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Rex Ryan and the New York Jets have not been shy about providing interesting quotes and controversial material in the days leading up to their playoff games.

First it was Ryan and all his comments about the showdown with Peyton Manning being "personal." Then it was Antonio Cromartie saying he hatesTom Brady and Bart Scott bashing the Pats defense after Sunday's AFC divisional.

Now, Ryan has something to say about the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers team's opponent in the AFC Championship Game.

According to ESPN.com, Ryan said "They've had six Super Bowl trophies....If they want to put them on the field, we will play them, too."

Ryan remains supremely confident that it will be his team that contends for this year's Super Bowl trophy.  

"I can assure you we are going to play well and I can assure you that team [Pittsburgh] is going to get everything we have just like always. We know what's at stake. We want the [AFC championship] T-shirt, we want the hat and we want the trophy. So I don't know what else I need to say."

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Chicago Bears defenders have a tall task in front of them if they hope to reach Super Bowl XLV. The league's hottest quarterback is coming to town. In two playoff starts this season, Rodgers has carved up the Eagles  and Falcons defenses for 546 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. 

That order is going to be even more difficult if linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa and safety Chris Harris aren't healthy enough to play Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.

Tinoisamoa is recovering from a knee injury and although he was able to play last week against the Seahawks, he missed practice on Wednesday. He did return Thursday. 

Harris, who recorded 70 tackles and led the team with five interceptions, has been dealing with a hip pointer and missed practice on Wednesday as well. 

Both are listed as questionable for Sunday's game. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Jason Taylor, the Jets, six-time pro bowl defensive end has been cleared to play for Sunday's AFC Championship Game in Pittsburgh. 

Last week in the Jets 28-21 road upset of the top-seeded New England Patriots, Taylor suffered a concussion but according to head coach Rex  Ryan, "he has passed the test so we are ready to roll."

After more than a decade with the Dolphins, a disappointing season with the Washington Redskins and a return to Miami, Taylor signed with Miami's arch rival, the Jets. 

In his first season, Taylor recorded 36 tackles and five sacks and posted a critical tackle-for-loss that resulted in a safety the last time the Jets played the Steelers at Heinz Field, back in Week 15. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Troy Polamalu missed the Steelers-Jets regular season game with an Achilles injury. 

But despite missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday, he returned today and is expected to be on the field Sunday in the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field. 

Pittsburgh cornerback Bryant McFadden, however isn't as much of a certainty. 

The sixth-year cornerbeack from Florida State (in his second stint with the Steelers) suffered an abdominal injury in the playoff victory last week against Baltimore.

If McFadden is  unable to play, William Gay will take his place. And Will Allen, a special teamer and reserve safety was also injured in the 31-24 win over the Ravens, and is likely out for the remainder of the postseason with a knee injury. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Dave Wannstedt didn't need long to head back to the AFC East. 

The former Pitt Panthers head coach, who resigned in early December, will take over the defensive coordinator's job for the Buffalo Bills, according to FoxSports.com. 

Prior to leading the Panthers to a 42-31 record and two bowl appearances, Wannstedt spent six years with the Miami Dolphins, the last five as head coach. He was the Dolphins defensive coordinator under Jimmy Johnson in 1999.

Although he led the Bears to a 1994 playoff spot as head coach, Wannstedt's most successful tenure as a coach was as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys from 1989-92, winning Super Bowl XXVII in his final season.

Ironically, he will now take over the defense for the franchise that Cowboys team defeated (the Bills) in that Super Bowl. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Dick Jauron has a new job for the fifth time since 2003.

The former head coach of the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears has left his post as defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles to return to the role of defensive coordinator, this time for the Cleveland Browns.

Jauron was the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator from 2004-05, but he made his name in the NFL while serving that same post with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1995-98, where the Jaguars reached the playoffs three consecutive seasons. 

The Browns hired Jauron, a week after naming former St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur as their new head coach.

From 1992-94, Jauron worked under the Browns team president, Mike Holmgren when he was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Chris Simms, the Titans reserve quarterback and son of Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil Simms, will go to trial for his arrest last summer.

According to the Associated Press, Simms was not granted a plea bargain for his July arrest of driving while high on marijuana. 

A trial date has been set for March 1 and Simms could face a $1,000 fine and/or a year in jail if convicted of the misdemeanor.

Although Simms denied admitting to the police that he was high, according to a New York Post article, he "reeked of marijuana and had red eyes, a flushed face and slurred speech." No marijuana was found in his possession, however.

Simms was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccanneers in the third round of the 2004 draft and has played for the Bucs, Broncos, and Titans, posting a 7-9 record as a starter. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

Mike Tomlin video shows a coach not happy with a reporter. That's not terribly original. Except for this reason. 

Tomlin rightfully believes that ESPN's Bob Holtzman divulged  "inside information" prior to the Steelers game last week against Baltimore.

"What extra time and preparation does it take to prepare for a Rex Ryan defense?" Holtzman asked during a press conference.

