Jets Fan: The Steelers came back last week after being down two touchdowns. What did they do differently in the second half that allowed them to come back against the Ravens?

Donald Starver: Turnovers were the key to that game.  At this point in the season, all of the teams that are left are good.  VERY good.  So teams can't afford to make mistakes.  And turnovers are the biggest mistake that a team can make. 

In the first half, the Steelers turned over the ball multiple times, and the Ravens capitalized on it.  In the second half, the exact opposite happened.  In the 2nd half, the Ravens turned the ball over multiple times, and the Steelers took advantage of their mistakes.

I'm certain that Mike Tomlin has spent all week emphasizing how critical turnovers can be in a game like this.  He's probably told the offense to protect the ball, and the defense to try to take the ball.


JF: Ben Roethlisberger always seems to convert key 3rd down plays. What is it about him and their passing game that allows him to be successful in these key situations?

DS: Big Ben is different than any other quarterback in the league.  In some ways that's good, and in some ways that' bad. 

Because of Ben's size, he's more willing to take physical punishment that a smaller or less durable quarterback would try to avoid.  That's the bad aspect of Ben.  He takes a lot more sacks than most of the top notch quarterbacks in the league.  He holds onto the ball in situations where Brady, or Brees, or Manning would throw the ball away to avoid a sack.

But the good side of that aspect of Ben is that it allows him to make plays that no other quarterback in the league can make.

When he needs to, Ben gets out of the pocket, and he translates the game into an old-fashioned game of sandlot football.  The Steelers receivers know that when Ben starts scrambling, it's time for them to start freelancing.  Just like when they were kids playing on the sandlot.  The problem (for Steelers' opponents) is that even the most elite cornerback (like Darrelle Revis) can't cover a receiver for 6-10 seconds.

Steelers fans have learned to accept Big Ben as he is.  That means we get more sacks than most fans want to see their quarterback take.  But it also means that we get to see Ben make some amazing plays at just the right time.


JF: Troy Polamalu has been hindered by Achilles and ankle injuries late in the season and does not appear to have his normal burst. Is that still the case and do you think he is healthy enough to make an impact in this game?

DS: Troy can definitely have an impact on the game.  But he is not 100% healthy.  The Steelers' coaches have kept him out of practice for most of the week to give him more time to heal.  But Steeler Nation will be saying a collective prayer for Troy's health throughout the course of the game.

Despite this, Troy at 80% is better than just about any other safety in the game.


JF:There are some good match ups in this game. Which one would you rate as the most critical in determining the outcome of this game?

DS:The biggest match-up is going to be between the Jets' defensive line and the Steelers' offensive line.  The Steelers' offensive line has been an injury-riddled group all season.  We have had to use every available offensive lineman several times this season.  Last week's game against the Ravens was an example.

Despite the rampant injuries, the Steelers' offensive line has played well enough to take us to the AFC Championship game.  Hopefully, they have two good games left in them.


JF:Break down this game for us. What does each team need to do to prevail?

DS:The Steelers just need to play their game, and they should prevail.  The last time the two teams met, the Steelers were without several key players.  Troy Polamalu and Heath Miller were both missing from the game in December.  Both will play on Sunday.  That's bad news for the Jets.

Even in their depleted state, the Steelers held Mark Sanchez to just 170 passing yards.  They held LaDainian Tomlinson to just 49 rushing yards.  Had it not been for a kickoff that was returned for a touchdown and a safety, the headlines from the December game would have been about how thoroughly the Steelers' defense shut down the Jets.

So the Steelers simply need to do what they do.

The Jets, on the other hand have no chance of prevailing in this game.