EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —First, Jalen Ramsey displayed his physicality, then he showed off some acting skills, as well. The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back's barely-legal, late-first-half hit on Justin Fields provided a spark in the team's 34-32 road win over the New York Jets .
"They didn't like my aggression, but that's football," Ramsey said afterward. "It wasn't a flag. It was clean. I saw that lineman running my way and I knew I was about to get that 15. That was easy. That was easy bait right there. … I respect they gotta stand up for their quarterback, but I knew we was getting that 15."
With 19 seconds remaining before halftime and on a 2nd-and-2 from his own 41-yard line, Fields took a shotgun snap, nestled into his pocket and fled, shaking the grasp of Alex Highsmith and Yahya Black . Working to his left with T.J. Watt giving chase, Fields set his feet as best he could and zipped a pass to the Steelers' sideline.
A white blur on the TV screen, Ramsey raced in and put a shoulder into the mobile signal-caller, forcing him to the ground. Jets left guard John Simpson came to Fields' defense, bumping Ramsey, who fell to the turf.
Steelers veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward and receiver DK Metcalf had words for Simpson after his response.
"I thought the guy who really brought energy all freaking day was Jalen Ramsey ," Heyward said. "Even at the end of the first half, you love the chipiness, and then I feel like it galvanized us in the second half."
Ramsey admitted he sold it, rolling over on the grass before getting up and dancing.
"Oh, for sure. Wait until you see that on film," Ramsey said.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey had a game-sealing, ball-separating hit on Garrett Wilson in his team's 34-32 win against the New York Jets on Sunday. Ed Thompson/Steelers Now
Fields explained the altercation from his vantage point.
"I threw the ball away," Fields said. "Jalen hit me. If I'm being honest, I was kind of joking with Coach Denzel (Martin, Steelers outside linebackers coach). We talked a lot of trash to each other last year throughout practice. He was talking a little bit, so I had to chirp a little back at him. It wasn't anything crazy. Simp saw that, he didn't like it. He hit Jalen late and got the flag.
"Of course you don't want that, but at the same time, it's just my O-line sticking up for me, so you have to love that as a quarterback. It's a double-edged sword in terms of we don't want a penalty on that play."
Metcalf, who had his share of run-ins with Ramsey when the two were NFC West divisional foes, is an expert in his teammate's ability to get under opponents' skin.
"I mean, he's just a tough DB," Metcalf said. "He's not gonna back down from a fight, and he's definitely gonna be physical at the point of attack."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers' Jalen Ramsey Delights in Art of Irking Opponents
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