HEAD COACHES HERMAN EDWARDS of Jets (DB, 1977-85) & Pittsburgh’s BILL COWHER (LB, 1983-84) were teammates with Philadelphia Eagles. Last time former teammates met in playoffs as head coaches: SAM WYCHE (Cin.) & JACK PARDEE (Hou.) in 1990 AFC Wild Card (Cin., 41-14). Both played for Redskins from 1971-72……Game features 2 of NFL’s top 5 all-time leading rushers: Jets’ CURTIS MARTIN (4th, 13,366) & Steelers’ JEROME BETTIS (5th, 13,294). Game also features AP Offensive (BEN ROETHLISBERGER, QB, Pitt.) & Defensive (JONATHAN VILMA, LB, NYJ) Rookies of the Year.

JETS: Team encountered greatest strength of schedule (.543) among all clubs in 2004 Playoffs. Club advances to AFC Divisional Round for 2nd time in past 3 yrs under Edwards. Since Edwards became head coach in 2001, Jets have best turnover edge in NFL (+39). Last week, Edwards became 1st coach to lead team to road playoff win since 1982 (WALT MICHAELS). Cowher-led Steelers last lost 1st playoff game in 1993 AFC Wild Card at KC when NYJ’s Edwards was Chiefs’ DB coach……QB CHAD PENNINGTON threw 2 TD passes last week at SD in AFC Wild Card for club-record 6 career playoff TD passes, surpassing RICHARD TODD (4) & VINNY TESTAVERDE (4). Pennington’s 47-yd TD pass last week to SANTANA MOSS was his longest TD pass of season……NFL All-Star & 2004 league rushing champion CURTIS MARTIN (1,697) rushed for 166 yards & 3 TDs in 1996 AFC Divisional Game vs. Steelers (w/ NE). Martin has 8 rush TDs in 9 career playoff games. Martin did not fumble in 2004 – 3rd season in career he did not fumble (1999, 2002). Martin is Pittsburgh native, attended Taylor-Allerdice HS & played at U. of Pittsburgh. Last wk vs. Chargers (No. 3 in NFL vs. run), RB LA MONT JORDAN rushed 7 times for 50 yds (7.1 avg.) w/ long of 19. Jets rushed for 2nd-most yards in club history in 2004 w/ 2,388 (2,646, 1979)……WR JUSTIN MC CAREINS caught career-high 8 passes last week. In 2002 AFC Divisional vs. Pitt, McCareins (w/ Titans) caught passes on consecutive plays in OT to set-up game-winning FG. WR Moss had 4 catches of 16+ yds last week w/ 1 TD……Defense finished 2004 4th in NFL points allowed (16.3) as Pittsburgh was 1st (15.7). S ERIK COLEMAN became 1st NYJ rookie to record 4 INTs since ERIK MC MILLIAN (4, 1988). DE SHAUN ELLIS recorded 1.5 sacks in Wk. 14 at Pitt. CB DONNIE ABRAHAM & S REGGIE TOUNGE both recorded INT in Wk 14.

STEELERS: Team has won franchise-record 14 games in row. Steelers are 15-2 all-time vs. Jets & 6-0 vs. NYJ in Pittsburgh. Club is 11-6 (.647) in Divisional games since 1970. Under Cowher, team is 7-4 in playoffs at home & has won at least 1 playoff game in 6 consecutive postseasons……Rookie QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER (No. 11) is 1st QB in history to win 1st 13 NFL starts & is 4th Steelers player to earn AP Offensive Rookie of Year, 1st since WR LOUIS LIPPS (1984). His passer rating (98.1) is seasonal best in club history & is best by rookie in NFL history, surpassing DAN MARINO (96.0, 1983). Led NFL in 4th qtr passer rating (118.5), 4th qtr comp. pct .(76.9) & 4th qtr yds/att. (9.17)……Bettis led team in rushing for 8th time in 9 seasons in 2004. Had career-high 13 rush TDs, 1 shy of tying club record (FRANCO HARRIS, 14, 1976). RB DUCE STALEY averaged 4.3 yds per carry in 2004 on 192 rushes……Pro Bowl WR HINES WARD is 1st Steelers WR named to 4 Pro Bowls. Has reached 1,000 receiving yds in past 4 yrs to be 1st Steeler to reach 1,000 4 yrs in row. Has catch in club-record 104 consecutive regular season games. WR PLAXICO BURRESS finished w/ 2nd-highest receiving avg. in NFL among players w/ 30+ catches (19.9)……All-Star LB JAMES FARRIOR was Jets’ 1997 1st Rd. draft pick. Led team w/ 118 tackles & had 5 FFs & 3 FRs. Farrior’s 4 INTs tied NFL-best for LB in 2004. DE AARON SMITH led team w/ 8.0 sacks in 3-4 base defense. All-Star S TROY POLAMALU led team w/ 5 INTs & finished 3rd on team w/ 96 tackles. CB WILLIE WILLIAMS lone player from ‘95 Steelers, who won AFC Championship.

