For the second straight year, the Jets sit one game away from the Super Bowl. Just as they did last season, the Jets won two road playoff games to get to this point and face another one in Pittsburgh. Last year, the Jets blew a halftime lead and fell to Indianapolis. This year, they face the Steelers with a berth in Super Bowl XLV on the line.
The teams met in Week 15, and the Jets won 22-17. Buoyed by a game-opening Brad Smith kickoff return touchdown, the Jets won a back-and-forth game that ended on a Pittsburgh incompletion in the end zone. Since that game, their offense has seemingly turned the corner. Mark Sanchez's unit did enough to win in Indianapolis before the quarterback put forth a three-touchdown performance in a divisional-playoff upset of New England.
The Steelers boast a stifling defense—the Jets were the only team to rush for 100 yards against Pittsburgh this season—and a dangerous offense led by Ben Roethlisberger. In the playoffs, New York has backed off its trademark blitz, but it may bring it back against Pittsburgh, which allows more sacks than any team. If the Jets can force turnovers and take care of the ball, they have a shot. The line is 3 1/2 points, which means Las Vegas considers these teams all but equal on a neutral field. One or two plays could decide this game, and the Jets have the horses to make them.
