Steelers look for perfect 10
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Pittsburgh and Jacksonville have played some real nail-biters.
Ten of their last 12 meetings have been one-score games, including several decided on the final drive and a few on the final play.
The last two might have been the best between the former AFCCentral foes, with Jacksonville winning a 45-42 shootout in Pittsburgh in the 2017 playoffs and the Steelers overcoming a 16-point deficit in the second half and scoring on their final play to pull out a 20-16 road victory 10 months later.
The next chapter might not be as close.
The undefeated Steelers (9-0) visit reeling Jacksonville (1-8) Sunday, a matchup of one of the NFL’s most quintessential franchises and one of its most dysfunctional.
“It’s been fortunate that the games have been tight, but we have a lot of challenges this week in all three phases,” Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said.
The Steelers are trying to get to 10-0 for the first time. They are the 21st team since the 1970 merger to start 9-0. All 20 previous teams reached the playoffs, with seven of them winning the Super Bowl.
“They have a lot at stake,” Marrone said.
Marrone might have more, honestly.
The Jaguars have lost eight in a row since stunning Indianapolis in the opener, leaving them one shy of tying the single-season franchise record. Owner Shad Khan fired coach Gus Bradley following his ninth straight loss in 2016.
The Jaguars are 41-99 in Khan’s nine-year tenure. A loss Sunday would tie him with former New Orleans Saints owner John Mecom Jr. as the second fastest to reach 100. Khan would hit the dubious mark in 141 games, one more than late Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Hugh Culverhouse.
The positives for Jacksonville:Theteamplayedwellinits last two loses and had chances to upset Houston and Green Bay,andtheJaguarshavetraditionallyplayedPittsburghtight. The Steelers have won their last three trips to Jacksonville, but each has been decided by a touchdown or less.
Pittsburgh, though, is a 10-point favorite this time around.
“We’re not playing Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, and they’re not playing Hines Ward and Jerome Bettis, so none of that is very relevant,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “We respect the challenge that’s 2020, and that’s what we’re getting ready for.”
Pittsburgh’s defense has developed a surprising weakness over the last month: an inability to shut down the run. The Steelers were second in the league in fewest rushing yardsallowedoverthefirstfive games,givingupjust66.2yards.
That number has more than doubled to 157.5 yards over the last four weeks. Cincinnati averaged more than 5.0 yards a carry against Pittsburgh last week, providing a blueprint of sorts for a Jacksonville offense that will rely on rookie running back James Robinson to take some pressure off rookie quarterback Jake Luton, who will make his third start.