The Jets offense was able to find a chink in the traditionally strong steel chain that is the Steelers’ run defense – a task that many teams haven’t been able to do for a long time.

In their 19-16 win over the Steelers on Sunday evening, the Jets pounded out 151 rushing yards, including 117 by Thomas Jones. When Jones hit the century mark in the fourth quarter, he became the first back to do so since Edgerrin James put up 124 yards on 29 carries on Nov. 28, 2005, which was 35 games ago for the Pittsburgh squad.

“Our offensive line did a great job of maintaining their blocks and getting on the right guys," said Jones. "They are an aggressive defense and their defensive coordinator calls a lot of different blitzes and sometimes you can get confused. Our offensive line did a great job communicating and getting the calls out and I just tried to run as hard as I could and finish off the runs.”

Jones averaged 3.9 yards per carry and his 30 touches equaled the second-highest single-game total in his eight-year career. In 2005 Jones ran the ball 30 times for 113 yards against the Giants, and his career high of 34 carries came against the Texans in 2003.

“I thought Thomas showed great individual effort,” head coach Eric Mangini said after the Jets' second victory of the season. “I thought he showed excellent toughness and the ability to make yards after contact. There were a couple of different times when he was completely stopped at the line of scrimmage but was able to bounce outside or cut back.”

Jones started off arguably his best performance as a member of the Jets with an 11-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and didn’t look back. He was playing with added zest today and it started inside the locker room and continued on throughout all four quarters and into overtime.

“He’s so passionate and is always so passionate, but today there was something else about him,” said tight end Joe Kowalewski, who recorded his first official start in the NFL. “Before the game the guy was fired up.”

Kowalewski — who proved to be a passionate and fiery athlete two weeks ago with a breakthrough touchdown celebration performance — served as Jones’ primary blocker for most of the game. With fullback Darian Barnes listed as a healthy scratch again, it was Kowalewski and fellow tight end Jason Pociask (making his NFL debut) who often lined up in front of Jones.

“He played his you-know-what off," said Kowalewski. "He really motivated us out there today and I just felt like I really wanted to block for him today. He really deserved it. He’s a hard worker and he got it done. It’s so gratifying because no one back has had over 100 yards against them this season and he did it — we did it.”

“We talk all the time about how the running game is a function of everybody working together,” Mangini said. “The offensive line did a good job of creating those holes against the different looks that they bring."

Jones’ longest rush of the contest came in the closing minutes of the second quarter. With 1:18 left, he bounced off three Steelers defenders and spun his way down to the Pittsburgh 2-yard line to set the Jets up for Mike Nugent's 19-yard field goal as the first half expired.

That jaw-dropping 26-yard dash was done in typical Jones fashion. His absurd strength and mobility allows him to gain crucial yards after contact — an essential aspect to take advantage of when facing such physical units as the Steelers.

“With a big back like that pounding it down people’s throat’s, he just breaks tackles and makes people miss just like what you saw today,” Kowalewski said. “When he rides out and has a good game, the offense follows suit.”

The Steelers entered this game with the league’s best running defense, making this win and Jones’ individual performance that much more extraordinary.

“Against that type of defense, you definitely have to get yards after contact, and that’s what I was trying to focus on – trying to finish the runs off. And they are pretty good tackling team,” Jones said. “Our line did a good job of sustaining their blocks long enough to where they couldn’t wrap me up 100 percent, and that gave me an opportunity to break some tackles.”