NFL Playoffs

AFC Matchups

N.Y. JETS AT PITTSBURGH

* When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m., Channel 2.

* Story line: Fresh off an upset victory over San Diego, can the Jets keep it going against the hottest team in the NFL?

* Matchup memories: The Steelers beat the Jets a month ago, 17-6, getting a pair of touchdowns from Jerome Bettis, who ran for one and threw for another. Even though New York out-gained the Steelers, 296 yards to 262, it couldn’t take advantage of two interceptions thrown by Ben Roethlisberger. The Jets have never won in Pittsburgh and have beaten the Steelers only twice in 17 meetings -- and those two victories came during Pittsburgh’s worst seasons in 35 years. In fact, New York has scored only 12 points -- all on field goals -- in its last two games against the Steelers. Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher has yet to say which running back he plans to start Saturday, Bettis or Duce Staley. The game pits the offensive rookie of the year, Roethlisberger, and the defensive rookie of the year, Jet linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

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INDIANAPOLIS AT NEW ENGLAND

* When: Sunday, 1:30 p.m., Channel 2.

* Story line: Peyton Manning is 1-5 against teams coached by Bill Belichick. Can the league’s most valuable player buck that trend and keep the Colts rolling toward the Super Bowl, or is he doomed to repeat his abysmal performance in last season’s AFC championship game?

* Matchup memories: Last January, Manning had four of his passes intercepted by the Super Bowl-bound Patriots, who knocked him around and kept him winless at Foxboro, Mass. Now Manning returns with a more lively lineup, a trio of 1,000-yard receivers and a running back in Edgerrin James who’s gobbling up yards the way he did in his first two NFL seasons. These teams met in this season’s opener, and New England’s Tom Brady was the star quarterback in that showdown, throwing for 335 yards and three touchdowns. The Colts hung tough, though, and kept things close before losing, 27-24 Mike Vanderjagt missed a 48-yard field-goal try that might have tied the score. It was his first miss in 43 attempts.

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NFC Matchups

ST. LOUIS AT ATLANTA

* When: Saturday, 5 p.m., Channel 11.

* Story line: The Rams have won three in a row, the Falcons have lost two in a row. Was Atlanta smart to rest its players heading into the playoffs, or will that lack of momentum catch up to the Falcons?

* Matchup memories: With their wild-card victory at Seattle, the Rams became the first 8-8 team to win a playoff game. Now they’ll try to keep it going against an Atlanta team that stomped St. Louis, 34-17, in Week 2. Michael Vick ran for 109 yards in that game, and the host Falcons out-rushed the Rams, 242 yards to 30. Atlanta also had four sacks in that game, two by Patrick Kerney. The victory ended Atlanta’s seven-game losing streak to the Rams. The week off was critical for the banged-up Falcons, who definitely could use the time to get Alge Crumpler healthy. The Pro Bowl tight end sat out the last two games of the regular season because of a sprained knee. He’s a favorite target of Vick and is essential to Atlanta’s postseason plans.

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MINNESOTA AT PHILADELPHIA

* When: Sunday, 10 a.m., Channel 11.

* Story line: Emboldened by a convincing victory at Green Bay, the Vikings strongly believe they not only can hang with the Eagles, but can beat them. How much will the loss of Terrell Owens hurt Philadelphia, which has lost the conference title game three seasons in a row?

* Matchup memories: In Week 2, Minnesota lost at Philadelphia, 27-16, in a game the Vikings believe they should have won. They do have a point, considering they had the ball for 38 minutes, finished with 410 yards and blew two chances for touchdowns from the Philadelphia two. Each team punted only once, and both quarterbacks had flashes of excellence. The night really belonged to Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb, though, who completed 37 of 47 passes for 343 yards. He doesn’t have Owens this time around. And Minnesota receiver Randy Moss, who wasn’t much of a factor in the first game, is coming off a two-touchdown game at Green Bay.

-- Sam Farmer