Let's forget about defense for a moment, shall we?

While the Steelers didn't have Troy Polamalu during their 22-17 December loss to the Jets at Heinz Field — a game in which the New York offense scored only 13 points — the Steelers offense didn't exactly light up the scoreboard.

Tight end Heath Miller wasn't available that day, either, but the guy who may hold the key to Pittsburgh's success this Sunday is Mike Wallace.

The speedy second-year receiver had seven catches for 102 yards against New York in that regular season game, but he didn't record a touchdown pass.

He might find All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis in his grill Sunday.

Wallace was relatively silent last week against Baltimore, managing only 20 yards on three catches. The Steelers passing game suffered as a result.

Before hitting Antonio Brown for that miraculous 58-yard completion late in Saturday's game, Ben Roethlisberger threw for a mere 168 yards in the contest.

Despite being only a second-year player, Wallace has become one of the most consistent and productive receivers in the NFL. Before last week's playoff game, only Buffalo held him to fewer than 75 receiving yards over the final nine regular season games.

It's hard to believe Wallace was held to 20 yards by Baltimore. He had 26 catches for at least that many yards during the season.

It's also hard to imagine Wallace's offensive production being taken away for a second successive week. Revis may be put to the test in that regard.

Besides Wallace, the Steelers receiving corps consists of a possession guy in Hines Ward, a past-his-prime guy in Antwaan Randle El and rookies Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown.

Wallace had 60 catches for 1,257 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season. His 21 yards per catch average led the AFC and ranked second in the NFL.

The man had seven 100-yard receiving games this year, including each of the Steelers' final three regular season games. He had seven 100-yard receiving games during his entire career at Mississippi.

If you're coaching the Jets, who do you put your shutdown corner on?

Wallace had 15 catches for at least 40 yards this year. None of those were against the Jets.

He caught two TD passes of at least 40 yards in a win at Tampa Bay. Only four other Steelers receivers — Louis Lipps, Lynn Swann, Gary Ballman and Ray Mathews — had done such a thing.

That's not bad company.

One other reason why the Jets most likely will deploy Revis on Wallace: Pittsburgh is 12-1 in games in which Wallace scored a touchdown over the past two years.

If Wallace can get loose for two or three big plays Sunday, it bodes well for the Steelers.

If he can't?

How many more 58-yard passes to Brown does this team have left in it?

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.