6:42 PM I'm joined today by a half-eaten Subway sandwich, Doritos and a pile of homework that has no chance of getting done before Monday. Announcers are Jim Nantz and Phil Simms.
6:44 PM Important note: Ed Hochuli is the head referee for tonight's game. I'm setting the over/under on flags thrown at 19.5. Also, expect two-three explanations of penalties that make no sense at all.
6:45 PM Pittsburgh faces a 3rd-and-7 on their opening drive, and an Antonio Cromarite hands to the face penalty gives the Steelers a first down. Simms mentions that the officials and how tightly/loosely they call it are going to be a big part of this game. Couldn't agree more.
6:47 PM Another first down conversion by the Steelers on a spot that was generous. And that's putting it mildly.
6:51 PM A Ben Roethlisberger backwards pass, a couple of runs by Rashard Mendenhall and a run by Ike Redman sets up a play-action pass to Heath Miller that has touchdown written all over it. The throw is off target, and instead of a touchdown, the Steelers are inside the Jets four-yard line. Jets challenging.
6:54 PM In case you were wondering, Pepsi Max's taste metrics are off the chart. Whatever that means.
6:56 PM I thought the Miller catch would stand. A buddy of mine knew it'd be overturned. The lesson? I have no idea what is/is not a catch anymore.
6:58 PM Jets unable to get off the field as Roethlisberger scrambles for 13 yards on 3rd-and-12. His ability to run/keep plays alive could be a recurring theme today.
7:01 PM CBS cameras catch Mark Sanchez picking his nose and wiping it on Mark Brunell's jacket. In other news, a Hines Ward reception and Mendenhall run makes it 1st-and-goal Steelers from the two-yard line.
7:03 PM Mendenhall on a short plunge to make it 7-0 Pittsburgh. Three third-down conversions, nine-minute drive, and you have to wonder if the Jets left it all on the field at New England last week.
7:06 PM Quick thought on the Bears-Packers game: Has any quarterback inspired less confidence in a fanbase than Jay Cutler? Horrible body language, always the fear of a pick six among fans and a really tough personality to support.
7:09 PM 3rd-and-10 for the Jets on their own 27, crowd fired up, dangerous situation with a three-and-out looming, but Sanchez converts to Cotchery. Cotchery had one of the more important roles in last week's game against New England. Him, and the Pats offensive coordinator.
7:12 PM A couple penalties on Pittsburgh puts the ball past midfield for the Jets.
7:13 PM Back to the Jay Cutler thing for a second: His press conference/comments after this game are huge. Chicago hasn't had a competent quarterback in 87 years, and he needs to show some personality and at least seem angry that he was unable to get back out there. I still have the image in my head of him just sitting with his jacket on next to third-stringer Caleb Hanie and not helping him out/saying one word as Hanie looked at the stills from the last drive.
7:16 PM Jets drive doesn't result in points but changes the field position. Pittsburgh to start inside their own 15, 1:43 left in the opening quarter.
7:18 PM Advertisement for the Pro Bowl. Nantz mentions that Simms was once Pro Bowl MVP. In ranking the prestige of awards, I think "WNBA MVP" edges out "Pro Bowl MVP" as most meaningless. But you could talk me out of it.
7:23 PM End of the first quarter with Pittsburgh up 7-0 and Rashard Mendenhall channeling his inner Jerome Bettis. What makes this even more surprising is that Maurkice Pouncey went out on the first drive, and the Steelers are still dominating on the ground with a porous offensive line. Makes no sense.
7:25 PM Personal foul on the Jets followed by a seven-yard run from Mendenhall; Pittsburgh to the New York 34. And am I seeing things, or was that Eric Smith hit shoulder-to-shoulder and not helmet-to-helmet? Steelers continuing to lean on Mendenhall.
7:26 PM Ike Redman gets stopped cold on 3rd-and-1 at the Jets 32, setting up an interesting decision. Shaun Suisham and a 49-yard field goal at Heinz Field (I was scared just writing that) or go for it? On second thought, this decision isn't hard at all!
7:30 PM Steelers go play-action on 4th-and-1, the ball is thrown 88 MPH at Mendenhall and it's picked off by Bryan Thomas. Puzzling and any other word that means confusing play call by Pittsburgh and a play the Jets needed.
