Steelers cool Jets to reach Super Bowl

NFL: The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl after beating the New York Jets 24-19 to win …

NFL:The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl after beating the New York Jets 24-19 to win the AFC Championship. Earlier on Sunday, the Packers beat the Chicago Bears 21-14 to win the NFC title.

The Steelers raced into a 24-0 lead with Rashard Mendenhall opening the scoring with a one-yard run to complete a 66-yard drive which took more than nine minutes off the clock.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger then ran in the second touchdown himself from two yards on another 66-yard drive, although this one took just seven plays and less than four minutes.

And the game already looked lost for the Jets when William Gay recovered a fumble from quarterback Mark Sanchez and returned it 19 yards for a third Steelers' touchdown.

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Nick Folk at least got the Jets on the scoreboard with a 42-yard field goal before half-time and the visitors made a dramatic start to the third quarter to threaten a comeback.

Sanchez connected with Santonio Holmes on a 45-yard touchdown pass to reduce the deficit to 24-10, but the Jets then crucially failed to punch it in from the one-yard line after a long drive.

They did tackle Roethlisberger in the endzone for a safety and then made it 24-19 with a touchdown from Jerrico Cotchery, but Pittsburgh were able to run out the clock to cling on for the win.

The Packers led 14-0 after dominating the first half and a belated Bears fightback failed to pay dividends as the visitors reached the fifth Super Bowl in their history.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers ended a flawless first drive by looping round from the one-yard line for a rushing touchdown and James Starks' four-yard run doubled the lead early in the second.

Chicago were unable to get their offense moving in the first half - they made just six first downs and their longest drive ended at 35 yards - and were lucky to trail only 14-0. Their task was further complicated as quarterback Jay Cutler re-emerged limping due to a knee injury.

Defensive talisman Brian Urlacher tried to spark the Bears into life as he intercepted Rodgers on third-and-goal and looked set to return the pick for a touchdown until Rodgers partially redeemed himself by making the tackle.

Todd Collins came out in Cutler's place but was replaced by third-string Caleb Hanie before the end of the third quarter. And the third-year pro made an impact, sending Johnny Knox inside the one-yard line with a 32-yard play before handing off to Chester Taylor to pound the ball home and cut the deficit to seven.

But Hanie was picked off by the hulking BJ "The Freezer" Raji, who converted the first interception of his career into his first touchdown. Chicago were not finished, though, and Hanie hit Earl Bennett for a 35-yard touchdown at the end of a quickfire 81-second drive.

But Sam Shields' second interception of the game ended the comeback and ensured the George Halas trophy and a trip to Arlington for Green Bay.