Steelers vs. Jets: 4 predictions for Pittsburgh’s matchup in New York

The Steelers travel to New York to face the Jets this weekend. Here are four bold predictions for Pittsburgh’s all-important Week 16 contest.

After a heartbreaking loss that was hard to stomach against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, the Steelers are desperately searching for a win to keep their heads above water in the AFC playoff race. Pittsburgh currently sits as the 6th seed, but a wildcard spot is far from locked up.

Mike Tomlin’s team can ill-afford to lose their second consecutive game – especially against a 5-9 team like the New York Jets. This is a game with playoff implications on the line, and Pittsburgh will be well aware of that heading into the contest.

While it’s been impossible to predict the path the Steelers have taken to get to this point, here are four predictions I have for the game against the Jets this Sunday:

Devlin Hodges will rebound

This may be more wishful thinking than anything else, but Duck exuberates confidence that can be seen in all that he does. That confidence was shaken last week in what was the worst performance of his football career.

However, it’s a new week and the Steelers aren’t facing a defense nearly as good as Buffalo’s second-ranked unit. It might not always be pretty, but I think Devlin Hodges gets the job done on the road this week after a terrible game in Week 15.

Le’Veon Bell will be a non-factor

The Steelers know full well who they are about to face this weekend, and you better believe that they have their eyes set on shutting down former Pittsburgh running back, Le’Veon Bell. Bell wronged his former teammates by not informing them of his decision to sit out the entire 2018 season.

As a result, Pittsburgh’s defense will seek revenge on Bell. I would almost be surprised if he eared more than 60 all-purpose yards on Sunday.

Devin Bush will have the best game of his career

We have seen Devin Bush make a lot of splash plays this season, but the consistency hasn’t been where we would like it to be. Having said that, the rookie linebacker has steadily improved and is making fewer mistakes against the run and in coverage than he did early on.

Bush has the athleticism and quick-reaction time that make him an eventual star down the line. Against a young quarterback and a struggling running game, I think Bush could have his best game of his young career.

The Steelers win by two scores

This goes against my original prediction for the week, but I think it’s possible that the Steelers can win by two scores against the Jets on Sunday. Pittsburgh hasn’t defeated a team by two scores since Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins, but that could soon change.

The Jets have had one of the easiest schedules in the league this year, and the Patriots and Ravens are the only teams they have faced who currently have a winning record. Pittsburgh’s offense can do well enough to put up 20-24 points in this contest, and the defense won’t allow much on their end.

None of these predictions matter if the Steelers don’t find a way to pull off the win this weekend. While there is still a glimmer of hope for the playoffs if Pittsburgh somehow loses, they know how important this game is. Let’s hope they don’t let it slip from their fingers.