Date: October 12, 2000
Venue: Giants Stadium
Attendance: 78,450
Under first-year head coach Al Groh, the New York Jets stayed perfect on the season, crushing the Pittsburgh Steelers 35–11 behind a career day from Vinny Testaverde and a smothering defense that left Pittsburgh searching for answers.
Testaverde’s Vintage Day
Vinny Testaverde was in total command, throwing five touchdown passes in a precise 18-for-32, 220-yard performance.
- TD 1: A back-shoulder fade to Wayne Chrebet from 12 yards out.
- TD 2: A deep 22-yard post to Laveranues Coles.
- TD 3: A red-zone slant to Anthony Becht.
- TD 4: A 10-yard sideline toe-tap by Chrebet.
- TD 5: A play-action toss to Richie Anderson from 7 yards.
Chrebet led all receivers with 6 catches for 71 yards and 2 TDs. Coles added 64 yards and a score on 4 catches. Becht and Anderson also hauled in touchdown grabs.
Curtis Martin Sets the Tone
Curtis Martin quietly wore down the Steelers’ defense with 25 carries for 112 yards, including a 24-yard burst to set up a touchdown. He added 3 receptions for 30 yards.
Jets Defense Chokes Out the Steelers
- Jerome Bettis: 14 carries, 44 yards
- Kordell Stewart: 146 yards passing, 1 INT, 1 lost fumble, 3 sacks
- Hines Ward: 3 catches, 61 yards
- Plaxico Burress: 2 catches, 19 yards
Standouts on defense included John Abraham (2 sacks, 1 forced fumble), Mo Lewis (8 tackles), and Aaron Glenn (INT).
Penalties & Execution
- Jets: 5 penalties, 51 yards
- Steelers: 6 penalties, 45 yards
- 3rd Down Conversion: Jets 8/13 (61%), Steelers 3/11 (27%)
Final Stats Snapshot
| Category | Jets | Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 421 | 203 |
| Pass Yards | 220 | 146 |
| Rush Yards | 201 | 57 |
| 3rd Down Conv | 8/13 (61%) | 3/11 (27%) |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Red Zone TDs | 5/5 | 1/2 |
| Penalties | 5 for 51 | 6 for 45 |
| Time of Possession | 33:10 | 26:50 |
Quotes
Al Groh: “We wanted to be physical and methodical — we hit on both. Vinny was sharp, and the defense played with fire.”
Vinny Testaverde: “When the O-line gives you time and you’ve got guys like Chrebet and Coles getting open, it’s a fun game to play.”
Bill Cowher: “We didn’t win the trenches, plain and simple. New York dictated the game from start to finish.”
THE JETS SHOWED UP AND DECIDED TO PLAY SOME OLD-SCHOOL SMASHMOUTH FOOTBALL, THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! TESTAVERDE WAS SLINGING AND CURTIS MARTIN JUST POUNDED IT DOWN THEIR THROATS. THESE KIDS TODAY PUT UP BIG NUMBERS BUT THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO WIN IN THE TRENCHES LIKE WE DID.
BACK IN MY DAY, YOU COULD COUNT ON DEFENSE, AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THE JETS BROUGHT. JOHN ABRAHAM AND MO LEWIS LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE HAVING SOME FUN OUT THERE! THIS IS WHAT FOOTBALL SHOULD BE, NOT ALL THIS FANCY PASS-HAPPY NONSENSE. HARD-NOSED, GRINDING IT OUT. THAT’S REAL FOOTBALL, FOLKS, AND THAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH THE LEAGUE TODAY! TOO SOFT! TOO MANY PENALTIES FOR GOOD HITS. LONG LIVE REAL DEFENSE!
Well, well, well—what do we have here? A Jets victory worth remembering! Despite Vinny Testaverde’s best (or worst?) efforts to hand over some sweet suffering, the Jets somehow emerge nearly spotless. We’ve got Al Groh homing in on his “physical and methodical” game plan, which surprisingly translated into Vinny looking sharp. Yes, you read that right. *(Picks jaw up from the floor.)*
But before we get into the twilight zone, let’s cue my man, Curtis Freaking Martin. 25 carries. 112 yards. The Steelers’ D looked like they were trying to tackle smoke. While Testaverde was sending me into cardiac arrest with each pass, Martin was the calming balm for Jets fans’ nerves everywhere. Without Martin setting the tone, we’re looking at a game script flipped upside, twisted, and burned.
Kudos are also in order for that lethal defense! John Abraham and Mo Lewis were menacing; they played like their helmets were on fire. And don’t get me started on Aaron Glenn’s pick—poetry in motion, I tell ya.
But let’s be honest. We live for Vinny-induced heroics that feel like riding a roller coaster with no seatbelt. 5 TD passes—but I wish my blood pressure wasn’t part of the game plan. Still, cheers to Chrebet, Coles, Becht, and Anderson for converting those iffy tosses into points.
In the end, a quintessential Jets game injected into the veins of die-hard fans like myself; equal parts delight and torment. Onward! And let’s keep Vinny under control, please?
Ah, the glory days of 2000’s NFL, when trench warfare really dictated the game’s outcome. All the armchair QBs talking about Vinny’s TD passes, but the unsung heroes are the Jets’ O-line. One of the key plays here is the offensive line’s impeccable pocket protection, allowing Testaverde time to make those precise throws. Throwing dimes becomes easier when you’ve got five guys holding the line against any exotic blitz package the defense dreams up. Meanwhile, the Steelers seemed like they were playing with an empty box on D; let’s talk about gap discipline! Jerome Bettis barely got room to breathe, thanks to the Jets loading the box and dominating with textbook gap integrity. The defense clearly had a well-executed game plan, subduing the Steelers’ offense by keeping Kordell Stewart scrambling. Oh, and those defensive standouts—John Abraham with two sacks and a forced fumble? That’s just a relentless pass rush in action, something today’s fans often overlook while focusing too much on the flashy throws. Sigh, kids these days wouldn’t understand a solid nickel package if it was explained with a neon sign.