost twice against an offense that completed ten or fewer passes.
Happened once in a game I’ve mentioned before; a 31-24 loss against the Baltimore Ravens. And a 17-3 loss versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Like 2014, those teams completed eight and ten passes. Scary.
– T.J. Graham’s 67 yard touchdown reception was the longest reception of the season for the Jets.
– Coming into Sunday, the Jets forced only three takeaways on 567 snaps. By the Steelers’ 31st snap, the Jets had four more takeaways.
– Lawrence Timmons 13 combined tackles are the most he’s had since Week Six of 2013.
– Cam Thomas was credited with half a sack Sunday. It was his first QB crunch since December 24th 2011. He inexplicably had four sacks in 2011. A number that utterly shocks me.
– One of the few positives was with penalties, an area the team had struggled in all year long. They had just three Sunday, the fewest of the season.
