But enough of that. Let's get on to the topic that we've all been waiting for. The 2010 AFC Championship game between the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the New York Jets. Here's the breakdown.
Starting off with the Quarterbacks, we have Big Ben Roethlisberger, versus the young Mark Sanchez. Now clearly Big Ben has the edge over Papa Sanchez here. Just look at the numbers. Ben is five years more experienced, has played in three AFC Championship games, (will play in his fourth this sunday), and has already won two super bowl titles. His passer rating blows surfer boys out of the water, (97-75), and he threw seventeen TD's in just twelve games during the regular season, a number which took Sanchez all sixteen.
THE EDGE- Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
Now on to the running backs. Rashard Mendenhall rushed for over 1,200 yards this season, and led the Steelers with thirteen TD's. His powerful, yet elusive style of running gives him the potential to be a top five back in the near future. Also providing depth in the backfield is bruiser, Isaac Redman, who is used for short down situations. Now I'd be a fool to say that Mendenhall has had a better career than LT, but I will say that he is CURRENTLY a better back. LT is out of his prime. As good as he once was, he's not the back he used to be, although he still has that play-making potential that we saw last week against the Patriots.
Tomlinson of the Jets, started in thirteen games this season, and rushed for 914 yards, and six TD's. Shonn Greene, the second-year man out of Iowa, carried the ball 185 times for 766 yards this season. To be honest, this is the guy I'm more worried about. Although he's not the typical back that hurts the Steelers, he still seems more dangerous than the aging LT, who had only 55 total yards against us the first time around, (49 rushing, 6 receiving). He's younger, and is a more "power-styled" back, therefore giving him more and more carries as the game goes on. As much as I hate to say it, I think that the Jets might have us at the running back position...
THE EDGE- Tomlinson/Greene, NYJ
The wide receiver position is probably the closest between these two teams. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, you've got Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, Antwaan Randle El, and Antonio Brown. At one time, Hines Ward was one of the best receivers in the game. For years, he was one of the most dangerous players on the field. But now, he's 34-years-old. The past is the past, and lets face it Steeler fans, as much as we still love this guy, and always will, he's not the playmaker that he used to be. However, he is still very capable of making those game changing catches, like he did last week against the Ravens. Odds are, he'll still be a thorn in the Jets side. Mike Wallace is the opposite. This guy hasn't even entered his prime yet. He had over 1,200 yards receiving this year, with 10 TD receptions. I don't think that there is a guy in the Jets secondary that can keep up with his speed. Wallace is possibly the fastest player in the NFL. Sanders just started coming along mid-season, but has proved to be a potential playmaker, Randle El is like Hines, except simply not as good, and Brown, no matter what he has done, or will do from here on out, he will always have a little place in my heart for that amazing 3rd and long catch he had last week against our bitter rivals.
Now on to the Jets... Braylon Edwards, Santonio "Wake n' Bake" Holmes, and Jericho Cotchery. Now unlike the Steelers, who use up to five receivers, the Jets tend to only use three. I mean, if I were Rex Ryan, and had two no.1 backs, I would more than likely only use three receivers too. Braylon Edwards has obviously proven himself to be a potential playmaker, Santonio is not only a playmaker, but a game changer, and Jericho Cotchery is just your typical no. 3 receiver. The first time around, Edwards hauled in 8 catches for 100 yards, Santonio had 6 for 40, and Cotchery with a whopping zero catches for zero yards. The funny thing about the Jets is that Tight End Dustin Keller actually led their team in receptions, with 55. However, he had only 3 catches, for 19 yards against us.
In the end, however, I think you have to give the overall edge to the Steelers. Many would disagree with me, but the way I see it, is that the Steelers have five wide outs that can make a play, the Jets only have three...
THE EDGE- Ward/Wallace/Sanders/Randle El/Brown, PIT
The offensive line is probably the most important asset to a football team. In recent years, the Steelers O-line hasn't been known to be all that great. This year, it's been a different story. Rookie center, Maurkice Pouncey, who was elected to the pro-bowl, is the captain of the Steelers young offensive line. Beside him are guards, Ramon Foster, and Chris Kemoeatu. The tackles include, Jonathan Scott, who in the beginning was playing awful, but has improved his play during the last couple weeks, and veteran Flozell Adams.
The Jets have of course, the All-Pro, Nick Mangold, who has proven himself to be a dominant force. Matt Slauson, and Brandon Moore are at the guards, while Wayne Hunter and D'Brickshaw Ferguson occupy the tackle positions. All but one of their offensive linemen have played and started every game of the 2010 season, (Wayne Hunter being the exception). Mangold, and Ferguson have both started in every game of their careers, and Moore has been a Jets starter since 2005.
So as much as our offensive line has improved, you don't find them much better than the Jets O-Line... Luckily, I think our D-line can handle them, much like they did the first game...
THE EDGE- Hunter/Moore/Mangold/Slauson/Ferguson, NYJ
When it comes to tight ends, there really isn't a question to which team has the better sixth linemen. Heath Miller is flat out the best overall tight end in the game. Big Ben even said so himself in the press conference earlier today! Even Matt Spaeth, our back-up tight end, actually had a touchdown catch during our first game against the Jets. And yes, I am aware that Dustin Keller led the Jets in receptions, with 55, but Heath had 42, and missed two games, INCLUDING THE FIRST MATCH-UP against the Jets, AND PLAYED THE FIRST FOUR GAMES WITHOUT HIS STARTING QUARTERBACK! So, in reality, Heath Miller, really only played in 10 games this season... At least that's the way I see it...
