Quarterback Mark Sanchez has helped the New York Jets shrink their deficit to the host Pittsburgh Steelers, who lead 24-10 at the end of three quarters in the AFC Championship game. The winner advances to play in Super Bowl XLV, Feb. 1, against the NFC Champion Green Bay Packers in Dallas, TX. On the Jets' first possession of the first half, Sanchez connected with wide receiver Santonio Holmes on a 45-yard touchdown pass, which cut the 24-3 hafltime deficit to 14 points.
The Jets, which will start the fourth quarter with the ball on it's own 42-yard line, scored on the fifth play of the second half. However, New York couldn't do much more on offense as they still trail by 14 points with just 15 minutes to go in the game. So far, Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards has one catch for 18 yards; Holmes has caught two balls for 61 yards; tight end Dustin Keller has three catches for 21 yards. Running back Shonn Greene has 30 rushing yards on four carries while teammate running back LaDainian Tomlinson has just seven yards on four carries.
The Steelers had two possessions in the third quarter but did not score. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ended Pittsburgh's first drive of the third quarter with an interception to Jets defensive back Brodney Pool, who ran the ball to the Jets' 14-yard line. The next Pittsburgh possession ended in nine plays and resulted in a punt.