HEAD COACHES BILL BELICHICK (37) of New England & Indianapolis’ TONY DUNGY (34) are 2 of 3 winningest coaches since 2002 when Dungy joined Colts (ANDY REID, Eagles, 37). Teams meet again after kicking off 2004 NFL regular season on Thursday, Sept. 9 at Gillette Stadium.

COLTS: Head coach Dungy is only NFL head coach to defeat all 32 teams. With victory, Dungy returns team to AFC Championship for 2nd consecutive season. Team’s 49 points last week set club postseason record……Last week vs. Denver, Pro Bowl QB PEYTON MANNING passed for 360 pass yds in 1st half for most passing yds in any half of playoff game since 1970, surpassing 338 by NYG QB KERRY COLLINS in 1st half of 2000 NFC Championship win vs. Vikings. Voted NFL’s 2004 MVP by Associated Press. Manning (457) passed for 2nd-most yards in single-game postseason history & most in non-OT playoff game. Manning now has 3 300+ playoff passing games. Manning can become 1st QB in NFL postseason history to post 2 career streaks of consecutive 300+ yds. Including playoffs, Manning has 10 games w/ 3+ TD passes on season……Colts are 34-6 (.850) when All-Star RB EDGERRIN JAMES rushes for 100+ yds. Posted AFC-best 2,031 scrimmage yds in 2004. In 2003 AFC Championship vs. NE, James had 78 rush yds on 19 carries (4.1 avg.) w/ 1 TD……All-Star WR MARVIN HARRISON is NFL’s all-time leading receiver for 1st 9 seasons of career w/ 845 catches; No. 2: JERRY RICE (708). WR REGGIE WAYNE caught 10 passes for 221 yds last week for 3rd-highest single-game playoff total in NFL history. Wayne’s 221 yds set club postseason record, surpassing HOF WR RAYMOND BERRY (178 yds at NYG, 1958 NFL Championship). TE DALLAS CLARK caught 6 passes for 112 yds w/ 1 TD last wk vs. Denver……All-Star DE DWIGHT FREENEY led NFL w/ 16.0 sacks. Had 1.0 sack & 4 tackles in Wk 1 vs. NE. DE ROBERT MATHIS posted 10.5 sacks, 6 FFS & 3 FRs in 2004. CB NICK HARPER recorded INT of NE’s Brady in Wk 1.

PATRIOTS: Head coach Belichick is 6-0 in playoffs w/ Patriots. Club has won 29 of past 31 games, including playoffs. Team started 40 players in 2004 en route to 14-2 record, AFC East title & No. 2 seed in AFC playoffs. Patriots’ 14-2 record ties the best record for defending Super Bowl champion. Since 1993, NE is 20-2 (.909) when kickoff temperature is 35°F or colder……QB TOM BRADY is 6-0 as playoff starter & owns best win. pct. of .774 (48-14) among active QBs w/ 16+ starts. Brady is 7-0 in OT games as starter & owns all-time longest streak of OT wins by QB w/o 1 career defeat. Team is 24-0 when Brady posts 100.0+ passer rating. Brady is 18-2 (.900) in games decided by 6 points or less……RB COREY DILLON rushed for career-high & club-record 1,635 yds. Dillon tied club record for most 100+ yd games in season w/ 9 (CURTIS MARTIN, 9, 1995). Posted 7th-best career rush total at Colts (164) on 10/6/02 (w/ Cin.)……WR TROY BROWN caught 17 passes & tallied 17 tackles on defense as DB. Among players w/ 40+ receptions, WR DAVID PATTEN finished 3rd in NFL in yds-per-catch (18.2). Patten & TE DANIEL GRAHAM tied for team-lead in TD catches (7). WR DAVID GIVENS became 1st NE player to post 4 100-yd rec. games in season since TERRY GLENN (1999). Givens recorded 1st down on 47 of 56 receptions (83.9 pct.) w/ 14 receptions of 20+ yds……LB WILLIE MC GINEST (11.5) needs 3.5 sacks to surpass BRUCE SMITH (14.5) for most career playoff sacks in NFL history.  McGinest will surpass REGGIE WHITE (12.0) for second place all-time with 1.0 sack. McGinest notched 1.0 sack for 12-yd loss in Wk. 1, forcing Colts to attempt 48-yd FG to tie game, which missed. LB TEDY BRUSCHI had 3 FFs in 2004, 2 recovered by NE teammates & returned for TDs.