The Pittsburgh Steelers, with the win over the Baltimore Ravens, booked a ticket to the AFC Championship on Saturday evening. With the score tied at 24 just before the two-minute warning, Ben Roethlisberger hit a streaking Antonio Brown, setting Pittsburgh up with first and goal at the two yard-line. Three plays later, after two unsuccessful runs, Rashard Mendenhall found the end zone, giving the Steelers a seven-point lead with 1:30 to go. The defense held, aided by a T.J. Houshmandzadeh drop, and the Steelers walked away with a 31-24 comeback win.
The Steelers win sets half the AFC bracket, with the Patriots and Jets game deciding the other half on Sunday. Here’s the rest of the AFC schedule and bracket, culminating in next Sunday's AFC championship game.
Sunday, Jan. 16
New England Patriots vs. New York Jets, 1:30 p.m. on CBS
Sunday, Jan. 23
AFC Championship
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Patriots/Jets, 3:30 p.m. on CBS.
For the AFC Championship, the highest remaining seed will host the game. Should the Patriots beat the Jets on Sunday, New England would host the championship. If the Jets beat the top-seeded Pats, the Steelers will have home-field advantage.
Next up in the Saturday playoff bonanza, the Atlanta Falcons take on the Green Bay Packers on Fox.