Chris Townsend

Well the playoffs are coming to an conclusion this Sunday.  It's when we will find out who will win the right to go to Super Bowl XLV in Arlington.  The late game will be the American Football Conference Championship in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  This is where the AFC North Division winner, Pittsburgh Steelers will host the New York Jets for the second time this season.  The first time these two teams met in Pittsburgh was back in week 15.  The Jets defeated the Steelers for the first time in 18 attempts in the steel city by a score of 22-17. 

However, this Sunday's match-up at Heinz Field will not be the same.  A whole lot more is at stake for this one.  The right to fly south for the winter and participate in Super Bowl XLV is the ultimate goal.  Eventhough the Jets came away with the victory in their first match up, the Steelers are aware of what transpired earlier in the year and will be ready for kick off.  For this time around, the Jets will have to worry about one of the Steelers key players on defense, (SS) Troy Polamalu.

When the Steelers hosted the Jets, the Steelers were shut oout in the first and fourth quarters.  This time around, in order for the Steelers to come out victorious, they will have to score early and often.  Keeping this game a low scoring affair will most likely favor the Jets.

Let's get down to straight talk on the keys for victory by either team.  I believe the keys for a Steelers win at home is for the defense to shut down the passing and running attack of the Jets.  The match-up of Mark Sanchez versus the Steelers defensive backfield favors the Sanchez.  However, this time (SS) Troy Polamalu will have something to add, and that's a presence that wasn't there in the week 15 meeting.  Ben Roethlisberger will have to be mobile in keeping the plays alive, when needed, and the defense will have to play physical.  The Steelers outmatch the Jets when it comes to playing a physical and in the trenches type of game.  If the above are met for the Steelers, we may be seeing a lot of the yellow terrible towels in Arlington.

Now the keys for the Jets.  They need to keep the game close.  If they allow the Steelers to score, they will need to keep any scoring by the Steelers to field goals and not allowing them to get into the end zone.  Controlling the time of possession with multiple double digital play drives will be a key component to a victory.  Accomplishing this will mean the Jets will have to have a very well balanced attack with both the running and passing game, just like they did back in week 15.  If these elements are reached, the Jets could have themselves flying into DFW and playing in Super Bowl XLV in Arlington.

For my prediction, I see the Jets starting off slow.  But when Sanchez gets his rhythm and Tomlinson finally breaks through for a couple of key runs, this is when any sort of offensive presence by either team will come to play.  Thus I see a very low scoring physical game.  Final score (I don't normally pick scores) New York Jets 17; Pittsburgh Steelers 14.