The Pittsburgh Steelers have dominated the first 30 minutes of the AFC Championship Game thanks to running back Rashard Mendenhall, who has helped host Pittsburgh to a 24-3 halftime lead over the the New York Jets. The winner advances to play in Super Bowl XLV, Feb. 1, against the NFC Champion Green Bay Packers in Dallas, TX.
Jets’ kicker Nick Folk scored the only New York points by nailing a 42-yard field goal, which capped a seven-play, 44-yard drive with less than a minute to go in the half.
Unfortunately for the Jets, Mendenhall has already rushed for 95 yards on 17 carries and scored the games’ first TD, which helped Pittsburgh lead 7-0. Pittsburgh took a 24-0 lead after Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez was sacked, on New York’s third possession of the third quarter, then fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Steelers defensive back William Gay, who ran 19 yards for a TD to make 24-0.
The Steelers scored on it’s first two possession of the second quarter. Kicker Shaun Suisham nailed a 20-yard field goal to cap a eight-play, 60-yard drive, which made it 10-0. The next Pittsburgh drive went seven plays and 66 yards and ended when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ran in from two yards out and helped give Pittsburgh a 17-0 advantage with less than six minutes to play.
So far, the Jets have complied just 50 total yards -- just one by rushing -- to Pittsburgh's 231. New York will need a historical comeback -- one we’re hoping for at SB Nation New York -- if they want to advance to the Super Bowl.