Jets' 22-17 victory over Steelers puts season back on track

EnlargeJohn O'Boyle / The Star-Ledger Steelers Emmanuel Sanders gets Steelers Authentic Jerseys past Jets Brodney Pool in the closing minute the game between the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. 12/19/10 John O'Boyle / The Star-Ledger New York Jets vs Pittsburgh Steelers gallery (29 photos)PITTSBURGH Right guard Brandon Moore thought about his mom back home in Indiana, who calls or text messages him after every game.Fullback Tony Richardson drew on his parents, and his 16-year-old friend in Texas, who is waiting for liver and lung transplants. Tight end Dustin Kellers mind turned to his family, his teammates and some of his more than 30,000 Twitter followers, the ones who told him they knew these werent the Same Old Jets. Star Ledger reporters discuss the Jets victory over the Steelers Star Ledger reporters Steve Politi and Jenny Vrentas discuss the New York Jets victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Video by John O'Boyle) Watch video At the team hotel the night before the Jets 22-17 victory against the Steelers, this is what offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer asked his players to do: Not dwell on the doubters after a two-loss slide, or the fact that the organization had never won a game here. But, instead, Troy Polamalu Jersey think about those people in their lives who believed their aspirations were still possible.Coming off that field, that was one of first thoughts that I thought of: ‘We were the only ones that really believed we were going to win this game, Moore said. Other than some family members and friends, that was probably it.It was the perfect message for a slumping offense, the unit that hadnt scored a touchdown since Thanksgiving but found a winning formula Sunday. And it wound up being the definition of the team Sunday a team that needed a positive definition in the month of December, after losses and TripGate as the Jets held on despite a late surge by the Steelers.With two seconds on the clock, and Pittsburgh 10 yards from the end zone, one play was the difference between victory and defeat. It also felt like the difference between a season saved, and one spiraling out of control. Ben Roethlisbergers pass to tight end Matt Spaeth was incomplete, deflected by cornerback Marquice Cole, and the Jets were 10-4 and in strong standing for a postseason bid.We were sinking, linebacker Bart Scott said. We went from fighting for the best record in the league, to possibly if we lose this game fighting for the playoffs.Now, if the Jets win one of their final two games they are assured a postseason spot, and could take advantage of other scenarios with a little help.Sunday started with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Brad Smith, the kind of spark the Jets needed and a play special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff told his players all week could break for a big one.RELATED COVERAGE:Jets' 22-17 victory over Steelers puts season back on trackPoliti: 'Same old Jets' replaced with familiar swaggerJets quarterback Mark Sanchez shows his resilience in victory over SteelersJets' Braylon Edwards made most of extra chancesPoliti's Supe-o-meter: Giants and Jets aren't exactly on a collision courseYou grade 'em: Jets vs. SteelersThat seemed to be another theme Sunday confidence and Schottenheimers players sensed it in the way he called the offense, one week after fans jeered him at home.He turned out a precise and Hines Ward Jersey gutsy game plan that broke some of the Jets tendencies and targeted their foes weaknesses. They relied on a formula of short passes, stretching the run with multiple tight end sets, and taking the big plays when they were there.The Steelers had only given up an average of 60.1 rushing yards per game, but the Jets ran for 106 yards. When they needed to be courageous, they were, hitting an 11-yard corner route to Keller on a third-and-1, and going for it on fourth-and-1 in the red zone on the same drive.The call was to fake a blast play, one of the Jets staples, and they sold it to perfection.Sanchez bootlegged to his left side and into the end zone for a 7-yard score ending an 11-quarter offensive touchdown drought.He called as close to a perfect game as you can call, Keller said of Schottenheimer.That score tied it at 17 late in the third quarter, and the Jets went ahead on a 34-yard field goal with 10:07 to play. From there, the game was in the defenses hands.The unit hadnt been perfect: It allowed the first 100-yard rusher of the season, Rashard Mendenhall, and the Steelers finished with 378 yards of total offense.But Scott said they reminded themselves that great defenses make plays when its needed most. One was Jason Taylors safety, when he sliced into the end zone to tackle Mewelde Moore, earning two points and ensuring the Steelers would need more than a field goal.Pittsburgh eventually got the ball back with 2:08 on the clock, surged down the field with big gains: 22 yards, 11, 29, 18, 16. With nine seconds left on the clock, they sat at the Jets 10-yard line.Your hearts telling you to send everyone, said Ryan, whom players said welled up in his own speech Saturday night. Your heads telling you something else.The Jets didnt blitz. Instead, they used their turbo package with an overload of defensive backs. They rushed just three and dropped eight into coverage, using a version of cover-2 zone defense, players said.On the first snap, two players crossed in the back of the end zone, and neither caught the ball. On the second, Roethlisberger had too much time, scrambling left. Cole said he could tell he would go to Spaeth, so he took off and dove for the ball and got a piece of it. Game over.When a teams driving down, usually you see those teams score, safety Dwight Lowery said.But those of us on that football field, we believed we were going to win. Thats why we did.