Steelers (1-3) at New York Jets (4-0)
1 p.m., Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL
Jets run offense vs. Steelers run defense
Jets rank 22nd in the NFL
Steelers rank 4th in the NFL
The biggest concern for the Steelers will be staying in their rush lanes and preventing RB Curtis Martin from cutback runs. Quick backs like Martin, who has more yards rushing the past two years than any other player in the NFL, have historically had success against the Steelers because the linebackers get too aggressive and overrun the play. Martin, who played at Allderdice High School and Pittsburgh, is fourth in the AFC with 331 yards on 88 caries, an average of 3.8 yards per carry. He handles the bulk of the carries in the Jets offense and they get very little production from other players. That's why they rank so low in the league in yards per game (91.5) Martin likes to run behind one of the league's best centers, Kevin Mawae, who is matched against nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen. But von Oelhoffen and the Steelers are coming off a game in which they held Jacksonville to 26 yards rushing on 16 carries. If the Steelers can get their linebackers to play with discipline and not overpursue, they can stop Martin. They key will be how well von Oelhoffen plays against Mawae. If the Jets need a guard to help on the 300-pound nose tackle, the Steelers can get one of their inside linebackers, Levon Kirkland or Earl Holmes, to key on Martin.
Edge: Steelers
Jets pass offense vs. Steelers pass defense
Jets rank 10th in the NFL
Steelers rank 26th in the NFL
The Steelers had seven sacks against the Jaguars, but they will not find it so easy against the Jets, who have one of the best and youngest offensive lines in the league. They have surrendered just three sacks in four games - two coming in one game against the Patriots - and four of their starters have been in the league three years or fewer. Part of the reason is that quarterback Vinny Testaverde will dump the ball at the first sign of trouble, to either Martin (18 catches) or running back Richie Anderson, who leads the team with 19 catches. Anderson, a former Penn Stater, will often line up as a wide receiver, an attempt by the Jets to spread the field and create openings in the seam. The Steelers used a lot of different looks to confuse Mark Brunell last week, and it helped prevent any big plays. The longest pass completion was 19 yards. Cornerback Dewayne Washington has to be careful not to sit on an out pattern against wide receiver Wayne Chrebet (15 catches, 186 yds., 3 touchdowns) because the Jets will take it down the field. In the past, the Steelers have had success blitzing Testaverde with either a safety or cornerback, but that was back when they had Rod Woodson and Carnell Lake.
Edge: Jets
WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL
Steelers run offense vs. Jets run defense
Steelers rank 7th in the NFL
Jets rank 7th in the NFL
Jerome Bettis has run very well since being stuffed in the season opener by the Baltimore Ravens. He has 307 yards and is averaging 4.2 yards per carry in his past three games. But the Jets have to use their inside linebackers, Bryan Cox and Marvin Jones, to worry about Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala in third-down situations. Fuamatu-Ma'afala has moved ahead of Richard Huntley on the depth chart and will continue to backup Bettis, even though Huntley has recovered from the recurring hamstring injury that forced him to miss the past two games. Fuamatu-Ma'afala has rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown and caught five passes for 75 yards the past two games. The Steelers are familiar with the Jets' 3-4 defensive scheme because they are one of the few teams to still run it. And, with center Dermontti Dawson, it actually plays into their hands. Dawson won't have to worry about nose tackle Jason Ferguson, the Jets' best run stopper. He is not going to play because of a sprained ankle. Ernie Logan, a nine-year vet, will replace Ferguson, but the Jets will rotate several players along the defensive line. The Jets are allowing an average of 90.3 yards per game.
Edge: Steelers
Steelers pass offense vs. Jets pass defense
=15> Steelers rank 23rd in the NFL
Jets rank 9th in the NFL
It's still not certain that Kent Graham will be healthy enough to play against the Jets, which is why Kordell Stewart has been getting nearly half the snaps in practice. Coach Bill Cowher wants to be sure Graham can move well enough in the pocket because the Jets like to bring a lot of their pass pressure from the corner. That would be defensive end Shaun Ellis and outside linebacker John Abraham, who come into the game in pass situations. The Jets play a two-gap style in their 3-4 defense, so most of their pressure will come from the linebackers. Wide receiver Plaxico Burress has not had more than four catches in a game, but the team will try to take away some of the attention he is receiving on the sideline by throwing to him on slants and crossing routes against the Jets. New York will likely try to counter by putting cornerback Marcus Coleman, who is 6-2, on Burress and not Aaron Glenn, who is 5-9. The Jets play a lot of two-deep zone that leaves the middle of the field open, so the Steelers will try to throw a lot to tight end Mark Bruener, who will play after getting a mild concussion against the Jaguars. The Jets allow an average of 184 yards passing per game.
Edge: Steelers
SPECIAL TEAMS
The biggest concern for the Steelers will be kick coverage, and the reasons are two-fold: 1) The Jets' Kevin Williams leads the NFL with a 35.4-yard average and has a 97-yard return for a touchdown; 2) The Steelers yield the worst starting field position in the league (36.4) and allow an AFC-worst 27.9 yards per return. The Steelers, though, have done a better job with their return teams. Hines Ward (29.8 yards), Troy Edwards (23.8) and Hank Poteat (22.8) have all done a nice job, and Poteat looks about to ready to break a long punt return. He is averaging 18.8 yards on five punt returns, and last week had a 31-yard return that would have been 57 yards except for a block-in-the-back penalty against Chad Scott. Jets punter Tom Tupa has the third best career average among active punters (44.0) and K John Hall has converted five of his last six attempts.
Edge: Jets
KEYS TO VICTORY
To win, the Jets must .....
1. Run the ball. Martin has to be able to get yards against a Steelers defense that thoroughly neutralized a very similar runner last week - Fred Taylor.
2. Stop Bettis on first down. The Jets want to force the Steelers into passing situations on second down and not allow them to get into third-and-short opportunities.
3. Start fast. The Jets are coming off a bye week and a big comeback victory against Tampa Bay, so they have to avoid a sluggish start and not let the Steelers get the lead.
To win, the Steelers must .....
1. Hurry Vinny. The Jets quarterback has been sacked only four times, but the Steelers can still be successful by blitzing Testaverde and getting players in his face.
2. Fuel up the Bus. As long as Bettis keeps getting yards, the Steelers are going to give him the ball.
3. Negate Martin. If they can do that, the Steelers can pressure Testaverde and try to confuse him in passing situations, a formula that's worked in the past.
Sunday's Matchup: Steelers vs. Jets 
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