Jets Force Four Takeaways, Subdue Steelers 20-13

It took eight weeks, but the Jets put together a great game plan, much to the Steelers’ dismay.

CBS Sports is reporting that Michael Vick threw for two touchdowns and the Jets forced four turnovers, two by Jaiquawn Jarrett, as the Jets kept Ben Roethlisberger out of the end zone for most of the day in the Jets’ 20-13 victory. The Jets are now 2-8, their first victory coming in the opening week of the 2014 season.

The Steelers’ only touchdown of the day came in the fourth quarter on an 80-yard pass from Roethlisberger to Martavis Bryant. Roethlisburger has scored six touchdowns in each of the last two games. Though Big Ben did have a good day overall (30-43 for 343 yards, but also two interceptions), the Steelers quarterback spent most of his time running for cover.

Vick, on the other hand, was effective, going 10-18 for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Vick also set a record, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 6,000 yards. Head coach Rex Ryan has already tabbed Vick the starting quarterback for the Jets’ next game against the Buffalo Bills.

The biggest difference for the Jets was turnover differential. The Jets were minus 3 before the game, but plus 4 for the game.

“There’s nothing mystical about the outcome of that football game,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “We talked all week about why that team struggled: because they were minus in the turnover ratio…. Well, they weren’t today. They were plus-4. You’re going to lose football games when you’re minus-4 in the turnover ratio, and we did today.”

According to ESPN, another sore point for the Jets was the Steelers’ Mike Mitchell. As the Jets were going into Victory Formation (snapping the football and kneeling to waste the time on the clock), Mitchell dove from the Steelers side over the piled-up players in an effort to cause a fumble. Since he wasn’t helped over the line, the play is essentially legal, but somewhat frowned upon. Mitchell was stopped by Jets center Nick Mangold, who grabbed Mitchell and threw him down to the ground, which caused a brief skirmish.

Both teams were admonished, but no penalties were called, and no players were ejected from the game.

The Jets now go into their bye week on an emotional high, then come back to face the Bills in Buffalo on November 23. The Steelers travel to Tennessee to face the Titans in a Monday night battle on November 17.

[Image courtesy of ESPN]