THE EDGE- Miller/Spaeth, PIT
-OVERALL OFFENSE-
It's really hard to say who's better offensively, considering both of these teams are known for their defense... I mean it's clear who the better QB is, but there is much more to an offense than the quarterback. For instance, if you took Big Ben away from the Steelers, you have BIG problems... I mean lets face it guys, even though we played pretty damn well during the first four weeks he was out, it was still very clear that we were a different football team without him. But if you took Papa Sanchez away from the Jets, I honestly don't see a big difference. I just think that this guy plays on a very good team. If Kyle Boller was under center for the Jets this season, I think you still see them in the same position, so because of that, I almost have to give the SLIGHT edge to the Jets on this one...
THE EDGE- NYJ
Now on the defensive side of the ball, starting with the linebackers. Both of these teams have very talented linebacking corps. Both teams play a 3-4, and both can get after the quarterback. The Steelers have of course, All-Pro, James Harrison, and Lamarr Woodley on the outsides. The two combined for 20.5 sacks this season, (Harrison 10.5, Woodley 10). Then you have the veteran, and ex-Jet, James Farrior, and the young, rising star, Lawrence Timmons on the inside. Timmons and Farrior both combined for nearly 250 tackles this season. Farrior also added 6 sacks, Timmons 3, and 6 of the Steelers 21 interceptions came from the linebacking corp.
Leading the Jets corp is veteran, and ex-Raven, (making us hate him even more), Bart Scott. Really all I think of when I see Bart Scott, is Hines Ward putting him on his back during that monday night game back in 2007, which was one of the best games ever to watch as a Steeler fan. David Harris is the other inside guy, in my opinion, the best linebacker the Jets have........ Other than Calvin Pace that is. Pace is the Jets main outside guy, who can apply pressure to the quarterback, and shut down the outside running game. He's had 2 sacks so far during the playoffs, had 5.5 this year, and a total of 34.5 for his career. Bryan Thomas is the Jets other outside guy. He led the team with 6 sacks this season.
So in the end, it comes down to possibly the two best LB corps in the league. In the end though, there really isn't much of an arguement about who the better one is here. You have to go with the Steelers...
THE EDGE- Harrison/Timmons/Farrior/Woodley
The Jets secondary is possibly the strongest part of their team. Darelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie redefine the term "shut down", while Eric Smith and Brodney Poole are the "weak points" of the defense. We all remember how Ben used to throw all over the Browns secondary back when Poole was with them, and I quite frankly hadn't even heard of Eric Smith until a couple of days ago. But, look at the Jets corners. Probably the best cornerback duo in the NFL.
While Ike Taylor has been playing extremely well, he has given up a few big games in the past, and Braylon Edwards had quite a good game against him a few weeks ago. Bryant McFadden is very solid, but is doubtful for the game sunday, so the Steelers will most likely start William Gay. Ryan Clark, and of course, the Best Player in the National Football League, Troy Polamalu will occupy the safety positions. It's funny how the Jets may possibly have the best Cornerback duo, and we may have the best Safety duo...
The secondary's are very close. But to put ANY team's secondary over the Jets, would be some what absurd.
THE EDGE- Cromartie/Revis/Smith/Poole, NYJ
Ah, the D-line... The most important piece to a defense is possibly the D-line... The Steelers have Veteran Casey Hampton at nose tackle, second-year-STUD Ziggy Hood at left end, and pro-bowler, veteran Brett "Diesel" Kiesel at the right end. These guys have been causing all sorts of havoc in the backfield all season long. Not to mention the fact that Steeler great, Aaron Smith may even see some action this week!
The Jets have defensive end, Shaun Ellis, a proven game changer, who shuts down the run, and can get after the quarterback. Nose tackle, Sione Pouha, a big guy, (6-3, 325), who is almost impossible to move, and defensive end Mike DeVito, who flat out does nothing. And I mean it when I say it. For his career, (which started back in 2007), he has only had a HALF OF A SACK. Yup. A starting NFL defensive end who hasn't had a solo sack in his career. Pretty sad if you ask me. And I know that veteran Jason Taylor gets put in on passing situations, and that the Jets do only run a 3-man line, but still... No sacks? Really?
The Edge here has to go the The Burgh. Without a doubt.
THE EDGE- Hood/Hampton/Kiesel, PIT
-OVERALL DEFENSE-
The overall defense definitely goes to the Steelers... And yeah, you could make an argument that the Jets secondary is so good, that nobody's defense even compares to them, but that argument is simply ridiculous. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the best defense in the NFL, period.
THE EDGE- PIT
-MY PICK-
Steelers 27, Jets 14
I'll bet the Steelers make a few big plays early. Maybe a deep ball to Wallace, a pick six by Polamalu, who knows? But I think something is going to happen early for the Steelers that will determine the rest of the game. Don't be surprised if the score is close at half time, the Jets are contenders, they won't quit easily, but as an avid Steeler fan, I see the Burgh winning this one pretty comfortably.
