Here we are with our beloved Steelers just one win away from playing for their unprecedented, seventh Super Bowl championship. There's just one thing that came to my attention that keeps me from thinking about this team actually making it to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas, though.
Right after the New York Jets advanced past the New England Patriots to cement their place in the AFC Championship Game, someone brought to my attention how much this year's version of the Jets resembles our Super Bowl XL team in 2005. Then I saw Bart Scott's interview on ESPN.
It was those two instances that struck fear into my soul about this Sunday. This Jets team, in fact, does have multiple similarities with our 2005 edition of the Steelers. This is why this team scares the hell out of me.
They Like To Talk
This isn't news to NFL fans this year. The Jets like to run their mouths. They feel they're the best team in the league and they let everyone know about it. They've been jawing since they were on HBO's Hard Knocks in training camp.
The first similarity that came to my mind after seeing Bart Scott spout off about how the Patriots defense couldn't stop a nosebleed, was that of Joey Porter. For the 2005 Steelers, Porter was the team's emotional and vocal leader. The Jets don't just have Scott when it comes to vocals. There is plenty more where that came from.
They've Been Here Before
The Jets are coming off of an AFC title loss to the Indianapolis Colts just last year. The 2005 Steelers returned to the same game that season, just a year removed from being bounced by the Patriots in blowout fashion.
In 2005, the Steelers steamrolled the No. 2 seed in the Denver Broncos. Here, once again we have the sixth-seeded Jets squaring off against the No. 2 seeded Steelers. Will history repeat itself?
Big Ben vs Mark Sanchez
When the Steelers won in 2005, Ben Roethlisberger was in his second NFL season. The victory in Super Bowl XL made him the youngest quarterback ever to win the championship. Mark Sanchez isn't exactly putting up the offensive numbers that Roethlisberger was that post season, but he's getting the job done and has proven he knows how to win in January just like Roethlisberger can with his record of 4-1, which I might add is entirely on the road.
Roethlisberger's playoff record currently stands at 9-2, and 2-1 in AFC title games, so Pittsburgh still might have the advantage.
The Jets' Road Might Have Been Tougher
With their win on Sunday, the Jets became just the second team to oust both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in consecutive weeks. The last time it occurred was in 2002. You can argue that Manning might not be playing at his peak at this point in time, but that feat is still hard to fathom, yet accomplish.
In 2005, the Steelers were able to roll past the top three seeds in the AFC which included the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and the aforementioned Broncos. Ironically, those three teams still can't admit the Steelers beat them.
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