Steelers storm into title game

THE Pittsburgh Steelers survived a fourth-quarter charge, and a late fumble, to upset the Indianapolis Colts 21-18 and advance to the AFC championship game last night.

Colts field goal kicker Mike Vanderjagt missed a 46-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining that would have tied the game after a dramatic late Jerome Bettis fumble gave the home team renewed hope.

The Steelers, who will face the Denver Broncos for the conference title and a berth in the Super Bowl on February 5, rolled to a 14-0 first-quarter lead and their defence put Colts quarterback Payton Manning under heavy pressure until late in the game.

Manning finally got his offence moving in the fourth quarter and the Colts grabbed two touchdowns and a two-point conversion to pull within three.

The New England Patriots’ bid to win three straight Super Bowls came to an end as they were beaten 27-13 by the Denver Broncos in their AFC divisional showdown.

Champ Bailey intercepted a pass from two-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady in the endzone and returned it 100 yards to break open a tight defensive battle in the Broncos’ favour. The Patriots could find no answer to Denver’s strong defence and they were punished for a series of fumbles and interceptions that allowed the home side to ease to victory.

Winning their first play-off game since their Super Bowl success under John Elway in 1998, the Broncos took advantage of five New England turnovers, breaking the Patriots’ NFL-record 10 consecutive post-season wins.

Bailey’s interception came as the Patriots were trailing 10-6 but driving deep into Denver territory late in the third quarter.

The All-Pro cornerback wrestled the ball away from Troy Brown and sprinted down the sideline before being knocked out of bounds at the Patriots’ one-yard line.

Mike Anderson scored on the next play to give the Broncos a 17-6 lead and they never looked back.