Record number of viewers for AFC title game

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — An average of 54.9 million viewers watched Sunday’s Jets-Steelers game on CBS, making it the most-watched AFC Championship Game on record.

The viewership was up from 46.9 million for last year’s Jets-Colts game. The previous high for an AFC title game was 51.6 million for the 1982 "Freezer Bowl’’ between the Chargers and Bengals.

The rating, which measures the percentage of homes tuned in, was 28.3, best for an AFC Championship Game in 14 years. Pittsburgh topped all markets by a wide margin with an average of 63.5 percent of homes watching — including 81 percent with a TV in use at the time.

New York (38.4) tied for fourth with Norfolk, Va., behind Fort Myers, Fla. (38.9) and Washington, D.C. (38.8).

The NFC Championship Game between the Packers and Bears averaged 51.9 million viewers on Fox, down from 57.9 million for last year’s Vikings-Saints game.

The 50.6 rating in Chicago exceeded the 50.2 figure for the Super Bowl in that market when the Bears lost to the Colts four years ago.

Revis, Mangold All-Pros

Jets center Nick Mangold and cornerback Darrelle Revis were first-team selections on The Associated Press All-Pro team for the second straight season. Mangold will sit out Sunday’s Pro Bowl in Hawaii because of an injury and will be replaced by Cleveland’s Alex Mack.

Rex apologizes for rant

Rex Ryan admitted he let his emotions get the better of him after Sunday’s defeat when he said people "really got no right" to criticize his team.

"That’s a ridiculous statement," he said yesterday. "It was just raw. That’s the emotion of it at the time. Those are things, obviously, you wish you had back."

Extra points

G Brandon Moore will undergo hip surgery . . . Ryan said the team has yet to decide whether Sal Alosi will return next season. The head strength and conditioning coach was suspended indefinitely last month for tripping a Dolphins player.