Some interesting and fun facts and stats about the game yesterday, as well as some figures about individual and team success in the playoffs. Most come from the Steelers website.
* The Steelers 7th Super Bowl appearance is 2nd most in NFL history, trailing only the Dallas Cowboys' total of 8 appearances.
* A win however would give Pittsburgh it's 6th Lombardi Trophy - one more than the Cowboys and 49ers, who both currently are stuck on 5 titles.
* The Steelers who their first home AFC Championship Game since Heinz Field was errected in 2001.
* Hines Ward, who had to leave of course in the 2nd quarter of yesterday's game, still eclipsed the 1,000 yard plateau in his long and illustrious playoff career as a member of the Steelers. Ward finished with 3 catches for 55 yards, giving him 74 receptions for 1,021 yards in the playoffs in just 13 games.
* Hines also extended his streak of catching at least two passes in every playoff game in his career. I sure wouldn't mind seeing him add some extra polish to that Hall of Fame worthy resume of his with a huge performance in the Super Bowl.
* The victory improved the franchise's postseason record to 30-20 (.600)
* The Steelers improved to 8-0 all time against divisional foes in the playoffs (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Oilers)
* Ben Roethlisberger hit 8 different receivers yesterday. You can use that stat as part of the reason why S Ed Reed was not at all involved in the game yesterday. Ben wasn't staring anybody down. Great stuff.
* LaMarr Woodley now has 6 sacks in just 3 playoff games. Woodley joins elite company...wait, scratch that..Woodley becomes the 1st player in NFL history to have three straight multi-sack playoff games.
* Santonio Holmes seems to be emulating Hines Ward's playoff success. He has scored a TD in three straight playoff games.
* Ben Roethlisberger improved to 7-2 in his career in the playoffs, joining Troy Aikman (7), and Tom Brady (9) as the only three quarterbacks in league history with at least 7 playoff wins in their first 5 professional seasons.