In a must-win game, the New York Jets are holding their own — but not without a cost. They lead the Pittsburgh Steelers 15-13 at halftime from Heinz Field.
After the Steelers scored a field goal on their opening possession, the teams traded punts to keep it a 3-0 game. Aaron Rodgers then orchestrated a nine-play, 82-yard touchdown drive, culminating in a 13-yard score from Breece Hall on the ground.
Rodgers completed passes of 18, 9, 4, 13, 2, and 13 yards on the drive, mostly on screens and dump-offs that allowed YAC opportunities.
The next four drives ended in punts, two by each team. Pittsburgh then scored a field goal, driven by a 44-yard completion to George Pickens in which the receiver outmuscled Brandin Echols for the ball.
The Jets’ next possession went for six plays and 72 yards and once again hit paydirt. Hall once again made the big play, going for 57 yards on a short pass from Rodgers, including making multiple defenders miss. Rodgers then cashed in on a third-and-goal bootleg pass to a wide-open Tyler Conklin. It was Conklin’s first touchdown in his last 33 games with the Jets.
After a leaping penalty against Pittsburgh on a blocked extra point, Rodgers hit Garrett Wilson for a two-point conversion to give the Jets a 15-6 advantage.
The Jets held the ball at their own 30-yard line at the two-minute warning, seeking to add to their lead. Two plays later, though, Rodgers double-clutched and threw an interception over the middle to the Steelers’ Beanie Bishop Jr.
Pittsburgh took over at their own 46 and marched 54 yards on four plays. A 29-yard pass interference penalty against Sauce Gardner put the Steelers at the Jets’ 11, and they cashed in on a touchdown pass to George Pickens to pull within 15-13.
Already beset by injuries, the Jets have lost several players in this game. Alijah Vera-Tucker is questionable to return with an ankle injury. Near the end of the half, Tony Adams and Gardner both came up gimpy on the pass interference play.
The Jets will get the ball to start the second half.
