ROUND 2 AT HEINZ

Rex and Roethlisberger will be focal points in tonight’s rematch

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

If there’s a bigger-than-life coach, it has to be Rex Ryan. His outsized personality and outlandish comments — maybe not so absurd given what Ryan’s New York Jets have achieved — draw notice no matter the situation.

If there’s a bigger-than-most quarterback, literally and figuratively, it has to be Ben Roethlisberger. Not only because he’s 6-foot-5, 241 pounds, larger than some linebackers and stronger than nearly everyone else at his position, but because his credentials on the field and troubles away from it have been, well, so noticeable.

Ryan’s loud and proud Jets (13-5) face off with Roethlisberger’s fearless Steelers (13-4) tonight for the AFC championship. Even though both teams are blessed with playmakers galore, the centerpieces will be the bombastic coach and the controversial quarterback.

Better have a huge spotlight.

“You thought last week was emotional and all that,” says Ryan, referring to a 28-21 victory at New England that improved his postseason record as Jets coach to 4-1 and lifted his team into its second straight AFC title game. “Just wait until this week.”

This week, after his team beat Peyton Manning and the Colts, then Tom Brady and the Patriots, it’s all about Roethlisberger. This AFC championship game is Roethlisberger’s fourth in seven seasons, and he owns two Super Bowl rings.

But he’s never had a year like the last one, making as many headlines away from the game as he usually does with his playmaking skills.

Roethlisberger was accused in March of the sexual assault of a 20-year-old college student, but a prosecutor in Georgia declined to bring charges. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Roethlisberger for four games to start the 2010 season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

The Steelers organization, among the most respected in sports, was incensed by Roethlisberger’s behavior. Pittsburghers were torn about supporting him, noting that Manning and Brady never betrayed their fans’ trust in such a way.

What did Roethlisberger do? Apparently, he grew up.

And he kept winning.

“The great thing is that was so long ago I forgot all about it,” he says. “Right now it is not about living in the past for me. It’s about here and now and this game.”

Ah, the game. Guess what the game could come down to: Ryan’s defensive mastery against Roethlisberger’s offensive creativity.

Both of them know it, too.

“Literally everything, from their coverages to their blitzes to rushing two guys and getting sacks,” Roethlisberger says of the challenge the Jets present. “They can go into Indianapolis and beat Peyton Manning and go to New England and beat Tom Brady, who are the best two quarterbacks in the game in my opinion. I don’t know how I have a chance.”

Don’t buy it. He’ll have plenty of opportunities. The Steelers are 4-point favorites to avenge their 22-17 loss to the Jets at Heinz Field on Dec. 19, when Roethlisberger drove Pittsburgh deep into New York’s red zone before throwing two incompletions at the end. Before that win, the Jets were 0-6 in the Steel City. Pittsburgh didn’t have safety Troy Polamalu or tight end Heath Miller for that one; both will play tonight.

The Steelers also won’t flinch in the pressure cooker that is the last step to the Super Bowl. For Roethlisberger, Polamalu, Hines Ward, James Harrison, James Farrior and many others, this isn’t new territory. It’s where they expect to be.

“It doesn’t change. The goal every year is to win the championship and this year is no different even if we have two under our belt,” Farrior says. “We have guys around here who have never played in a playoff game, or championship game, and we want them to experience that feeling of winning.”

The Jets haven’t played for the biggest prize since Joe Namath guaranteed it 42 years ago.

“The fact we’re playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers with about as rich of history as there is in this league, as far as having Super Bowl success, playing them at Pittsburgh, we know it’s going to be a huge challenge for us,” Ryan says.