Post by Lithfan on Jan 23, 2016 8:00:42 GMT -5
January 23, 2011
The Jets were riding a wave of momentum into the AFC Championship Game in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field against the Steelers. They had just completed two stunning road upsets. The first against Peyton Manning and the Colts in Indianapolis, followed by a Divisional Round victory in New England against Brady, Belidick and the rest of the Evil Empire. They now had an opportunity to complete an unlikely trifecta against the 3 most dominant postseason QBs of this generation, going up against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers.
Unfortunately, although I showed up on time, after an 8 hour drive from Chicago to Pittsburgh, the Jets showed up about 90 minutes late, and by the time they started playing, they were already down 21 at halftime.
The opening drive set the tone for the day. The Jets won the toss and elected to defer, so the Steelers would get the ball first. Antonio Brown took Nick Folk’s kickoff at the 11 and returned it 23 yards to the 34. On their first play from scrimmage, Bart Scott stopped Rashard Mendenhall for a 1 yard gain. On 2nd and 9, Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward for a gain of 7. After a delay of game penalty, Pitt had a 3rd and 7 at their own 37. Then came the first of two plays that I wish the Jets could get back.
Roethlisberger’s pass in the right flat, intended for Emmanuel Sanders, fell incomplete. The Jets would get the ball back after forcing a 3 and out. Exactly the kind of starting you were hoping for as a Jet fan, especially after giving up that opening possession.
Until a flag flew. An illegal hands to the face penalty against Antonio Cromartie gave Pittsburgh a first down and extended the drive.
10 plays later, the 2nd play. The Steelers had 3rd and 12 at the Jets 25. Rex brought heat, sending 5 on the blitz. Nobody was open down field so Ben took off. Calvin Pace is in position to make the tackle well short of the first down, but he slips and Ben gains 12 yards. Just enough for the first down to extend the drive.
3 plays later, Mendenhall carried it in for a 1 yard TD run and after a 15 play, 66 yard drive that took over 9 minutes off the clock, the Steelers had a 7-0 lead. The Jets defense was gassed, they were on their heels the rest of the first half. And the offense could not get anything going to help out their defense. And it all came down to those two plays. A borderline penalty and a scramble. Two chances to get the ball back -- one without points and one with a field goal attempt. Those two fucking plays have stuck in my mind for 5 years now.
The offense held the ball for less than 9 minutes in the first half, compared to over 21 for the Steelers. Mark Sanchez finished the half 7 for 15, 63 yards with two sacks and a lost fumble. The Steelers defense outscored the Jets offense 7-3 in the first half.
Those two plays on the opening drive are the ones that are most vividly etched into my memory from that game. More than the William Gay scoop and score, more than Steelers goal line stand in the 4th quarter and more than the 3rd down conversion with 2 minutes left to allow Pitt to run out the clock.
The other vivid (and miserable) memory from that game -- I drove to Pittsburgh with my son, we were seated in the upper deck at Heinz Field. The Steeler fans sucked that afternoon, but I could take all that. Being told to sit the fuck down becaue I am blocking the view of Steeler season ticket holders when I got out of my seat to cheer my team. I could take that. Being physically shoved back into my seat on one occasion as the Jets were creeping closer, I could take that as well. The walk of shame as we got out of our seats and left rather than watch Big Ben’s final kneeldowns, I could handle that as well. It all goes with the territory of being a road fan in a big game.
But riding the bus back from the stadium to our hotel across the river in downtown Pittsburgh, that was the worst memory. Me and my son as the only two Jet fans on a bus full of Steeler fans. Their team going to the Super Bowl, and the bus was quiet -- no raucus celebration, no wild excitement -- nothing. Going to the Super Bowl was routine for the Steeler fans. Realizing how routine it was for them, was the worst part -- what would have been such a special moemnt for us had become routine for them.
We deserve that special moment. I just hope it comes in my lifetime.
The Jets were riding a wave of momentum into the AFC Championship Game in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field against the Steelers. They had just completed two stunning road upsets. The first against Peyton Manning and the Colts in Indianapolis, followed by a Divisional Round victory in New England against Brady, Belidick and the rest of the Evil Empire. They now had an opportunity to complete an unlikely trifecta against the 3 most dominant postseason QBs of this generation, going up against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers.
Unfortunately, although I showed up on time, after an 8 hour drive from Chicago to Pittsburgh, the Jets showed up about 90 minutes late, and by the time they started playing, they were already down 21 at halftime.
The opening drive set the tone for the day. The Jets won the toss and elected to defer, so the Steelers would get the ball first. Antonio Brown took Nick Folk’s kickoff at the 11 and returned it 23 yards to the 34. On their first play from scrimmage, Bart Scott stopped Rashard Mendenhall for a 1 yard gain. On 2nd and 9, Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward for a gain of 7. After a delay of game penalty, Pitt had a 3rd and 7 at their own 37. Then came the first of two plays that I wish the Jets could get back.
Roethlisberger’s pass in the right flat, intended for Emmanuel Sanders, fell incomplete. The Jets would get the ball back after forcing a 3 and out. Exactly the kind of starting you were hoping for as a Jet fan, especially after giving up that opening possession.
Until a flag flew. An illegal hands to the face penalty against Antonio Cromartie gave Pittsburgh a first down and extended the drive.
10 plays later, the 2nd play. The Steelers had 3rd and 12 at the Jets 25. Rex brought heat, sending 5 on the blitz. Nobody was open down field so Ben took off. Calvin Pace is in position to make the tackle well short of the first down, but he slips and Ben gains 12 yards. Just enough for the first down to extend the drive.
3 plays later, Mendenhall carried it in for a 1 yard TD run and after a 15 play, 66 yard drive that took over 9 minutes off the clock, the Steelers had a 7-0 lead. The Jets defense was gassed, they were on their heels the rest of the first half. And the offense could not get anything going to help out their defense. And it all came down to those two plays. A borderline penalty and a scramble. Two chances to get the ball back -- one without points and one with a field goal attempt. Those two fucking plays have stuck in my mind for 5 years now.
The offense held the ball for less than 9 minutes in the first half, compared to over 21 for the Steelers. Mark Sanchez finished the half 7 for 15, 63 yards with two sacks and a lost fumble. The Steelers defense outscored the Jets offense 7-3 in the first half.
Those two plays on the opening drive are the ones that are most vividly etched into my memory from that game. More than the William Gay scoop and score, more than Steelers goal line stand in the 4th quarter and more than the 3rd down conversion with 2 minutes left to allow Pitt to run out the clock.
The other vivid (and miserable) memory from that game -- I drove to Pittsburgh with my son, we were seated in the upper deck at Heinz Field. The Steeler fans sucked that afternoon, but I could take all that. Being told to sit the fuck down becaue I am blocking the view of Steeler season ticket holders when I got out of my seat to cheer my team. I could take that. Being physically shoved back into my seat on one occasion as the Jets were creeping closer, I could take that as well. The walk of shame as we got out of our seats and left rather than watch Big Ben’s final kneeldowns, I could handle that as well. It all goes with the territory of being a road fan in a big game.
But riding the bus back from the stadium to our hotel across the river in downtown Pittsburgh, that was the worst memory. Me and my son as the only two Jet fans on a bus full of Steeler fans. Their team going to the Super Bowl, and the bus was quiet -- no raucus celebration, no wild excitement -- nothing. Going to the Super Bowl was routine for the Steeler fans. Realizing how routine it was for them, was the worst part -- what would have been such a special moemnt for us had become routine for them.
We deserve that special moment. I just hope it comes in my lifetime.
