PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Steelers advanced to their third Super Bowl in six years thanks to a big-play defense that returned a fumble for a touchdown and staged a late goal-line stand in a 24-19 victory over the New York Jets. Pittsburgh, which led 24-0 in the first half and held on, faces the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl in Dallas in two weeks.The Steelers (14-4) also will challenge the Packers, who are 2 1/2-point favorites, with a versatile attack led by their quarterback and running back Rashard Mendenhall.
The defense, led by James Harrison, had a fumble return for a touchdown and a goal-line stand that shut down the Jets' comeback in the fourth quarter. It will certainly test Aaron Rodgers in the title game in Dallas on Feb. 6.That smothering defense set the tone for most of a frigid night at Heinz Field to end the Jets' stunning postseason run. Ryan slammed down his headset when Antonio Brown caught a pass for a first down that allowed Pittsburgh to hang on and run out the clock.
“There are 32 teams that start this journey and there are two left,” said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who joins Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs as the second coach to reach two Super Bowls in his first four NFL seasons. “We’re fortunate to be one of them. It’s awesome.”This was the first time in 10 years that both conference championship games were decided by a touchdown or less.
Pittsburgh avenged last month’s 22-17 home loss to the Jets by scoring on three of its first four offensive possessions and also getting a 19-yard fumble return for a touchdown from cornerback William Gay. Pittsburgh set the early tone with a 66-yard march that took up the first nine minutes, with Roethlisberger displaying his scrambling skills on several plays, including a key 12-yard run on third-and-12.
Mendenhall reached the ball over the goal line from the 1, the final of a 15-play drive in which the Steelers pushed around Ryan's pride and joy.But Pittsburgh also lost outstanding rookie center Maurkice Pouncey with an ankle injury, leaving it with just one backup offensive lineman.It was the Jets who were struggling to block, though. And catch, with the usually sure-handed Cotchery making a key third-down drop.Rashard Mendenhall ran for a tough 121 yards with a score against the Jets, the third-stingiest run defense in the league.
Roethlisberger was intercepted twice and completed just 10-of-19 passes for 133 yards, but can now join rare company with his third ring if he can lead the Steelers past the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV on February 6 in Dallas.Green Bay edged pasted the Chicago Bears, 21-14, to win the NFC title earlier Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers Vs Packers Super Bowl Xlv
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