"It depends on whether or not you gave him my play," Tomlin responded.

Holtzman said this prior to Pittsburgh's victory over the Ravens.“Two Steelers have told me, if they catch the Ravens in the right defense, they have a trick play ready to go today that they’ve never run before.”

Many people around the league and media think Holtzman used poor judgment in reporting that. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Joe Namath is a legend in New York City sports lore. The Jet quarterback was an icon for over a decade and led the franchise to it's greatest victory in their half-century of existence.

But Namath, a native of Beaver Falls is also a legend in Western Pennsylvania.

Yet despite those Pittsburgh-area roots, Namath has declared his allegiances to his former team this Sunday: 

"I'm the one Namath rooting for the Jets," he said this week. "I might be the only person from western Pennsylvania pulling for the Jets."

"My entire family is for the Steelers. My sister told me, 'Joey, we love you, and if you were on the field we'd be pulling for the Jets, but you're not going to be on the field, so we're pulling for the Steelers like the rest of the family.'"

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Brad Smith returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown last time the Steelers and Jets met. That 97-yard return was a critical moment in the 2010 Jets season. They absolutely needed a victory in Week 15 and Smith's touchdown provided a spark from the very outset. 

But Smith, who has scored three touchdowns this season for New York and operates their Wild Cat offense, is nursing an injury this week. 

Although he practiced with the team all week, Smith did not play in the Jets 28-21 road upset of the top-seeded New England Patriots because of a groin injury.

According to ESPNNewYork.com, Smith will definitely return kicks for the Jets on Sunday, but there has not been any indication whether or not he will play offensive snaps. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Mark Sanchez and Ben Roethlisberger have quite a bit in common. 

Both were early first round picks in their respective drafts. Both were rookie, somewhat care-taker starters on teams that advanced to the AFC Championship Game, a game they ultimately lost.

And while Roethlisberger guided his team to three road playoff wins and a Super Bowl victory as a second-year starter, Sanchez has the chance to repeat that same feat. 

Sanchez didn't have great passing numbers (19-of-29, 170 yards) when the defeated the Steelers at Heinz Field in Week 15. But he did score a critical rushing touchdown in second and the Jets converted half their third and fourth down attempts. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Ike Taylor and Santonio Holmes may be good friends. After all they were teammates together for four seasons, frequently facing one another in practice.

But Taylor has no qualms about putting a nice hit or two on his former teammate this weekend in the AFC Championship Game.

"Friends off the field, yes," Taylor said this week. "But in between them lines, it's about that time, it's about business."

"I'm not going to hesitate to lay him out. No question at all. You know why? Because he ain't going to hesitate to crack on me if he gets a chance."

Taylor, who has been a staple of the Steelers defense since 2005, is a free agent at the end of the season. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Packers-Bears predictions mostly revolve around Aaron Rodgers and how many yards he'll rack up and touchdowns he'll throw for against a very good Bears defense.

But it's the play of the other quarterback in this matchup that is truly going to determine the NFC representative in Super Bowl XLV.

Jay Cutler has had moments of brilliance this year (an excellent game in the win over the Jets) and moments that left thousands of Bears fans yelling at the television (four interceptions against the Redskins, all to the same player!).

In his third meeting this season against the NFC's best defense, his play will be paramount. Cutler is agile enough to avoid pressure in the pocket, which he'll need to do against the NFC's leader in team sacks. He wasn't able to do that in their last meeting: the Packers sacked him six times and the Bears lost. 

That number was cut in half in the Week Two showdown and the Bears won. If they can limit the pass rush this week, they'll reach their second Super Bowl in five years.

Prediction: Packers 23, Bears 20 (OT)

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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Steelers-Jets predictions usually center around low scores and great defense. 

But don't be surprised to see plenty of points on the scoreboard.

Last week, the Jets surprised everyone with by defeating the top-seeded Pats, and although their stats weren't overwhelming (and the Pats defense "couldn't stop a nose bleed") they did score points almost every time they needed to, including touchdowns right before the end of both halves.

The Steelers turned out offense as well, and against an outstanding Ravens team.

Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers on four touchdown drives and two that resulted in field goal attempts.  And although they scored just 17 points, the Steelers did rack up 377 yards of offense in their Week 15 meeting against the Jets at Heinz Field.

Prediction: Steelers 33, Jets 27

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History

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NFL playoffs are down to the Final Four.

The Steelers and Jets are meeting for the second time in six weeks. Back on December 19, the Jets—desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive—traveled to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and left with a nail-biting 22-17 victory over the Steelers. 

The NFC Championship showdown is one of even more familiarity. The Bears topped the Packers 20-17 at Soldier Field back in Week Two, then the Packers returned the favor with a 10-3 win in the regular season finale at Lambeau Field. 

Even Super Bowl XLV could end up being a rematch as well. The Jets played both the Bears and Packers in 2010, losing both games, 9-0 at home to Green Bay and 38-34 on the road against Chicago. 

For more on the NFL, see NFL Playoffs: 25 Worst Turnovers In Postseason History