The Pittsburgh Steelers will battle it out with the Green Bay Packers for Super Bowl XLV after holding off a second-half fight back from the New York Jets to win the AFC Championship game 24-19.
Despite producing a devastating performance to dispose of the New England Patriots in the Divisional round, the Jets failed to get going until well into the second quarter at Heinz Field – by that time the Steelers had built a 24-0 lead and were all but out of sight.
A valiant second-half comeback – which saw Rex Ryan’s team close to within five points – finally crumbled after an immense goal line stand by the Pittsburgh defense.
With the Steelers fans growing anxious at their team’s inability to score a single second-half point – and being subjected to 16 unanswered at the other end – the defense finally held strong to stop Sanchez and the Jets offence four times inside the Pittsburgh two-yard line.
For all the talk, all the hype from coach Rex Ryan, once again the Jets fell one game short of the big one.
A year on from losing out to the Colts, Ryan was left dismayed not only that his team failed to turn up for the first-half of their biggest game of the season, but that they then choked when it mattered most – less than a couple of yards from what would have been a first Super Bowl appearance in over 40 years.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who became the youngest ever Super Bowl winning head coach two years ago, will lead his team into the cauldron at Cowboy’s Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as underdogs against the red-hot Green Bay Packers.
The mantle will be an unusual one for Tomlin – particularly given the exceptional job he’s done, not only in getting his team back to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, but for the aura of invincibility he seems to have created when they reach the post-season.
There’s no doubt that the cool and calm exterior which Tomlin exudes has rubbed off on his players – but there’s also a toughness he’s installed within them which makes them seem more than mere mortals.
Whatever Mike McCarthy and Green Bay throw at the Steelers, you just imagine the latter will chew it up, spit it out and come roaring back with a power-house rushing attack which screams “Stop us if you can”.
It’s a mantra which has served the team well over the years – and with Big Ben to call upon when needed, the Steelers have a very experienced and intimidating offense which will always score points.
Add that to a defense which specialises in stingy plays and the ability to engineer countless takeaways, and it’s clear that Pittsburgh will be relishing the underdog title bestowed upon them come Sunday week.
