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Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 Sports Editor Margaret Gallardo, 546–6360, [email protected] Two to tango in Texas Steelers dominate first half, then hold on

By Barry Wilner Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberg- er and the Steelers found a fitting way to shut down the New York Jets’ season. What started with “Hard Knocks,” ended with hard knocks. For the third time in six seasons, Ter- rible Towels will twirl at the , where the Steelers will meet Green Bay after silencing Rex Ryan’s wild bunch in a 24-19 victory for the AFC championship Sunday. Look out Big D, here comes another Big D — in black and gold, and with an unmatched history of carrying off the Lombardi Trophy. The Steelers (14-4) also will challenge the Packers, who are 2Â-point fa- vorites, with a versatile attack led by their quarterback and running back Rashard Mendenhall. The defense, led by James Harrison, had a fumble return for a touchdown and a goal-line stand that shut down the Jets’ comeback in the fourth quarter. It will certainly test in the title game in Dallas on Feb. 6. GENE J. PUSKAR / ASSOCIATED PRESS That smothering defense set the tone New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, right, breaks up a pass intended for Mike Wallace during the AFC for most of a frigid night at Heinz Field Championship game in Pittsburgh on Sunday. to end the Jets’ stunning postseason run. Ryan slammed down his headset when Antonio Brown caught a pass for a first down that allowed Pittsburgh to Rodgers, Green Bay eliminate Chicago hang on and run out the clock. “It’s not always pretty with us,” Roethlisberger said, “but we do the By Chris Jenkins job.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Super Bowl XLV The Steelers ended the Jets’ season with a dominant first half for a 24-3 CHICAGO — There was one Mon- •Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. lead. Mendenhall had 95 of his 121 yards ster of the Midway in the NFC champi- . and a touchdown. onship game and his name was Aaron •When, where: 4:28 p.m. Feb. 6, “We played a good half. We never Rodgers. Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, played a good game, and that was the He wasn’t even at his best and, still, Texas. difference,” Ryan said in a postgame in- he was better than terview with CBS. “You get to this •On TV: FOX. SCORE the first, the second point, you’ve got to play a great game and the third quar- •National anthem: Christina against a great opponent and we played terback used in vain Aguilera. a good half and that was it.” by the •Halftime show: Black Eyed Peas. At game’s end, Roethlisberger knelt 21 on the field, his face buried in an AFC against their bitter ri- •Cost of 30-second commercial: PACKERS championship T-shirt. vals. $2.8-$3 million. Rodgers ran for a “I’m going to enjoy this,” he said. score and made a No one had to ask what he meant. 14 TD-saving tackle in •Packers defense key to Roethlisberger sat out the season’s BEARS leading the Green victory 4C first four games for violating the NFL’s Bay Packers into the •Pittsburgh’s Roethlis- personal conduct policy — an out- Super Bowl with a bone-jarring 21-14 JIM PRISCHING / ASSOCIATED PRESS berger comes up big 4C growth of a college student’s accusa- victory Sunday over Chicago. Green Bay defensive tackle B.J. Raji crosses the goal line for a tions that he sexually assaulted her in “It’s an incredible feeling,” Rodgers touchdown after intercepting Chicago’s Caleb Hanie during the NFC Georgia last March. The quarterback said. “I’m at a loss for words.” Championship Game in Chicago. Now the Packers (13-6) are headed to was never prosecuted over what was Rodgers played well enough to keep Dallas. And no matter what happens in the second such set of allegations the Bears off balance all afternoon, Packers’ superb defense took care of It was the 182nd meeting in the the Super Bowl on Feb. 6, the Packers against him. Green Bay Tim Masthay kept the rest in knocking the Bears out of the league’s most historic feud, and the Devin Hester under wraps and the playoffs. stakes had never been bigger. Please see Green Bay 4C Please see Steelers 4C

Horse racing: El Paso Times Stakes TODAY AT Angel At Home impressive in victory elpasotimes.com

By Felix Chavez Larry Spraberry and Carol EL PASO TIMES Chappell of Anson, Texas. LIVE “Angel At Home has been SUNLAND PARK — In three training well,” winning trainer previous starts, Angel At Home Johnnie Nall said. “She came in showed plenty of potential in ready for this race. Enrique did CHAT winning two of three races. a great job on her. He showed a On Sunday, the 3-year-old lot of patience and just rode a Chat live with UTEP Texas-bred daughter of Seeking smart race.” senior guard Randy a Home and Missy Cherub ral- Paloma Mesa, who was 2-for- Culpepper at 2 p.m. lied to win the 6Â furlong, 2 heading into the race, got Tuesday on elpaso- $50,000 El Paso Times Stakes bumped at the start and also times.com. Culpepper, race for 3-year-old fillies in im- made a big push for the lead on the Conference USA pressive fashion at Sunland Park the rail in the stretch run, but Player of the Year, re- Racetrack and Casino. could not hold off Angel At cently moved to third MARK LAMBIE / EL PASO TIMES Angel At Home was three Enrique Portillo Gomez rode Angel At Home to victory in Home. place on Conference lengths back and in fifth place the $50,000 El Paso Times Stakes on Sunday at Sunland “I thought Paloma Mesa ran a USA's all-time scoring list. We welcome your halfway through the race, but Park Racetrack & Casino. great race,” said Nancy Sum- under a very smart ride from mers, who rode the second- questions for Culpep- Enrique Portillo Gomez, Angel place finisher. “We didn’t get a per during the hour- At Home found an opening and through and my horse had plen- mination.” break start to the race. We just long chat. burst through to edge Paloma ty left,” Gomez said. “It was a Angel At Home, who won the couldn’t hold of the winner.” Mesa by a neck. great win. Angel At Home race in 1:18.33, earned $30,000 “I was able to finally get showed a lot of heart and deter- for owners Bonnie Spraberry, Please see Angel 3C