AFC Championship Preview

NY Jets +4 @ Pittsburgh

The Jets have been a little less talkative heading into this week's game at Pittsburgh. Both teams seem to have a disgusting amount of respect for each other. Knowing these teams, that respect will quickly turn to disdain once the ball is kicked off Sunday evening. This is yet another rematch to be played out in this year's playoffs. The Jets won at Heinz Field 22-17 a month ago. It will be awfully difficult for them to accomplish this feat twice in the same season. Especially since the Steelers will have the services of the league's most disruptive player in Troy Polamalu this time around. Polamalu was on the sideline during their December meeting.

There are several matchups that will be vital to the outcome of this game. The Jets must be able to establish some sort of ground game versus the NFL's top ranked rushing D. LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene will have to muster more than the 63 yards Pittsburgh averages to give up on the ground. The outstanding offensive line of the Jets, lead by Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson, must provide some running lanes. This is imperative to take the onus of the game off of Mark Sanchez. If Sanchez is forced to throw the ball, expect Polamalu and James Harrison to change the landscape of the game. Offensively, the Steelers must protect Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben can certainly be a handful to take down, but the Jets will be blitzing much more than they did last week at New England. The weak link for Pittsburgh is their injury-stricken offensive line. With the likes of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie able to play man coverage, Rex Ryan will unleash his linebackers and safeties on a variety of blitzes. Will they be able to get Ben to the ground once they reach him, is they key question.

Roethlisberger began the season suspended and seemed like his life and career could spiral down hill. He is now 2 wins away from joining a very exclusive club with 3 Super Bowl rings. Rex Ryan's squad has the mojo and talent to put an end to this quest. Though the Jets have been quiet this week, we will have 2 full weeks to get plenty of sound bites heading into Super Bowl Sunday. The Jets complete a historic Super Bowl matchup and head to Arlington, Texas for the 1st Super Bowl featuring 2 Wild Card teams.

Prediction - NY Jets 23 Pittsburgh 17

Ringer's Playoff Record
SU:  4-4
ATS: 5-3