Former-Bills coach Dick Jauron. (December 28, 2008)

Former-Bills coach Dick Jauron. (December 28, 2008) Credit: AP

Another near miss for Feely?

OK, if it happens once, fine. But twice?

Jay Feely is starting to think this might be personal (not really, but you'll understand if he did):

The Giants opted not to re-sign Feely after the 2006 season, then won the Super Bowl the following year with a brilliant playoff run that included three straight road wins followed by a win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

The Jets decided not to re-sign Feely after last season, and now look. The Jets are one road win away from getting to the Super Bowl for the first time in 42 years.

"If the Jets win the Super Bowl the year after I left, like the Giants did in 2007, I'm calling the Mets and the Knicks with a guaranteed way to win a championship," Feely cracked.

The kicker admits to mixed feelings about the Jets' run. "I'm proud of the Jets organization and Rex Ryan in particular for making it back to the AFC championship, but I would be lying if I didn't admit there is a part of me that wishes I was playing in that game," said Feely, who played this year with the Cardinals, making 24 of 27 field-goal attempts. "I'm very happy the Cardinals thought enough of me to make a significant investment in the kicking position, and I feel like I justified their belief with my performance this year."

 

History on Jets' side

So you think it's tough to beat a team twice in the same season? History says it isn't, especially when it comes to the AFC Championship Game.

Consider: For the fifth straight year and the 15th time since 1990, the year the NFL went to a 12-team playoff format, teams that have played at least once during the regular season will meet in the AFC Championship Game when the Jets play the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

If the Jets win, it will be the 11th time in 15 tries that a team won the AFC title game against a team it beat in the regular season. The last time it happened was the 2008 season, when the Steelers beat the Ravens twice in the regular season, then again in the AFC Championship Game.

The Jets beat the Colts in the regular season last year, after Indianapolis pulled its starters in the second half. But it was Indianapolis that won the rematch in the AFC Championship Game.

 

Steelers chase their own history

The Steelers will play their 28th home playoff game Sunday, the most of any team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966). That surpasses the Cowboys (27). If Pittsburgh beats the Jets, they'll tie the Cowboys (33) for the most playoff wins in NFL history. A win would also give Pittsburgh its 20th home playoff victory, breaking a tie with the Cowboys and Raiders for the most such wins in league history.

 

Jauron reunites with Holmgren

Good move by the Browns to bring in Dick Jauron as their new defensive coordinator under rookie coach Pat Shurmur. Not only is Jauron a quality defensive coach who once worked with Browns president Mike Holmgren when he coached in Green Bay, but Jauron has head-coaching experience that can help Shurmur in the top job.

Jauron also has the kind of personality that isn't threatening to a head coach; he has no designs on Shurmur's job, and will be supportive in his current role.

 

Embattled coordinator sticks

Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has come under scrutiny after the Ravens lost to the Steelers in last week's AFC divisional round. Despite the addition of Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin and former Pro Bowl receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Ravens finished 22nd in total offense after being ranked 13th in 2009.

But coach John Harbaugh is sticking with Cameron, with the blessing of team owner Steve Bisciotti and general manager Ozzie Newsome.

"I know that there's been a lot of heat on Cam, and John's feeling is that we like Cam under fire as our offensive coordinator next year," Bisciotti said.

There have been private complaints that Cameron's offense is too predictable, and that he doesn't take suggestions from others. Harbaugh will be more directly involved in the offense next season, after concentrating on defense and special teams his first three seasons.

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