The Jets’ joyride season ended in a 24-19 defeat at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field Sunday night. New York fell into an insurmountable 24-3 halftime hole before rallying to make a game of it in the second half. Pittsburgh held on to win, the prize being a trip to the Superbowl to face the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers are headed for Dallas after grabbing their third AFC Championship in six years last night.
Pittsburgh quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, scrambled on the Steelers’ opening drive in single digit temperatures to chew off nine minutes on the clock. Roethlisberger orchestrated a 15 play drive capped by Rashard Mendenhall’s one yard touchdown lunge to put the Steelers up by seven. The Jets struggled to get first downs and Pittsburgh maintained excellent field position throughout the first quarter. Roethlisberger was intercepted for the first time in 200 attempts on the Steelers’ second drive, but the Jets’ offense could not capitalize. Shaun Suisham booted a 20 yard field goal to put Pittsburgh out in front by ten points midway through the second session. The Steelers thundered into the end zone again with two minutes left in the half. Roethlisberger charged from two yards out to complete a 66 yard Pittsburgh drive for the 17 point advantage. Rex Ryan’s bombastic third ranked defense could do little to prevent the Steelers from adding another touchdown or slowing down Mendenhall.
Ike Taylor hit Jets’ signal caller, Mark Sanchez, to force a fumble with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter. Cornerback William Gay scooped up the loose ball and rushed 19 yards the opposite way for a third Pittsburgh touchdown. The Steelers outgained the Jets 231-50 in yards during the first half. The Jets scooted 44 yards to reach field goal territory near the end of the second quarter. All New York could muster was a Nick Folk 42 yard field goal as time expired on the AFC Championship game’s first half. Pittsburgh dominated time of possession, leaving the trash-talking Gang Green offense down four scores heading into the locker room. The Steelers held an absurd 135-1 advantage on the ground in the first half. Mendenhall finished with 121 rushing yards (95 in the first half), only the second time a back has accumulated over 100 against Gang Green all season.
The Jets awoke from a slumber to score 16 unanswered points in the second half. Pittsburgh failed to score again after the break. In the first drive of the half, Sanchez hit Santonio Holmes for a 45 yard touchdown strike to cut the deficit to 24-10. Sanchez had two touchdown passes on the night and threw for 233 yards in the loss. Mike Devito recovered a safety in the fourth quarter following a Roethlisberger bobbled snap to miraculously make it a two possession game. New York had a chance to score again midway through the fourth, but the Steel Curtain’s goal-line stance made them come up empty. Previously injured Jets’ wideout, Jericho Cotchery caught a four yard touchdown pass from Sanchez with three minutes left in regulation. The Jets trailed by five and took the lead in yardage during the second half, but it was too little too late. Pittsburgh had too much of a first half cushion to forego the lead. Mendenhall was handed the ball three times before rookie, Antonio Brown secured a Pittsburgh first down on a 14 yard reception with two minutes to go. The Jets didn’t have any timeouts left with 1:48 left. The Steelers ran out the clock and improved to 14-4 on rout for a chance at their seventh Superbowl in franchise history. A date with Green Bay is set for February 6th at 6:30pm.
Parting Points: It should be a good Superbowl. The Pack are a 2 ½ point favorite.
Who the heck is Caleb Hanie?
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