Steelers hold off late Jets’ rally to win 24-19 & advance to Super Bowl..
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on January 23, 2011
A valiant second half comeback attempt by the New York Jets fell just short, as the Pittsburgh Steelers won 24-19 to advance to their 3rd Super Bowl in the last 6 years.
The Steelers started the game with a brilliant opening drive, as they went 66 yards on 15 plays in 9:02, as Rashard Mendenhall’s 1-yard touchdown run gave them the early lead.
Ben Roethlisberger then drove the team 60 yards in just 3:41, as Shaun Suisham’s extra-point like 20-yard field goal put Pittsburgh up 10-0 with 6:51 remaining before halftime.
Roethlisberger got into the act with a 2-yard touchdown run, as that made it 17-0 with exactly 2 minutes to go before the half.
Ike Taylor made a key defensive play on the Jets’ next offensive series, as his fumble was recovered by William Gay & returned for a 19-yard touchdown to give the Steelers a commanding 24-0 lead.
Mark Sanchez led a 44-yard, 7 play drive in 59 seconds to set up Nick Folk’s 42-yard field goal, which gave Pittsburgh a comfortable three-touchdown lead heading into the locker room for halftime.
The Jets then started their comeback in the third quarter, as Sanchez hooked up with ex-Steeler Sanantonio Holmes for a 45-yard touchdown to make it 24-10.
Pittsburgh would end up making a crucial goal-line stop with 7:44 left in the 4th quarter, as LaDainian Tomlinson’s 4th & Goal try was stuffed.
On the very next play, Ben Roethlisberger recovered his own fumble in the end zone for a Jets safety, which now made it 24-12.
Sanchez then led the Jets on a 58-yard, 10 play drive that ended with Jerrico Cotchery’s 4-yard touchdown catch, which pulled New York to a 24-19 deficit with 4:32 left.
Ben Roethlisberger made sure Sanchez wouldn’t get another chance to touch the ball again, as his 14-yard completion to Antonio Brown on 3rd & 6 from the Jets’ 40 clinched the win & will now send Pittsburgh to their 3rd Super Bowl in the past 6 years.
Rashard Mendenhall made up for Ben Roethlisberger’s poor outing (1o of 19 for 133 yards with 2 interceptions for a 35.5 rating) by rushing for 121 yards against the NFL’s 3rd ranked defense, as the Skokie native is getting ready to appear in his first ever Super Bowl.
The win means that Pittsburgh will face Green Bay in Dallas, TX on February 6th in Super Bowl XLIV, as the Steelers look to capture their 3rd different Vince Lombardi trophy in the last 6 years.
