January 2012 AFC CHampionship Game.....#2 Seed STEELERS vs #1 Seed PATRIOTS.....Big BEN vs TOM.....STEELERS #1 Rated D vs PATS #3 Rated O

It's late JANUARY and it's the same TEAMS battling out for a TRIP to Super Bowl 46 in NAPTOWN Indiana. The STEELERS are looking to be the 1st TEAM since the early 1990's Marv Levy led BILLS Teams to have a return trip back to a SUPER BOWL after losing the previous Super Bowl.

The PATRIOTS on the other are looking for a little retribution after finally getting over the hump of not winning a PLAYOFF Game since 2007. The PATS have home field advantage since they are the #1 Overall Seed in the AFC and the STEELERS come in at the #2 Seed having a 13-4 Record including Last Week's Win over the COLTS and the PATS take a 15-2 including their win over a GAME CHIEFS Squad last week as well.

Now we have the MATCH-UP everyone has been looking for in the AFC since that OCTOBER 30, 2011 meeting in the 'BURGH where the STEELERS beat the PATRIOTS 28-24.

Late January 2011.......FOXBORO MASS....the BIG RAZOR Blade....GILLETTE Stadium......Temps...34 Degrees sunshine....and no SNOW in the Forecast.

#2 STEELERS @ #1 PATRIOTS.........1st GAME of CHAMPIONSHIP Sunday

The STEELERS win the Coin Flip....and decide to defer and the PATS will take the kickoff in the 1st half.

STEELERS kick to start the game and of course it is a TOUCH BACK. PATS Ball 1st and 10 at their own 20. Tom Brady in shotgun formation with TRIPS right and they hand off to RB Woodhead for no gain. Later in the series at their own 43 after 2 1st downs....BRADY tries to go to TE GRONKOWSKI with ILB TIMMONS on him and it's broken up. PATRIOTS punt the ball to the STEELERS 15 1st and 10 STEELERS.

1st Play from scrimmage The Steelers go off tackle to RB Mendenhall who breaks free and is still going and has WR Brown and Wallace out their with him and goes 85 yards for the score and just like that 7-0 STEELERS. Just like during the season....you can't run at the Middle of the PATS with WILFORK and HAYNESWORTH but you can run around those two fellas and the STEELERS did for a Score.

The PATS get the ball the next possession and it's 3 and out again. The STEELERS field the punt at their 36 1st and 10. The STEELERS waist no time again as they use Shotgun formations and march right down into the RED ZONE on the PATS....1st and Goal for the STEELERS at the PATS 9. They go 2 downs and it's 3rd and goal at the PATS 4. Steelers have WALLACE and BROWN wide on both sides and they run a fake hand off and reverse to find TE Heath MILLER in the back of the end zone for a 14-0 score and the 1st qtr is in the BOOKS......14-0 STEELERS and the PATS Faithful are stunned.

The 2nd qtr the PATS get to moving the ball as they use TE Hernandez and WR Ochocinco to get deep into STEELERS territory. Then BRADY and the PATS runs Reverse Screen to GRONKOWSKI and he goes 26 yards for the score and we have a ball game 14-7 STEELERS.

The STEELERS get the ball and RB Mendenhall gets rolling again as he gets the ball up to PATS territory on their 45 yards line. Next play BIG BEN is sacked by Pro Bowl ILB Jared MAYO for a loss of 10. Next play Big BEN is in the pocket runs out no....back into the pocket then runs left squares his body up and Steeler WR GO GO SANDERS #88 has broken his route an is sprinting all the way across the field towards BEN'S Side...BEN heaves it all the way into the ENDZONE.......wait......did he catch it.......YES....TD Steelers 21-7 and the PATS really have their work cut out.

The rest of the half neither team get anything going and the halftime score is 21-7 STEELERS and you would have to think the STEELERS will get that running game going and just play smash mouth D as the PATS will have a tough hill to climb with the STEELERS getting the ball after the half.

The 2nd Half start and just like BELICHEK was hoping the STEELERS would go 3 and out.....they use 9:28 off the play clock in the 3rd to get a 27 yard SUISHAM FG and go up 24-7...........just in.....PATS are on the CLOCK for their season.

Next PATS Possession.......it's 3rd and 8 from the their own 32 and you know the STEELERS are coming and BRADY snaps the ball and the STEELERS only bring 3 .........8 drop back PATS have a SCREEN CALLED just as the old WISEMAN HOF Player and Coach LeBEAU had thought....and BRADY throws a PASS about 30 yards to a covered OCHOCINCO....and the ball is picked off by STEELERS Safety Ryan CLARK....he runs it back fifteen yards into PATS territory to the 47.

Fan start booing......CELTICS are in a LOCKOUT...defending Stanley Cup Champs Boston BRUINS are in the middle of the PACK in the conference in POINTS...and the STEELERS control this one.

Big Ben and Company then take all the time off the 3rd QTR Clock and it's 1st and goal for the STEELERS at the PATS 2. The SNAP.....MENDENHALL over the G KEMOATEAU.....TD......31-7.....the PATS go onto get a SCORE late......onside kick it....and the STEELERS and Head Coach Mike TOMLIN go back to their 3rd Super Bowl in 5 years......a DOMINATING Performance for the Men form the 'BURGH.

FINAL SCORE...........STEELERS 31....PATRIOTS 14.......and Belichek mumbles something to TOMLIN and COACH T grabs him and say you have a helluva team......GET YOUR A** HOME.

STEELERS now wait on the NFC Winner between the SAINTS and PACKERS rematch from Opening night September 8th 2011....that saw the PACKERS take care of Business 34-24......but this time it will be different.