NFL: Pittsburgh 24, New York Jets 19

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Cornerback William Gay returned a fumble for a score Sunday and Pittsburgh hung on to win the AFC championship with a 24-19 decision over the New York Jets.

Gay recovered a miscue by Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and ran it back 19 yards for a touchdown 1:13 before halftime. The score staked the Steelers to a 24-0 lead and Pittsburgh held off a second-half Jets rally to win its third AFC crown in six years.

With the victory, the Steelers advanced to face the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. The NFL title game will be Feb. 6 in Arlington, Texas.

Ben Roethlisberger went 10-of-19 through the air for 133 yards, no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions and Rashard Mendenhall carried the ball 27 times for 121 yards and a touchdown for the Steelers.

Sanchez, meanwhile, connected on 20-of-33 passes for 233 yards and a pair of second-half touchdown tosses to Santonio Holmes and Jerricho Cotchery, but his comeback try wasn't enough to overcome the Jets' early deficit.

Dustin Keller made eight grabs for 64 for New York, which lost in the AFC title game for the second straight year.