BY NICK ST. DENIS
The New York Jets' tailbacks were rolling early against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg opted to go to the air as the Steelers creeped past the Jets in a field goal battle.
Gang Green ran the ball on their first four plays and on nine of their first 13 offensive calls. Two of the four pass plays on that drive were to running backs. On their second possession, the Jets' drove to the Steelers' 7-yard line with seven of eight plays going to running backs.
The Jets entered the second quarter with a 3-0 lead and left it with a 9-6 deficit. But in that stanza, they ran the ball just three times to eight passes.
"I definitely feel like we could have stayed with the run game," Jets guard Willie Colon said after the game, via NewYorkJets.com. "I thought we were being efficient in that aspect of the game, but all we can do is our jobs and [execute the plays called].
"We have a lot of faith in our OC [offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg] and his ability to call games. I’m always going to stand behind him."
Running back Mike Goodson went on to average 7.3 yards a carry on four rushes and took his lone reception 10 yards. Bilal Powell averaged just 3.3 yards a carry on nine rushes but caught three passes for 20 yards, and Chris Ivory averaged 4 yards a carry on four touches.
New York certainly had to opt for the pass late in the game down by two scores, but it might have been better served getting the ball in the tailbacks' hands early in the second half. The Jets threw the ball three consecutive plays to open the third quarter, going three-and-out.
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