AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

NEW ENGLAND (15-2) at PITTSBURGH (16-1)

* Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.

* TV: Channel 2.

* New England update: The Patriots are on a defensive roll, having surrendered only 17 points in their last three games and only three to the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense in last Sunday’s victory over the Colts. In his last two games against Pittsburgh, Tom Brady has thrown for 565 yards and five touchdowns.

* Pittsburgh update: Rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says there’s nothing wrong with the thumb on his throwing hand, even though it was rumored to have bothered him in last week’s victory over the New York Jets. Duce Staley, who rushed for 125 yards in the victory over New England on Oct. 31, is expecting a heavier workload than he got against the Jets.

* The story line: Will the Patriots reach the Super Bowl for the third time in four seasons, or will the Steelers finally make the most of their home-field advantage?

* The pick: New England. The Steelers haven’t been at the top of their game in a few weeks, and struggling teams don’t tend to get better against the Patriots.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--* NE PITT Points scored 27.3 (4) 23.2 (11) Points allowed 16.2 (2T) 15.7 (1) Pass offense 224.2 (11) 170.0 (28) Rush offense 133.4 (7) 154.0 (2) Total offense 357.6 (7) 324.0 (16) Pass defense 212.5 (17) 177.2 (4) Rush defense 98.2 (6) 81.2 (1) Total defense 310.8 (9) 258.4 (1) Take/Give +9 (8) +11 (6) 3rd-down pct. 45.1 (5) 42.9 (6) Time of poss. 31:22 (7) 34:00 (1) Penalty yards 51.4 (5) 51.4 (6)

*--*

Regular-season statistics; league rank in parentheses

-- Sam Farmer