Barstool Bush
Predictions

New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers

By Bush StaffUpdated 13h ago·2 min read
New York JetsNYJ(0-1 PRE)
Pittsburgh SteelersPIT(1-0 PRE)
17—0
FINAL
Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Jets(0-1 PRE)
LLLLL
17
Steelers(1-0 PRE)
WLWLW
0
Best BetSteelers -163
Postgame

This one blew up completely — Pittsburgh didn't just lose, it got shut out at home. The bull case banked on roster talent carrying the day, but that only works if someone plays quarterback competently, and Howard's two picks buried any chance of that. Geno Smith being the only proven starter on the field, which we flagged as a real risk, turned out to be the whole story.

Pregame

Pittsburgh's the side we're on even with Rodgers glued to the bench — Will Howard and Drew Allar still have more around them than whatever New York trots out beyond Geno Smith. The Jets' 5-game skid isn't just noise; the roster gaps run deep on both lines. We're sticking with the home team here.

The whole point of Friday's game at Acrisure Stadium was evaluation, not results, and the quarterback rooms delivered plenty of both. Geno Smith was announced as the Jets' starter and made the most of his snaps, while Pittsburgh handed the reins to Will Howard first with Drew Allar ready to take the second half. With Aaron Rodgers held out of the building entirely, this was Howard and Allar's night to make a case for QB2, and only one of them left with anything to show for it.

The Jets rolled out Adonai Mitchell, who's been pushed as a No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson all camp, and he made an early impression with a 21-yard connection from Smith. Garrett Wilson himself was back after missing time with an illness. On the other side, Pittsburgh was already down DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr, both nursing hamstring issues, thinning out the group Howard had to work with — the kind of subtraction that mattered more than the modest home number suggested.

New York Jets
New York Jets
(9)
  • QuestionableQwan'tez Stiggers (CB) — Stiggers (concussion) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.08/19
  • QuestionableNahshon Wright (CB)
  • QuestionableVJ Payne (S)
  • QuestionableKenyon Sadiq (TE)
  • QuestionableBreece Hall (RB)
  • QuestionableMory Bamba (CB)
  • QuestionableIsaiah Davis (RB)
  • QuestionableD'Angelo Ponds (CB) — Ponds (calf) is nearing a return to the field according to head coach Aaron Glenn, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.08/18
  • Injured ReserveKingsley Jonathan (DE) — Jonathan (thigh) reverted to the Jets' injured reserve Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.08/20
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
(9)
  • QuestionableMichael Pittman Jr. (WR) — Pittman's absence from practice that stems back to last week is due to a hamstring issue, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.08/19
  • QuestionableDK Metcalf (WR) — Metcalf (undisclosed) said Wednesday that he's "fine" and isn't concerned about his status for Week 1, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.08/19
  • QuestionableIsrael Mukuamu (S)
  • QuestionableBrandon Smith (WR)
  • QuestionableMax Iheanachor (OT)
  • QuestionableJaquan Brisker (S)
  • QuestionableBrandin Echols (CB)
  • Injured ReserveLogan Lee (DT) — ir08/19
  • Injured ReserveCole Burgess (WR) — ir08/19

None of that mattered much once the ball was snapped. Smith drove the Jets right down the field for a touchdown to open the game, and Pittsburgh's offense never found an answer. Howard threw two interceptions before giving way to Allar for the second half, and the Steelers' issues sending drives backward instead of into the end zone piled up fast.

A 17-0 shutout in a preseason game against a team playing its baseline quarterback is about as loud as an exhibition result gets. Pittsburgh's defense actually held up its end after the opening drive — DeShon Elliott, back from injury, forced a fumble and flashed the kind of playmaking the unit will need once games count. But a shutout is a shutout, and it's not the first impression McCarthy wanted from a home crowd.

New York Jets
New York Jets
(0-1 PRE)
Aug 14Lvs BuccaneersPre16-24
Jan 4L@ Bills8-35
Dec 28Lvs Patriots10-42
Dec 21L@ Saints6-29
Dec 14L@ Jaguars20-48
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
(1-0 PRE)
Aug 13Wvs PackersPre28-9
Jan 13Lvs Texans6-30
Jan 5Wvs Ravens26-24
Dec 28L@ Browns6-13
Dec 21W@ Lions29-24

Neither team's regular season is close enough to read into this one game — it's still a roster-evaluation exercise with real jobs on the line, particularly Pittsburgh's QB2 spot. But for a night, the Jets looked like the more buttoned-up operation, and the Steelers have some answering to do before the games start mattering.

Sources

NFLNew York JetsPittsburgh SteelersPolymarketKalshi