Thump thump, thump thump, thump thump. Those were the audible sounds coming from my chest late Sunday afternoon as Big Ben was getting dangerously close to the Jets end zone to win the game. On first down, and second down, and third down the defense did a fantastic job limiting the Steelers offense and creating looong 4th downs for them to have to convert. And convert they did. Over and over again. All the way down the 10 yard line.
First play, rocket pass to the back of the end zone, between two Steelers, and an incomplete pass. Heart’s pumping a little bit more. Two seconds left. One more play. One final chance for Ben to stab the Jets. Second play, scramble to the left, throw to the back corner, incomplete. Jets win! 22-17 victory, in Pittsburgh. 10-4 record. Control of our playoff lives. Win and we’re in. Two games to get that win.
There were plenty of things to be grateful for from Sunday’s complete victory, things that will help wash away the bitterness from the last two games. Sanchez played a strong, turnover free game. The running game was able to move the ball against the great Pittsburgh defense. Braylon Edwards for 100 yards. Brad Smith for 97 yards to start the game. Jason Taylor for the safety. Drew Coleman for being a Jet version of Troy Palamalu. Schotty for being an aggressive conservative. The naked bootleg off the play action.
Win and we’re in. Go to Chicago on Sunday and beat the Bears. They already clinched their division, did it last night. Will they be hungry? Will they have the urgency? We’ll find out soon enough.
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