8/7/2019 AFC Title Game

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AFC Championship Game

New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Football Point Spread: Steelers -3.5 O/U 38.5

By: Barrett Kazmerzack of Coopers Pick CALL NOW 1-888-730-COOP

The Jets are back in the AFC title game after taking out a couple of teams withthe best offenses in the Colts and Patriots and now face the Steelers, who areled by their defense. However, the Steelers scored 31 points in their division winlast week over AFC North foe Baltimore and if they can play offense like thatagain they will be tough to beat. The Jets played great defense in last week’s 28-21 win over the New England Patriots.

Both of the Jets’ playoff wins this season have been on the road and during the

regular season they were 6-2 in road games.

These 2 teams met in week 15 in Pittsburgh and the Jets won that game 22-17.In that game the Steelers had more rushing and passing yards, but they still lost.

This season the Jets are 11-7 ATS and the Steelers are 11-6 ATS. The Jets are4-1 ATS in their last 5 games facing the Steelers.

New York is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog and Pittsburgh is 5-1ATS in their last 6 games and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 playoff games when theyare favored.

Ben Roethlisberger played well in the division win over Baltimore and in the week15 loss to the Jets he passed for 264 yards with 1 TD and 0 INT. The Jets havenot been bringing that much pressure, but their pass coverage has been stellar inthe post-season. They may want to change their strategy up against the Steelers,as last week when the Ravens brought 4 or fewer defenders in the pass rushRoethlisberger passed for 186 of his 226 yards with both TD’s.

RB Rashard Mendenhall has to help Big Ben out and he rushed for 99 yards inthe week 15 loss to New York. The Jets have the league’s 3 rd ranked rundefense, but last week they did give up 113 rushing yards to the Patriots.

Even though the Steelers do not feature a great offense New York still has todefend the pass and the run well and if they do not they will have to rely on their offense to win this game.

Mark Sanchez played a great game against New England passing for 194 yardswith 3 TD and 0 INT. The weakness of the Pittsburgh defense this season wastheir pass defense, but in the win over Baltimore they only gave up 91 passing

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yards and they had an INT. Sanchez has to avoid the pass rush and always beaware of where ball-hawking S Troy Polamalu is on the field.

Jets’ RB’s Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson combined to rush for 119yards last week and each averaged over 4 yards per carry, but moving the

chains on the ground will be tough in this game facing a Pittsburgh run defensethat was the top-ranked unit in the league.

This game should be tight and in the win over Baltimore the Steelers forced 3turnovers and New York cannot let that happen this Sunday or they will lose inthe AFC Championship game for the 2nd season in a row.

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