The Steelers wore their throwback uniforms Sunday, a design widely ridiculed by fans and fashionistas alike as the ugliest of all the throwback colors.
That's fitting, because the Steelers played ugly for a good part of their game against the Jets Sunday before turning it on to pull away for a 31-13 victory.
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Things started very well for Pittsburgh (4-1): On the Steelers' third play from scrimmage, Ben Roethlisberger dropped back and hit a streaking Sammie Coates deep down the right sideline for a 72-yard touchdown.
The rout seemed to be underway before the happy home fans at Heinz Field. Except, the Steelers went into a funk. On defense, the Steelers allowed Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Brandon Marshall to repeatedly hook up. Fitzpatrick, who had been the subject of a CBS report earlier in the day saying he might be "playing for his job" Sunday, finished completing 25 of 38 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown. Marshall reeled in eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
On the other side of the ball, the Steelers struggled after their fast start. Coates dropped two potential touchdown passes, and the offense gained only 22 yards in its first three possessions of the second half.
But late in the third quarter, the Steelers roared to life. Roethlisberger led the Steelers on a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 5-yard scoring strike to Antonio Brown.
From that point, the Jets (1-4) had no answer. Roethlisberger completed 34 of 47 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns. Coates atoned for those two dropped touchdown passes by finishing with six catches for 139 yards and two scores. Le'Veon Bell, playing in only his second game of the season following his suspension, finished with great numbers (nine receptions for 88 yards, with 66 rushing yards), topping 140 total yards for the second straight week.
Things don't get any easier for the Jets in the next couple of weeks. They travel to Arizona next week before facing the Ravens at home.
Next up for the Steelers: A trip to Miami. Thankfully, they won't be wearing their throwback uniforms.