NFL Playoff Predictions – AFC Championship Game

Well football fans, the real ones that appreciate low scoring defensive battles in the bitter cold, this Sunday is for you. It’s the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers in a showdown for the AFC Championship and the right to play in Super Bowl XLV, with NFL Playoff Predictions coming in on both sides. It’s actually a little hard to keep the excitement in check as this is about as good as it gets.

Both Pittsburgh and New York have gone through adversity to get here, the Jets having already won two road games against two very good football teams, while Pittsburgh came all the way back from 21-7 down to beat the Ravens. The difference is, the Steelers have been playing at home while the Jets have been on the road for three straight weeks now, something that has to take a toll on all the players involved.

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New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Heinz Field – Pittsburgh, PA)

Sunday January 23rd – 6:30 PM ET

TV: CBS

The Steelers also had that extra week off thanks to clinching the second seed and a first round bye. That seems like a long time ago now as both teams played last week, but when you get to this point in the season and you’re body just doesn’t recover as quickly as it did in the first few weeks, all those little things add up. Pittsburgh got to practice at home and didn’t have to get on a plane, they’re in their own beds, which may sound trivial, but athletes are fickle creatures and something like that can make a huge difference. When making an NFL Playoff Prediction, home field advantage is a huge factor. Heinz Field is a tough place to win, and to do it twice in one season is almost unheard of, which only strengthens the case for Pittsburgh in my opinion. 

NFL Playoff Predictions:

New York Jets +160

Pittsburgh Steelers -3 ½, -190

Total – 38 ½    

There is also a little wild card factor that I haven’t mentioned yet that really makes this Steelers team a different monster. Troy Polamalu, the Pro Bowl free safety is likely to return on Sunday against the Jets, and that gives this team a huge boost, both emotionally and physically. We’re talking about one of the most dynamic defensive players on the football field, and in a game that figures to be won on that side of the football, he can single handily change the outcome of this football game.

If Pittsburgh is able to make some plays on defence, setting up Big Ben with some short fields, the Steelers will win this football game. They are just built to win on January, with an outstanding defence and a quarterback that does nothing but win big games. If Rashard Mendenhall is able to break loss for a couple big runs and they can slow down Mark Sanchez and the Jets, my NFL Playoff Prediction should come true as I think they cover with ease. 

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