EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When it comes to takeaways, the New York Jets might not be historically bad, after all.
After generating only three takeaways in the first nine games, the Jets registered four in Sunday's 20-13 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. The modern-day record for fewest takeaways in a season is 11, by the 2013 Houston Texans. So the Jets have six games to create five turnovers.
"It's about time," coach Rex Ryan said.
The turnovers came from an unlikely source -- safety Jaiquawn Jarrett, who became the first Jets player since Ty Law (Week 17, 2005) to make three takeaways in a game. Jarrett, in his first start of the season, recorded two interceptions and a fumble recovery. The fumble was forced by Muhammad Wilkerson, who stripped wide receiver Antonio Brown on a completion. It snapped a streak of 227 straight defensive plays without a takeaway, dating to Week 5 in San Diego.
The Jets' fourth takeaway came on special teams, as T.J. Graham recovered a muffed punt by Brown. The last time they had four in a game was Oct. 14, 2012, against the Indianapolis Colts. They also allowed only 36 rushing yards, the second-lowest total of the Ryan era.
Bomb's away: Michael Vick's 67-yard touchdown pass to Graham was a bit ... um, un-Jets-like. The Jets do don't big plays. It was, by far, their longest pass play of the season. It was their longest touchdown pass since Sept. 22, 2013, when Geno Smith (remember him?) found Santonio Holmes (remember him?) for 69 yards.
Vick's pass was thrown 50 yards in the air, the first completion of at least 50 yards downfield by a Jets quarterback since Mark Sanchez in 2010, Week 9 -- a 74-yard touchdown (54 yards in the air) to Braylon Edwards, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Vick-to-Graham came on a one-play drive. The last time that happened was 2010.
