Five questions for AFC title game

More: NFC title game questions

The tables turn a bit on the New York Jets as they make their second return engagement of the playoffs, returning to Pittsburgh after playing there in Week 15 of the regular season.

In a 22-15 victory last month, the Jets limited Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger(notes) to 23 completions on 44 attempts, a 52.3 completion percentage. That was his worst of the season. However, that game was heavily influenced by a Jets kickoff return for a touchdown and a safety. Oh yeah, and both safety Troy Polamalu(notes) and tight end Heath Miller(notes) were out for the Steelers.

Then again, after erasing the memory of a 45-3 loss to beat New England on Sunday, the Jets don't seem to care much about the past and what it's supposed to mean. With that in mind, here are the questions and issues to consider in the AFC championship game:

1. Having mentioned Roethlisberger's performance in that game, can the Jets somehow slay their third straight Super Bowl-winning QB?
Give the Jets a lot of credit to adapting to a completely different way of playing in the postseason after being such a blitz-happy team for most of two seasons under Rex Ryan. Now, they are playing a lot more coverage, often dropping eight people into coverage and occasionally bringing a fourth rusher only after forcing the quarterback off his first read. That was very effective against Peyton Manning(notes) and Tom Brady(notes) and should be really interesting against Roethlisberger, whose specialty is extending plays and waiting for the coverage to break down. Considering that Steelers wide receivers Mike Wallace(notes) and Emmanuel Sanders(notes) combined for 14 receptions in that game, the Jets need to be on top of their game.

2. OK, but the Jets got really lucky in that first game didn't they?
While it's not usual for a team to get nine points in a game off a kickoff return and a safety, the Jets were also pretty good at moving the ball on the Steelers defense. Five of New York's eight possessions went at least eight plays and were for 44 yards or longer. By comparison, Pittsburgh had nine drives with four going for longer than 50 yards. Among those were impressive drives of 96 and 82 yards. In other words, both teams are capable of at least changing field position in some significant way, which could be enough in what figures to be a low-scoring, defensive battle.

3. Is this the point where Sanchez finally lets his nerves get the best of him and he turns back into a pumpkin?
There are clearly plenty of moments when Jets QB Mark Sanchez(notes) looks like he's not ready for what he's doing. In the first half against New England, he missed two wide-open receivers on plays that could have put the Jets in scoring position. In the playoffs, you usually don't survive that. However, aside from a pick late in the first half that denied New York points against the Colts, Sanchez has generally managed to avoid the really big interceptions and fumbles that plagued him all of last year and much of this season. While it would be nice to see him come a little farther a little faster, his 4-1 record in the playoffs can't be ignored because, of course, that's the bottom line.

4. Aside from Roethlisberger, who is the most critical player in this game for the Steelers?
Well, the easy answer is Polamalu, who didn't play in the first game and allowed the Jets to be functional on offense. A decent case could also be made for Miller, whose presence can open up the middle of the field for the Steelers and raise Roethlisberger's completion percentage. Really, though, the guy who can really help is running back Rashard Mendenhall(notes), who was extremely effective (17 carries, 100 yards, one touchdown) in the first game. Mendenhall's play allowed the Steelers to win the time of possession battle. But the real key is that Mendenhall, unlike the New England running backs, has the ability to break long runs and take the Jets out of what they want to do defensively.

Edwards celebrates Sunday's win.
(Michael Heiman/Getty Images)

5. On the flipside, who needs to play lights out for the Jets?
Without question, wide receivers Braylon Edwards(notes) and Santonio Holmes(notes) need to be at their best in this game because the Jets must get at least two or three big plays in the passing game to be able to score enough to win. Right now, Edwards is playing so well that the Jets may be forced to keep him this offseason. As for Holmes, he can't have any more motivation than he has right now to play well. He's coming off a game in which he had another great catch at a key moment and is returning to Pittsburgh, the home of his first team – the same team that gave up on him this past offseason.