After Unleashing Vitriolic Rhetoric Toward Patriots, Jets Attempt to Kill the Steelers with Kindness and Respect

The New York Jets unleashed vitriolic rhetoric toward their bitter AFC East rivals, the New England Patriots, throughout the week leading up to their divisional playoff matchup at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

They used their humiliating 45-3 loss to the Patriots in early December and Tom Brady’s perceived taunting as motivation, lashing out at their opponent through the media.

Coach Rex Ryan and a collection of Jets players took a different approach while addressing reporters Monday by trying to kill the Pittsburgh Steelers with kindness.

Rather than inventing reasons to hate their upcoming opponent, they expressed nothing but admiration and respect for Pittsburgh.

Ryan recalled a game from 2007, when he was the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator. Tomlin’s Steelers jumped out to a commanding 35-0 lead, but instead of attempting to run up the score, he decided to run the ball on 21 of 28 plays in the second half.

“He wasn’t going to try to rub our nose in it,” Ryan said of Tomlin, according to ESPN. “That’s one of my favorite stories, and it told me a lot about Mike Tomlin.”

Jets defensive lineman Trevor Pryce stated that it will be an “honor and a privilege” to play against two-time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger this Sunday.

Linebacker Bart Scott, who voiced his displeasure with the media’s adoration for New England after Sunday’s upset victory, said of Roethlisberger, "He plays like a man.”