7:34 PM A couple of penalties and a drop by Cotchery results in a quick three-and-out for the Jets. Now a defense that's been run on at will tonight has to come back out with no rest. Dangerous drive for the Jets D.
7:35 PM Steve Weatherford does his best Matt Dodge impersonation by shanking his punt off the side of his foot; Steelers to start at their own 38 after the 29-yard-punt.
7:38 PM Mendenhall breaks a run off tackle down to the Jets 27 for 35 yards. No pass rush, incapable of stopping the run, punting woes, offense stagnant. Nothing going right for the Jets right now. And I think that just set the record for understatement of the decade.
7:43 PM Steelers runnning right at the Jets and they have no answer. (I feel like I've typed that before). After a Roethlisberger pass opened the drive, Pittsburgh called five straight runs as Redman/Mendenhall carry them down to the Jets two-yard line. 3rd-and-goal upcoming.
7:47 PM Eric Smith bats down Roethlisberger's pass, calling Suisham on for a short field goal. Win for the Jets defense. 10-0 Steelers, 6:31 remaining in the first half.
7:48 PM By the way, do we realize that this game has the possibility of coming down to the right leg of Susiham and/or Nick Folk?
7:49 PM Kickoff goes out of bounds. Really one of the worst things that could happen for the Steelers. Jets are having trouble putting together a sustained drive, and they help them out.
7:51 PM On 3rd-and-7, Mark Sanchez has his pass batted down for the 49th time today. A three-and-out for the Jets and a missed opportunity considering where they started from. Weatherford with another bad punt (33 yards) and Pittsburgh to start from their own 34.
7:56 PM Two long pass completions (Miller and Emmanuel Sanders) and the Steelers are already down to the Jets 22. (I'm officially afraid that this game might become un-running-diaryable).
7:57 PM Pass to Mendenhall down to the Jets two-yard line. That sound you heard was every Mendhenhall fantasy owner banging his head against the wall. I love playing fantasy playoff football, and don't understand why it hasn't caught on more, but that column is for another day.
7:59 PM 17-0 as Roethlisberger strolls in for a TD. Jets putting up no resistance. Sheesh.
8:00 PM Just texted my friend Matt: "Who would you rather have with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, Folk or Suisham? His response: "Ooooof Folk probably." I think it's safe to say this game is setting the record for teams with the least confidence in their kickers.
8:02 PM CBS just showed a graphic of the Jets three drives today. Yikes! Jets to start from their own 33.
8:05 PM Sack, followed by a fumble by Sanchez that is returned for a TD by William Gay. 24-0. Sanchez looks hurt. We have officially reached the, "This may be getting out of control level" now. And Nantz tells us Mark Brunell is warming up. Can it get any worse for Jets fans?
8:09 PM What Tom Brady did through the air in Week 13 is what Mendenhall is doing on the ground tonight.
8:11 PM Two Sanchez completions (Dustin Keller, Brad Smith) put the Jets in Pittsburgh territory with less than a minute left in the second half.
8:12 PM Eight combined penalties in the game. We may be approaching that over/under after all.
8:14 PM Another completion to Keller after a Pittsburgh penalty gives the Jets the ball at the Steelers 24 with 23 seconds until the half. Points here are a must.
8:16 PM Two incompletions sets up a Nick Folk 41-yard field goal attempt. Can I get live odds on this? In the cold, at Heinz Field, where can I place my bet on "miss?"
8:17 PM And... It's good! A miracle American field goal kicking story!
8:18 PM Nice job by Sanchez coming back and leading a drive that results in points. A field goal, but there's no telling how important that score might be. With the Jets getting the ball to start the second half, it could be what they need to get back into the game. I didn't like Pittsburgh going into soft coverage there.
8:19 PM By the way, have we figured out why teams go into soft coverages? Steelers defense is dominating the Jets and then they give up 44 yards in just over a minute.
8:20 PM Pittsburgh take a knee. 24-3 Steelers at the half. Steelers outgained the Jets 231-50 in the first half (136 rushing yards).
8:22 PM Halftime, which means I'm off to make a quick Tavern run. For those that don't go to American University, the Tavern is a place where they sell greasy food that's borderline edible. The chances of you getting sick from eating a meal there are 40%.
8:34 PM What's that? You want to know what the biggest comeback in AFC Championship history was? That would be during the 2006 season when Indianapolis overcame a 21-3 deficit to beat the Pats.
