The Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet for the first time this season in today's AFC championship game, but these teams couldn't be more familiar with one another.
They are the two teams most committed to the ground game, each relying on running back by committee. They are relentless on defense, blitzing from every angle to hit the quarterback.
Even the coaches share an unwanted bond: the inability to get their teams back to the Super Bowl in recent years.
The Steelers are 1-4 in AFC title games under coach Bill Cowher, who last guided Pittsburgh to the Super Bowl in the 1995 season. He is winless in three championship games since then despite playing at home every time.
Cowher's desire for a title these days is as prominent as his jutting chin.
"When you're in this business, you're in it to win a championship, and the longer you stay in it, the greater that drive becomes," Cowher told reporters in Pittsburgh last week. "No question, as you go through your career, it's a void."
The postseason journey has been lined with similarly frustrating defeats for Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.
After directing Denver to Super Bowl titles in the 1997 and 1998 seasons, he hadn't won a playoff game since John Elway retired until last weekend's win over the New England Patriots.
The criticism intensified so much last season that a "Fire Shanahan" Web site appeared after the playoff loss against the Indianapolis Colts.
"No matter what profession you're in, you're going to go through some highs and lows," Shanahan said. "You've got to have perseverance."
The Broncos and the Steelers have moved within one win of the Super Bowl primarily on the strength of their defenses.
Their linebackers are fast. Their safeties are physical. And their mind-set is aggressive.
Denver's pressure forced savvy New England quarterback Tom Brady into uncharacteristic mistakes. Pittsburgh's blitzes forced All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts out of his comfort zone.
"Sometimes we are mirror images of each other," Steelers linebacker Joey Porter said of the two defenses.
Pittsburgh, which tied for the third-most sacks in the regular season with 47, has recorded nine in two playoff games. Denver gave up the third-fewest sacks (23), largely because of quarterback Jake Plummer's mobility.
"If they bring some blitzes, hopefully I can make a guy miss and get out of there," Plummer said.
