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AFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES
NEW ENGLAND AT PITTSBURGH SUNDAYIN AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMESUNDAY, JANUARY 27NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS-AFC EAST (12-5) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS-AFC CENTRAL (14-3)SERIES
2001 STAT LEADERS
NOTES
CLUBS MEET FOR THIRD TIMEin playoffs……Visiting team has won 5 of past 9 AFC Championships......AFC Central represented in game for seventh time in past 8 years & AFC Central club hosts second AFC Championship Game in three years (Jacksonville, 1999)……Game features 2 of AFC’s 3 All-Star QBs (New England’s TOM BRADY & Pittsburgh’s KORDELL STEWART).
PATRIOTS: Have won their past 2 AFC Championship Games (1996, 1985)……Won first AFC East title since 1997…… New England 10th team in NFL history to overcome 0-2 start to win division. Past two clubs to accomplish (1996 Patriots, 1993 Cowboys) went to Super Bowl……Had 6 more wins than last season – tied with 49ers for second-most in NFL (Bears, 8)……Since 1993, New England has won 13 of past 17 games (3-1 in playoffs) when temperature is 36 degrees or less……Patriots have had two of past 4 weeks off (Wild Card bye & Week 16 bye)……Club tied for NFL-high seven consecutive victories (St. Louis)……QB TOM BRADY 12-3 as starter. Brady had NFL 2001 playoff-high & club playoff record 312 passing yards vs. Raiders (238 in second half)……N.E. 8-1 when RB ANTOWAIN SMITH has TD run. Patriots 4-0 when Smith rushes for 100 yards……WR TROY BROWN had club-record 101 catches. TE JERMAINE WIGGINS had team playoff-record 10 catches vs. Raiders in Divisional Playoff……K ADAM VINATIERI has club-record 40 career playoff points. Vinatieri (9 playoff FGs) needs 1 FG to break TONY FRANKLIN’s team mark. Vinatieri (OT FG in Divisional Playoff) 6 of 7 all-time in OT FGs……Red-zone defense (38.8 TD pct.) tops in AFC. Defense has allowed 2 TDs in last 11 red-zone trips……Pats have 2 AFC All-Stars (Brady & S LAWYER MILLOY).
STEELERS: Club plays in 11th AFC Championship Game – second-most in conference (Raiders, 13). Pittsburgh needs win to match Raiders for AFC-most 23 playoff wins. Aims to tie Denver for AFC-most sixth Super Bowl……Won 13 games for first time since 1978 (14 in SB XIII title season)……Steelers are AFC’s top seed for fifth time (1994, ’92, ’78, ’75) since 1975 (first year homefield was awarded based upon won-loss record)……Pittsburgh in fourth AFC Championship Game in past 8 years under coach BILL COWHER. Club has also won AFC Central title 6 times in Cowher’s 10 seasons……Steelers’ 21 turnovers tied for fewest in AFC (Jets, Seahawks)……Pittsburgh 14-6 all-time (.700) in home playoff games. Steelers have won past 6 home games & are 8-1 at Heinz Field……QB KORDELL STEWART top AFC vote-getter in A.P. MVP voting. He has won 18 of past 22 starts. He has 5 TDs in 8 career playoff games…… Ground game (173.4) tops NFL. Club has NFL-high 34:10 avg. possession time. RB JEROME BETTIS has 317 rushing yards (two 100s) & 3 TDs in 4 career playoff games with Steelers & needs 164 yards to pass ROCKY BLEIER for second-most rushing yards in team playoff history (FRANCO HARRIS; 1,556). RBs CHRIS FUAMATU-MA’AFALA & AMOS ZEREOUE (63 rush yards & 2 TDs vs. Ravens) have combined for 574 rushing yards in Bettis’ absence over past 6 games……Steelers had first-ever season with two 1,000-yard receivers (PLAXICO BURRESS; 1,008 & HINES WARD; 1,003) & were one of 3 AFC clubs with two 1,000-yard receivers (Jax., Oak). Burress (32-yard TD reception vs. Ravens) has 5 TD catches in past 5 games. Ward had club record 94 catches……Steelers had NFL’s No. 1 total defense (258.6) & No. 1 run defense (74.7). Club held Ravens to 22 rushing yards and 2.0 avg. in Divisional Playoff……LB KENDRELL BELL named A.P.Defensive Rookie of the Year. He has 6.0 of his NFL rookie-high 9.0 sacks at Heinz Field……LB JASON GILDON (1 sack & 1 FR vs. Ravens) has 6.0 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FR & 1 FR-TD in past 5 games……Red-zone defense held Ravens to only 3 points in 3 trips inside 20 in Divisional Playoff……Steelers have 4 AFC All-Stars – Stewart, Bettis, Gildon & G ALAN FANECA.
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