8:35 PM Very nice start to the half by the Jets, as Shonn Greene (23-yard run) and LaDainianTomlinson (8-yard carry) bring them out to their own 40.
8:39 PM 16-yard completion to Santonio Holmes to the Pittsburgh 45 on 3rd-and-4 keeps the Jets drive alive.
8:40 PM ....AND WE HAVE A BALLGAME! I loved the play-action/deep shot combination called right there, and Sanchez hits Holmes for a 45-yard touchdown. 24-10 Steelers. This running diary may be saved after all!
8:40 PM My buddy Solly, a big Jets fan, chimes in via text: "Let's goooo!!!!!!!!"
8:44 PM Can't stress the importance of this next drive. Pittsburgh needs a couple of first downs. The Jets need a stop or turnover. Seeds of a possible momentum shift being planted.
8:46 PM Kyle Wilson drops a sure INT on third down, as the Jets defense comes up with a stop. CBS cameras flash to Pittsburgh fans sitting in the stands. That look on their faces? Doubt creeping in.
8:47 PM And a personal foul, roughing the kicker called on Jamaal Westerman! A stomach-punch penalty if I've ever seen one. Wow. Pittsburgh keeps possession at the NYJ 49.
8:51 PM A classic Roethlisberger "avoid the sack" play, and he looks to go for the kill shot on 2nd-and-11 from the Jets 37, but it's picked off by Brodney Pool. The Jets take over at their own 14 with 7:42 left in the third as I try to figure out why his Mom just didn't name him "Rodney."
8:54 PM Jets go three-and-out as Edwards catches a third-down conversion but can't stay in bounds. And I think we're at the point that just the sight of Weatherford is enough to scare Jets fans right now. One of his better punts and the Steelers take over at their own 30, Jets can't capitalize on the turnover.
8:59 PM Two third-down conversions (Roethlisberger scrambles) puts the ball at the Jets 42.You'd have to think a score here (of any kind) basically wins the game for Pittsburgh. Three scores for the Jets with one quarter to play against the Steelers is too tough.
9:03 PM And the Jets defense again keeps the game within reach/winnable, pushing the Steelers back to the Pittsburgh 43 thanks to two sacks (Calvin Pace, Trevor Pryce) and a tackle for loss (David Harris) to force a punt. In the last two possessions, the Steelers have had first downs from the Jets 37 and 42-yard-lines but haven't been able to ice the game. Rex Ryan's defense stepping up.
9:04 PM Nearing the end of the third quarter and the Jets play between the first and second halves is like night and day, but such a deep hole might be too tough to come back from.
9:07 PM I've seen a TON of tweets that the Jets are finally putting their best foot forward, the Steelers are defeeting the Jets, etc. Which raises the question, are these jokes getting old/unfunny by now? What's the official expiration date on them? These are the things I wonder.
9:08 PM Sanchez to Edwards for 18 yards to the New York 42, followed by another ad for the Pro Bowl as we close the third quarter. Good God.
9:11 PM ....And another Sanchez completion, this time to the Pittsburgh 39.
9:13 PM The customary deep throw to Edwards misses, followed by a quick bubble screen to Cotchery for six yards. 3rd-and-4 at the Pittsburgh 33, 13:53 remaining and this is 4-down territory if I've ever seen it.
9:13 PM First down to Keller. Impressive drive as the Jets continue to move the chains.
9:15 PM And Mark Sanchez..... with a 6-yard run!?!?! Very few times will I have the chance to type that.
9:16 PM Shonn Greene gains two yards (and gets leveled), which sets up a 4th-and-1 from the Pittsburgh 18 with 11:19 left. Game-changing play upcoming. By the way, "Shonn" being pronounced "Shawn" is right up there with Wade spelling his name "Dwyane" and pronouncing it "Dwayne."
9:17 PM And the Jets drive the Steelers off the line of scrimmage for two yards and a critical first down. Somewhere in New Jersey, Joe Russo is smiling.
9:19 PM After a botched snap makes it 2nd-and-18 from the Pittsburgh 24, two play calls by the Jets I liked: Draw to Shonn Greene (down to the PIT 8) followed by a bubble screen to Cotchery (which always seems to at least get some yards). 1st-and-goal from the two-yard line, 8:39 left.
