Hordes of New York Jets Fans  - and a few in favor of the Pittsburgh Steelers -congregated at in Holbrook to see if Gang Green would get a crack at making it to the for the first time in 42 years, after their one and only time there.
In the first quarter when the score was still 0-0 many such as Frank Greco were extremely hopeful about the New York team.Â
"The Jets are going to win, no doubt," said the diehard Jets fan.
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A 9-year-old from Nesconset, who calls himself Rocco Roc, and has been watching the Jets since he was 2-years old was also confident early on. The young fan said with certainty, "The Jets are going to win the game, and they're going to go to the Super Bowl."
While some like Ethan Lastella from Mount Sinai were more cautiously optimistic. "I'm more of a pessimistic Jets fan, but I think they're going to win," he said. Lastella said he was "elated" when the Jets took down the Patriots.
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When Pittsburgh got the first touchdown of the game and started off the scoring, most at the Holbrook bar were still convinced that it was the Jets' night for a long-awaited victory.Â
Al Carrozza from Medford said, "It's a tough start, but there's no way they won't win. The Jets' defense is amazing. They've been tough all year. It's going to take a little while for Sanchez to warm up, and once they get going: Here comes the Super Bowl."
Steelers fan, Ryan Csoka from Medford said he was, "fairly confident" at that point that his team would head to the Super Bowl. "Pittsburg lost to the Jets already. It's very hard to beat a team twice at home in one year."
Csoka had a wild wager riding on the game with his brother, a Jets fan:Â "The bet is whoever loses has to paint their upper torso in the other team's color, and wear a wig and get their facebook profile of that for a week," he said.
Down by 24-0 in the first half, the tides did begin to turn for New York, after scoring three points just before halftime and a touchdown opening the third quarter.
"It ain't over," Blue Point resident, Mike Seaman concurred.
"We've had a lot of comebacks this year. The momentum has turned now," assured Hart who was no longer "concerned."
But in the end the Steelers won 24-19 and will head to the Super Bowl to vie against the Green Bay Packers. Â Pittsburgh will have a shot at winning a seventh championship and a third with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at the helm.
"I guess it was Big Ben's time. The bell tolled for the big Jets," said Jets fan David Janzen.
Disappointed, but not disheartened, Jets fans now look toward next year. "Third time's the charm," said Ricky Lang from Brookhaven, referring to the fact that the Jets went just as far last year then lost.
Manorville resident, Steve DeAngelo said matter-of-factly, "The Jets needed better defense. They were outplayed. They got beat by a better team.  I'll be rooting for Green Bay."
There was at least one smiling face at Irish times at the end of the night. "I'm going to Party City to pick a wig up for my brother," said Csoka.
