Steelers hope to avenge losses to Jaguars
The Pittsburgh Steelers only lost four times last season. Jacksonville handed them two of those losses, including a 45-42 loss in an AFC divisional round playoff game at Heinz Field.
Now it’s the Steelers that can deliver a death blow to the Jaguars’ season. The Steelers (6-2-1) and the Jaguars (3-6) are two teams going in opposite directions. The Steelers have won five consecutive games while the Jaguars have lost five in a row.
Not that the Steelers are paying much attention to their record. They know better than anyone how difficult of a matchup the Jaguars can be.
“They’re a much better football team than their record,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “I think it’s because they have a bulls-eye on their chest now. You are going to get teams’ best and I think they got their division’s best playing so far. I am not looking at their record because you can’t. If you do, you are going to get fooled.”
The Steelers are coming off their most impressive performance of the season, a 52-21 dismantling of the Carolina Panthers. The Jaguars, meanwhile, are coming off a 29-26 loss in Indianapolis. During their five-game losing streak the Jaguars are averaging just 14.4 points per game while giving up 28.6 per game.
Still, the Jaguars are No. 2 overall in total defense and No. 1 against the pass. The Steelers know this will be a tough game. Not only do the Jaguars match up well against the Steelers, but their season is on the line. If the Jaguars don’t win Sunday they’re going to have a hard time making it back to the playoffs.
“They are arguably still the very best defense in football,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “They do not give up big plays. We’re playing well offensively when we are getting big plays. They specialize in minimizing big plays. Hunting big plays versus these guys, you do so at a risk because their rush is so formidable. As you hunt big plays these guys impact the game in a negative way in terms of sacks, fumbles, and so forth.”
The Steelers know this from experience. The Jaguars had a strip-sack and a fumble return for a touchdown in the playoff game in January and the rush hurried Roethlisberger into six interceptions in those two meetings last season, including five in a regular-season game at Heinz Field.
“From front to back they’re really good, really fast,” Roethlisberger said. “With a lot of teams we say it starts up front with their pass rush. This group has an unbelievable pass rush with their front four. Their linebackers are some of the fastest you’ll ever play against. Their secondary is as good as a secondary you will play. This will definitely be the biggest challenge for us.”
Jacksonville’s best defensive player is cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who intercepted Roethlisberger last season during the regular-season game at Heinz Field.
“You treat him with respect,” Roethlisberger said. “He has all the tools. He’s a guy you have to understand where he is and who he’s covering. You just have to be smart. I’ll never fear anyone. But you respect it for sure.”
SERIES HISTORY: 24th regular-season meeting. Jaguars lead series, 12-11. The Jaguars won both games last season, both at Heinz Field. They beat the Steelers, 30-9, during the regular season and 45-42 in an AFC divisional round playoff game. The Jaguars are 6-5 all-time against the Steelers in Jacksonville, but the Steelers have won the past two meetings there.
