After avenging the humiliating 3-45 defeat at New England during Week 13 with a 28-21 AFC Divisional Round on the road win, the NY Jets will now seek revenge for the AFC Championship game defeat suffered last season against a new rival: the Pittsburgh Steelers that got rid of Baltimore by 24-31.

While the Vince Lombardi Trophy waits at the Cowboys Stadium for February 6, day that the new 2010-11 NFL season champion will claim it, the AFC prepares to unveil on Sunday 23rd at the Heinz Field who their Super Bowl XLV representative will be. For the second season in a row the NY Jets have earned their right to dispute the AFC Championship game, where their previous season came to an end. As for their opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, it will be their first chance to reedit the 2008-09 season run that ended with the Vince Lombardi Trophy in their hands.

To go back to the last time that these two teams played against each other it is not necessary to go through a lot of search, since that took place this season on Week 15, game that was won 22-17 on the road by the NY Jets. That victory represented the fourth for the Jets in all-time series against the Steelers, team that has the lead with 16 wins. Those 20 games report only one postseason confrontation, which took place in 2005 for the AFC Divisional Playoff game, and was won in the overtime 20-17 by Pittsburgh.

It was until 2003 that things began to take a new direction for the Jets in games versus the Steelers. Prior to that year they had only defeated the Steelers once out of 14 confrontations. Since that year they have played each other fives times -including the AFC Divisional Playoff game- with three wins for the Jets. If the Jets defeat them this time, it would not only represent their third straight win against the Steelers, but also the first Conference championship in franchise history.

The Steelers will be receiving a team that is thirsty for revenge, revenge that hasn't been quenched by the 17-16 wild card win against the Indianapolis Colts (team that defeated them in the AFC Championship game last year by 17-30), nor by the 28-21 Divisional Playoff triumph against the New England Patriots (franchise that stole the AFC East title from them this year and also humiliated them 3-45 during the regular season) that gave them access to the Conference Championship. Now head coach Rex Ryan and his guys will have another shot to prove what they are made off, and continue with their dream of winning the first championship ring for the franchise since Super Bowl III.

After the Wild Card bye -that clinching the AFC North gave them- the Steelers began the postseason against the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs with a home win by 24-31. When it comes to the Steelers, nothing but a physical game can be expected, and versus the Jets there will be no exception to the rule.

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