9:21 PM One run and two incomplete passes sets up fourth down. Simms was begging for the run and I totally agree. Why not four straight runs from the two-yard-line with Greene who just ran over Ryan Clark? Would that have made too much sense?
9:22 PM Tomlinson runs into a wall on fourth and gets stopped at the one-yard-line, and there's a good chance that this game just ended. I can't be talked out of the fact that four straight runs would have scored a TD.
9:23 PM Nearly eight minutes taken off the clock and the Jets don't close the deficit, shades of last week's New England drive.
9:25 PM Steelers take over a foot away from their own goal line. BBBAAALLLLLLLL! Roethlisberger tries a QB sneak, botches the snap, and recovers in the endzone for a safety. 24-12 PIT, 7:44 remaining.
9:26 PM This game immediately jumps ten spots on the "Excitement Meter" if the Jets recover that ball. The safety doesn't change much because the Jets still need two touchdowns with less than eight minutes to go. Seven was needed in this sequence.
9:26 PM Also, why do so many teams try the QB sneak in that situation? It's a waste of a play because you're not going to move the ball more than one-two yards. Why not run your normal offense?
9:28 PM Simms still harping on the Jets not running the ball at the end of the last possession. One of the things I'll never understand.
9:29 PM A 22-yard pass to Edwards to the Pittsburgh 36 starts off the Jets drive after the safety. Sanchez then rolls up on Nick Mangold's leg on a broken play, but he is able to walk off.
9:31 PM Dr. Pepper commercial with Fergie. Let's just move on.
9:32 PM Jets convert their second 4th-and-1 in the past six minutes. This time, it's Sanchez to Edwards on a slant in a play that worked perfectly against the Bears in Week 16. New York at the Pittsburgh 17, 4:55 remaining.
9:35 PM And a touchdown pass to Cotchery on 2nd-and-goal from the Steelers four cuts the deficit to 24-19. 16 unanswered points for the Jets as a missing persons report has been filed for the 11 players on the Pittsburgh offense. And I'd officially like to thank Mark Sanchez, the Jets defense, Shonn Greene, Rex Ryan and Jerricho Cotchery for saving this running diary!
9:38 PM Important kick return by Antonio Brown out to the Pittsburgh 41. Even if the Steelers don't get a first down, the Jets will need to go the length of the field from inside their own 20 to punch their ticket to Dallas.
9:41 PM After a short first down run, Pittsburgh calls a pass and Roethlisberger completes it to Miller for 14 yards and into Jets territory, New York timeout. Liked the aggressive call; too many teams run the ball three times and punt with too much time left in the game.
9:45 PM After two, two-yard runs by Mendenhall, 3rd-and-6 for the Steelers from the Jets 40. First down ends the game. The Jets have no timeouts, and I think everybody in the free world was surprised when Roethlisberger lined up with five wide receivers. Rather than give the Jets 40 less seconds to try and drive at least 80 yards for a game-winning touchdown, Pittsburgh calls for a pass. As he's done throughout his career Big Ben buys time, and then some more time, before finding Brown for the clincher. While everyone will be talking about Roethlisberger in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, he didn't play well at all (10-19, 133 yards, 2 INT, 2 others that should have been intercepted). But there were a couple of plays in this game (buying time, scrambling, this last play) where his value showed.
9:47 PM A couple of kneel downs and the Steelers are heading to their eighth Super Bowl. On the final kneel down, Mendenhall gives Big Ben the first-ever Victory Hump. You know, because that's how you usually celebrate AFC Championships.
9:51 PM Did all the emotion the Jets put into the New England game have an effect? How can you account for a Pouncey-less offensive line accounting for 130+ rushing yards in the first half? How can you account for such a poor first half, in general. Pittsburgh is too good a team to be able to come back from a 24-3 deficit in one half. But say what you want about the Jets, they've impressed the hell out of me this postseason. Wins on the road against Indianapolis and New England. Down 24-0 late in the 2nd quarter in front of a hostile crowd. 90 minutes later, and it's 24-19 as Sanchez is over 200 yards with two touchdowns and no picks. Really can't say enough about that.
9:55 PM Now it's on to Dallas, and I'm prepared for my Dad to list all the reasons the Packers will lose. (A classic glass half empty fan). My thoughts on Super Bowl XXXLVVMIII? (Other than the fact that I really need to brush up on my Roman numerals): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJshw2Axsqc&feature=related#t=01m05s
