AFC Playoff Predictions – Jets Lack Swagger Against Pittsburgh

The New York Jets have run out of the very fuel that has made them an outside shot of claiming victory in AFC playoff predictions. After talking trash, working their mojo and stomping with swagger through Indianapolis and New England, the Jets are seemingly all out of hate-o-rade.

Rex Ryan and his Jets haven’t approached the AFC Championship the same way that they have their past two games, and I still can’t figure out why.

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The Steelers are clear favorites at -3.5 points with a 39.0 point TOTAL on top of that, but that has never deterred the Jets from trying to ruffle the feathers of their opponents.

New York Jets (11-5) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

Sunday, January 23rd — Heinz Field — 6:30pm EST

AFC Championship Betting Game Line: Pittsburgh -3.5 (39.0)

Is it respect? Is it fear? What could possibly be silencing the lippy Jets leading up to the AFC Championship game?

My guess is that it’s the latter. Ryan and brash set of stars aren’t lobbing up AFC playoff predictions this time around, and that’s the smart thing to do considering how much violence the Steelers can generate on defense. Perhaps Ryan simply doesn’t want to stir the beast at Heinz Field, which in this case is the blitzing front-seven of the Steelers.

Part of Rex Ryan’s media hustle this post season has been trying to stave the attention away from Mark Sanchez, who has been woefully mediocre in the playoffs. Sanchez hasn’t really been tested and he is a typical, young quarterback who panics under the stress of the blitz.

While it’s encouraging that the Jets are 13-3 SU in their last 16 road games, they’re also 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games against the Steelers. On top of that, they’re just 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing in Pittsburgh.

What’s also heavily leaning most AFC online betting playoff predications in the direction of the Pittsburgh Steelers is the play of Ben Roethlisberger. Rex Ryan and Antonio Cromartie know they’ll have their hands full with Big Ben, especially because he’s the type of football player who will get socked in the mouth and keep coming back from more. While Manning and Brady are legendary in their stature, Roethlisberger has been known as a viscious gamer and deadly in fourth quarter comebacks.

Since he’s come to town, Roethlisberger has led the Steelers to a 9-2 SU record in 11 playoff games. That’s not all. They’re also 5-0 ATS in their last 5 playoff games at Heinz Field. On top of that, they’re 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games in the month of January.

Simply put – when the Steelers are marching towards the Super Bowl, nothing seems to get in their way.

Considering that the Jets’ offensive line hasn’t been pressured by a 3-4 set that can dial up blitzes seemingly at will, they’re in for a long game. And while I have less reservations about Mark Sanchez getting the job done in the cold weather – I have even bigger concerns about him getting two wins against a vindictive Pittsburgh defense in the same season.

A lot of the trends are leaning towards Pittsburgh. Frankly, almost all of the intangibles are as well. There’s a reason that the Jets aren’t stirring the pot with brash AFC playoff predictions of their own – they don’t like what’s brewing in Heinz Field.

Furious AFC Playoff Prediction – Pittsburgh -3.5 (OVER)

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