Wantagh crowd celebrates Jets victory

At Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh Sunday night, the air was electric with the possibility of victory as Jets fans bashed a piñata of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady at halftime and urged their team to erase its ghosts and deliver in the second half.

Yes, the Jets were in command much of the game, but they were facing the Patriots in New England, where they were routed 45-3 on Dec. 6. Even with a 14-3 lead at halftime, there were jitters that a shot at the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game could slip away.

"We've been getting it done for almost three quarters," said Eric Budowsky, 54, of Seaford, as the clock ticked down. "Fifteen more minutes and we're off to Pittsburgh."

The Jets, of course, held on strong, beating the Patriots 28-21, sending them to the AFC championship for the second straight year and those gathered at Mulcahy's into a screaming, hugging, high-fiving frenzy of fandom.

"I have no words," said Kaitlin Buckley, 24, a graphic designer from Brooklyn, just after the game ended. "I have so many thoughts going through my head. All I can say is, I'm looking forward to a win in Pittsburgh next weekend."

Budowsky, who has followed the Jets since their last, and only, Super Bowl victory over 40 years ago, applauded his team and predicted a repeat of their 22-17 win over the Steelers on Dec. 19.

"I think this was an excellently coached and an excellently played game," he said. "We beat Pittsburgh last time on their home turf. And I think we can do it again."

SEE PHOTOSAFC Divisional: Jets 28, Patriots 21

At halftime, Joe Haley of Seaford, a Jets fan for 20 years, noted with approval that his team appeared to be rattling Brady, and at the end praised how they handled not only the Patriots quarterback, but another giant of the game, Peyton Manning, in last week's defeat of the Colts.

"We've beaten the two best quarterbacks in the league over the last ten years in back-to-back weeks," said Haley, 46. "No team has ever done that. And now all we need is one more win and we're in the big dance."

Echoing Budowsky, Will Vizcarrondo, 42, of Baldwin, said he sees the Jets besting the Steelers, and already has all his Super Bowl picks set.

"We played Pittsburgh already and we beat them, so I'm not worried," Vizcarrondo said. "I'm ready for The Green Bowl, Green Bay versus the Jets."

SEE PHOTOSJets-Patriots rivalry through the years

With Josh Seidman