Thursday, May 17th, 2012
The New York Jets will travel for their third straight road playoff game when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game in an NFL pro football playoff contest on Sunday night.
Kick off time from Pittsburgh is scheduled for 6:30PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by CBS.
The point spread opened up with the home club Pittsburgh Steelers favored by -3 points with an over under of 38 ½ points.
The early money from the NFL wagering public has come on the side of the home team as the Pittsburgh Steelers are now -3 ½ point betting favorites. The over under has moved up to 39 points.
Pittsburgh Steelers money line gamblers will lay -180 odds with the road underdog New York Jets returning +170 odds to win the AFC championship game straight up without the aid of getting the points.
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The New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers met during the regular season and it was the Jets posting the 22-17 road victory at Pittsburgh as a +3 ½ point underdog. The game played over the closing total of 36 points.
It is worth noting that Pittsburgh’s major impact player on defense safety Troy Polamalu did not play due to injury. Polamalu returned in the playoffs and is healthy for the AFC championship game.
In their victory at Pittsburgh during the regular season the Jets produced 276 yards on the Steelers defense. The club ran the 27 times for 106 yards. New York opened the game with a 97 yard kickoff return by Brad Smith for a touchdown.
Mark Sanchez completed 19 of 29 passes for 170 yards with no touchdowns and no picks. He ran the ball 3 times for 15 yards and a score.
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson on 11 carries rushed for 49 yards. Shonn Greene contributed with 40 yards on the ground on 12 rushing attempts.
Braylon Edwards had a good game with 8 receptions for 100 yards. Santonio Holmes contributed with 6 catches for 40 yards.
The Pittsburgh offense generated 377 yards on the Jets defense. The Steelers had success running the football with 146 yards on 25 carries for nearly 5 yards per rush.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 23 of 44 passes for 264 yards with a touchdown and no picks. Big Ben had two runs for 25 yards.
Running back Rashard Mendenhall had 99 yards rushing on 17 carries and a touchdown.
Mike Wallace led the Steelers with 7 catches for 102 yards. Emmanuel Sanders contributed with 7 pass receptions for 78 yards. Veteran Hines Ward chipped in with 34 yards receiving on two passes.
The New York Jets enters the AFC championship with an overall record of 13-5 on the season. The club puts up 22 points and 348 yards per game.
New York plays on the road for the eleventh time on the year where they stand at 8-2. Their only losses on the highway came at New England and Chicago.
The Jets are 4-4 this season in games involving playoff teams. They have won two straight road playoff games and are coming off a huge 28-21 road victory against the New England Patriots last week as a +9 point road underdog.
New York put up 314 yards on the Patriots defense and converted on 6 of 13 tries on third down. The team ran the ball 29 times for 120 yards for a 4.1 yards per carry average. The Jets played turnover free football and took one away from New England. New York got it in the end zone in four of five opportunities inside the red zone.
Second year quarterback Mark Sanchez completed 16 of 25 passes for 194 yards with three touchdowns and no picks.
Running back Shonn Greene ran it 17 times for 76 yards and a score. LaDainian Tomlinson on 10 carries had 43 yards. Tomlinson had two receptions for two yards but one big touchdown catch.
Wide out Jerricho Cotchery led the Jets with 5 catches for 96 yards including a huge 58 yard catch in the fourth quarter that helped New York extend their lead as they got in the end zone later in the drive.
Braylon Edwards contributed with 2 catches for 52 yards and a score. Santonio Holmes had three catches for 20 yards including a touchdown catch.
Defensively the Jets give up 18 points and 297 yards per game.
The New York Jets allowed the New England offense to produce 372 yards and to convert on only 5 of 14 tries on third down. The Patriots rushed it 28 times on the Jets defense and gained 113 yards for a 4 yards per carry average. New England could only get in the end zone in two of four red zone tries.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady completed 29 of 45 passes for 299 yards with two touchdowns and one pick against the Jets defense.
The Pittsburgh Steelers host this AFC championship game with an overall mark of 13-4 this season. The team averages 23 points and 340 yards per game.
The Steelers play at home for the tenth time on the season where they are 6-3. The three home defeats came against Baltimore, New England and the New York Jets who are all playoff teams. Their fourth loss this season came on the road and to another playoff team in a 20-10 defeat to the New Orleans Saints on Halloween.
In games involving playoff teams the Steelers are 3-4 this season. The wins came against Atlanta, Baltimore and in their AFC divisional round playoff game the club defeated Baltimore again 31-24 last week as a -3 point home favorite.
Pittsburgh put up 263 yards and converted on 7 of 14 on third down. The team ran it 31 times for only 71 yards for a 2.3 yards per rush average. The Steelers committed two turnovers and took three away from Baltimore.
Pittsburgh rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit in the game by outscoring the Ravens 24-3 in the second half. The Steelers got in the end zone in four of five red zone appearances.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 19 of 32 passes for 226 yards with two touchdowns and no picks.
Rashard Mendenhall on 20 carries ran for 46 yards and two scores.
Antonio Brown led the Steelers with 3 catches for 75 yards including a clutch fourth quarter 58 yard catch that set up the Steelers game wining score.
Emmanuel Sanders contributed with 4 pass receptions that totaled 54 yards. Both Heath Miller and Hines Ward caught touchdown passes.
Pittsburgh on the defensive side of the ball gives up 23 points and 340 yards per game.
The team surrendered only 126 yards to the Ravens offense and 5 of 12 conversions on third down. The Steelers shut down Baltimore on the ground by giving up just 35 yards on 18 attempts for under 2 yards per carry.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco completed 16 of 30 passes for 125 yards with a touchdown and one pick. Flacco coughed up a snap from center that was vital in the Steelers victory.
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NFL Trend: New York Jets are 9-1 to the over on the road this season.
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