AFC Championship Game Recap and NBA Picks

AFC Title Game Recap: Pittsburgh 24, NY Jets 19
The Steelers came out of the gates firing on all cylinders with a great combination of short passes and inside running plays. Pittsburgh drove 66 yards on 15 plays eating up over 9 minutes of clock on the game's opening possession. RB Rashard Mendehall capped the drive with a 1 yard TD run coming on his 8th carry of the drive making the score 7-0. The Pittsburgh offensive line had their way with the Jets on this drive and much of the first half. The Steeler defense was also sharp in the first half holding the Jets to 1 yard of net rushing on the ground in the first 30 minutes. An absolutely incredible feat considering that the Jets came into the game averaging over 148 yards on the ground in the regular season (4th highest in the NFL). With the NYJ running game held in check, the passing game led by QB Mark Sanchez struggled as well. The Jets only had four first downs in the first half and three of those came on Pittsburgh penalties. On the other hand, Pittsburgh dominated possession in the first half with two more long drives of over 60 yards resulting in a short 20-yard field goal and a Roethlisberger TD scramble making it 17-0 with under two minutes to go in the half. The Jets were unable to pressure Big Ben or stop the running game. Mendenhall had over 100 yards rushing in the first half on the NFL's 3rd ranked rush defense, while Heath Miller and Emmannuel Sanders added big catches for first downs keeping the Jet defense off balance. The play of the game and spread buster came on 3rd down when Pitt DB Ike Taylor blitzed and sacked Sanchez forcing a fumble that was returned 19 yards for a TD by William Gay putting Pittsburgh up 24-0.
The Jets would rally in the second half behind Sanchez and a rejuvenated defense. Sanchez finally found his way with the short passing game to TE Dustin Keller (8 rec-64 yds) and WR Jerricho Cotchery (5-33, TD). WR Santonio Holmes made a phenomenal 45-yard TD catch in the third quarter against his former team but only finished with one other grab. In the end the Jets came up a touchdown short even though they shut out the Steelers in the second half, 24-19. The big drive of the game came at the beginning of the fourth quarter, when the Jets had first and goal at the Steeler 2 yard line and failed to score on a couple of runs up the middle and ill-advised passes.


What we learned: The Pittsburgh Steelers can hurt you in a lot of ways. Their running game can carry the load and Roethlisberger can move the chains with short passes. If that's not enough, the defense can generate turnovers and score as well. The Steelers lost Pro-Bowl Center Maurkice Pouncey to a high ankle sprain and might miss the Super Bowl, his backup Lagursky had problems and even caused a safety with a fumbled snap in the fourth quarter following the big fourth down stop of Tomlinson. Something to watch for in the upcoming weeks before the Super Bowl. The Jets were able to shut down the Steelers in the second half when they crowded the line of scrimmage and forced Big Ben to throw the ball deep. Ben had some receivers open but was unable to locate them, even throwing a interception when Sanders was open down field. Hines Ward has lost a step to say the least and the Jets were able to shut down Mike Wallace with safety help. The Jets played their hearts out but were unable to come back down 24 points. They needed one more big play, like the Steelers got from Taylor and Gay on the sack/fumble at the end of the first half. That was the difference. Next season, the Jets will be dangerous because Sanchez will continue to improve and Shonn Greene should develop into a more complete running back. Our picks Pittsburgh (-3.5) and the Over 38.5 came through nicely.

**Opening Line for the Super Bowl is Green Bay (-2.5) vs Pittsburgh and the Over/Under 44.5

NBA Tonight:
1. Game of the Night has to be Clippers at Dallas (-6). The Clippers should be without star guard Eric Gordon with a hurt wrist. The Clipps are also 3-13 on the road and Dallas has been playing much better since getting Dirk Nowitzki back from injuries. The Mavs are the Big Pick!!
2. The Lakers (-7.5) are at home vs the Jazz, who are on a dreadful road trip losing 4 in a row. Look for the Lakers to jump all over the Jazz. Go Lakers!

---I am on the way to the Lakers Game right now, we need a W!

**There is a small slate of games tonight but a lot of games tomorrow.