By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

For the second week in a row the Steelers battled from an early deficit, but this time it wasn’t enough as the Steelers fell to the New York Jets, 19-16 in overtime at Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands.

The Steelers are now 7-3 and still maintain their hold on first place in the AFC North with a one game lead over the Cleveland Browns.

The Jets marched down the field on the opening drive for a touchdown and then added a field goal to hold a 10-0 first quarter lead. The Steelers tied the game at 13-13 in the third quarter and took a 16-13 lead in the fourth quarter. But the Jets fought back to send it into overtime and Mike Nugent hit a game-winning 38-yard field goal in overtime. 

Ben Roethlisberger completed 15 passes for 195 yards, but was under pressure and sacked seven times, while avoiding several others thanks to his elusiveness. The running game never got going for the Steelers, with Willie Parker carrying the ball 21 times for only 52 yards.

Jets running back Thomas Jones carried the ball 30 times for 117 yards, the first time the Steelers defense allowed a 100-yard rusher in 34 games.

“All three phases we fell below the line of what’s acceptable,” said head coach Mike Tomlin. “We didn’t tackle well.  We didn’t protect our quarterback on offense.  We didn’t run the ball, and didn’t establish any kind of rhythm in terms of running the ball.  That performance speaks for itself.  The guys did stay in the fight, but not enough.”. 

The Jets soared to an early lead over the Steelers when they reached into their bag of tricks on the opening drive. Jones got things started with an 11-yard run off the left end. On the next play, Jones took the handoff and then pitched it back to Kellen Clemens for the flea-flicker. Clemens looked downfield where he found a wide open Laveranues Coles to the one-yard line. Clemens hit Chris Baker for a one-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Roethlisberger got the air game going with an 11-yard completion to Santonio Holmes, and on third-and-eight found the reliable Heath Miller for a 17-yard gain. Quickly faced with another third-and-eight Roethlisberger didn’t have the same kind of luck when he was sacked by David Harris for a 17-yard loss.

The defense rebounded from their rough start on the Jets next series, forcing a three-and-out when Brett Keisel sacked Clemens for a two-yard loss.

It wouldn’t be long before the Jets would strike again, though. Clemens tested the secondary by going deep to Jerricho Cotchery and it paid off when Ike Taylor was called for pass interference, a 41-yard penalty that gave the Jets the ball at the Steelers 35-yard line. The defense tightened up to keep them out of the end zone and Nugent was called on to add to the lead with a 25-yard field goal, putting the Jets up 10-0.

Things got rolling for the offense in the second quarter. Parker rattled off a 14-yard run to the Jets 42-yard line where he was brought down by Hank Poteat. Roethlisberger went deep to Hines Ward, the ball was tipped by Darrelle Revis and Holmes made an incredible catch for a 25-yard gain to the Jets 33-yard line.

Roethlisberger went back to Ward for a 22-yard gain and found tight end Matt Spaeth for a six-yard gain. Roethlisberger capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Holmes, to pull the Steelers within a field goal at 10-7.

The Steelers were driving late in the first half, looking to close the lead, but the Jets would deny them. Roethlisberger looked for Nate Washington, but the ball was tipped by Darian Barrett and intercepted by Kerry Rhodes.

The Jets got the ball back at the Steelers 49-yard line and went to work with short yardage plays. They got a big boost from Jones when he avoided blockers for a 26-yard gain to the Steelers two-yard line. Clemens scrambled to take it into the end zone himself, but was hit by Keisel and fumbled the ball out of the end zone, which would have resulted in a touchback.

But the Steelers shot themselves in the foot when Clark Haggans was called for holding on the play, giving the Jets new life. The defense stepped up, stuffing Jones for no gain and then covering in the end zone, forcing a second Nugent field goal and giving the Jets a 13-7 halftime lead.

The Steelers started off the second half moving the ball on the Jets. Roethlisberger had a 27-yard completion to Holmes to the Jets 39-yard line. Parker had a six and three-yard run and Najeh Davenport added a five-yarder. Roethlisberger scrambled up the middle for a six-yard gain and Parker added a six-yard carry to the Jets 12-yard line. The drive would stall there, after Parker was knocked for two and three yard losses and Roethlisberger sacked for a two-yard loss. Jeff Reed was called upon for a 39-yard field goal, to close the lead to 13-10.

James Harrison was able to halt the Jets next drive when he sacked Clemens for a nine-yard loss and give the Steelers another chance to peck away at the lead.

Roethlisberger hit Ward for a 25-yard gain to the Jets 43-yard line. Davenport powered for a 15-yard gain, then rattled off five and six yard gains to the Jets 17-yard line. Roethlisberger, who faced pressure throughout the game, was sacked for a seven-yard loss, setting up third-and-17. Carey Davis got some of it back with a 10-yard scamper. Reed connected on a 33-yard field goal attempt to tie the score at 13-13.

The defense came up big again for the Steelers, holding the Jets off once again after they were driving. Jones started off with an 18-yard gain and added an eight and four-yard run to give the Jets a first down. He was stopped for no gain by James Farrior on the next play. Clemens had a six-yard completion to Brad Smith, followed by a two-yard run by Jones to give the Jets fourth-and-two at the Steelers 31-yard line, where they decided to go for it. A false start pushed them back five yards and Clemens pass to Smith fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs.

It was an opportunity for the Steelers to take the lead and they weren’t going to be denied. Miller pulled in a 19-yard reception and Holmes had a five-yard grab. Roethlisberger averted disaster on third down when he fumbled the snap, recovered, but threw incomplete to Ward. It was time to go to Reed again, who gave the Steelers their first lead of the game at 16-13 when he hit a 48-yard field goal.

Deshea Townsend came up with a huge interception on the Jets next drive, but they got the ball back fast when Roethlisberger was stripped of the ball and Shaun Ellis recovered and returned it to the Steelers 46-yard line. It was another huge defensive stand for the Steelers. After a short gain by Jones and a completion to Cotchery, Harrison knocked Jones for a three-yard loss. The Jets went for it on fourth-and-five, but blanket coverage by Bryant McFadden forced and incompletion to Justin McCareins.

The Steelers went three-and-out on their next drive, putting the Jets back in control. Clemens hit Baker for 10 yards and then went to Smith for 12 yards. McFadden was called for pass interference, giving the Jets a first down at the Steelers 45-yard line. Clemens scrambled for 15 yards and completed a 10-yard pass to McCareins. Baker pulled in a 14-yard reception to the five-yard line. On third-and-goal Taylor broke-up Clemens pass intended for Smith, bringing on Nugent for a 28-yard field goal to tie the game at 16-16 and send it in to overtime.

Neither team was able to do anything with their first possession of overtime. The Jets got the ball with great field position after Leon Washington returned a punt 33 yards to the Steelers 26-yard line. Nugent sealed the win with a 38-yard field goal.