Tim Benz: Steelers say game plan is to get Jets QB Sam Darnold to see more ghosts

En route to a 33-0 loss back on Oct. 21, New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold got caught on “Monday Night Football” microphones admitting he was “seeing ghosts” from the New England Patriots defense.

Sam Darnold is mic’d up and he came to the sidelines and said, “I’m seeing ghosts.”

(Via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/9MoM6Rkmo5

— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) October 22, 2019

That comment occurred as Darnold was in the middle of a five-turnover meltdown.

He was ridiculed for being confused, rattled and overmatched by a good NFL defense. Darnold did nothing to put out that perception by throwing three more interceptions in a 29-15 defeat against Jacksonville the next week.

At least one Steeler says the team is planning to get Darnold to see more ghosts again this Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

“That’s the plan,” Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds said Wednesday. “Just put a lot of people in his face. And hopefully make him make some false throws and get turnovers. That’s our game plan. That’s just how we play the game every week. So that’s how we are trying to carry it out.”

So how can the Steelers defense conjure the spooky spirits of “Christmas Present” to steal the ball away from Darnold?

“We’d like to try to confuse him,” said cornerback Joe Haden. “He’s still a (second-year) quarterback. So we’re trying to not just stand out there and let him know what defense we are in. Just trying to keep him on his toes. Once he snaps the ball, get a little movement in, so he has to realize what (type of coverage) we are in during the play. Just trying to hold our disguises and move around and keep him thinking.”

The Patriots (36) are the only team that creates more turnovers than the Steelers (35). And the 19 interceptions by Steelers defenders are also second behind New England’s league-leading total of 25. Darnold’s 12 interceptions put him in a tie for seventh in the league.

Since that dreadful Monday night, though, Darnold’s Jets have won four of their five victories on the season, and Darnold has thrown just four picks over a seven-week span that has also featured 12 touchdown passes and two more on the ground.

The Steelers usually don’t force their turnovers by way of out-thinking, scheming or confusing the opposing quarterback into mistakes with supernatural specters. They usually do so by sacking, stripping, hitting, or pressuring the opposing QB with ghouls and monsters up front like T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree.

Because of their presence against the Jets offensive line, I expect to see at least one or two turnovers from Darnold in the final box score.

Whether he’s seeing ghosts or not.