THE NFL ON CBS, celebrating its 51^st year broadcasting the NFL, travels to Pittsburgh for the 2011 American Football Conference Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 23 (6:30 PM, ET) as the No. 6-seeded NEW YORK JETS (13-5) take on the AFC North Champions and No. 2-seeded PITTSBURGH STEELERS (13-4) live on the CBS Television Network.

            CBS Sports' coverage of the AFC Championship Game begins with THE NFL TODAY, the Network's pre-game studio show, on Sunday (6:00 PM, ET) with host James Brown and analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, as well as NFL TODAY "General Manager" Charley Casserly, and Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan reporting, live from THE NFL TODAY studio at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.

            THE NFL TODAY's Boomer Esiason sits down with New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez as he hopes to lead the Jets to their first Super Bowl appearance in 42 years.  In just his second season, Sanchez is tied among starting quarterbacks for the most road playoff wins in NFL history.  He also joined Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to reach a Conference Championship in each of their first two seasons.  Last season, Sanchez and the Jets lost to the Colts in the AFC Championship Game despite having a lead in the third quarter.   Deb Gelman is the producer.

            In addition, THE NFL TODAY's Shannon Sharpe visits with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to discuss everything from starting the season without Ben Roethlisberger to his counterpart across the field, New York Jets head coach, Rex Ryan.  When the Steelers beat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, Tomlin became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl.  A year after missing the playoffs, he has his Steelers back in the AFC Championship Game.  After defeating their bitter rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, in the Divisional playoff round, Pittsburgh will now take on the New York Jets with a chance for the Steelers to reach their eighth Super Bowl.  Tomlin can become the second head coach, along with Joe Gibbs, to reach two Super Bowls in his first four seasons.  Jeff St. Arromand is the producer.

CBS Sports' lead announce team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms call the action, along with Steve Tasker reporting, live from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.  Lesley Visser reports live from the Green Bay-Chicago NFC Championship game with postgame interviews upon the game's conclusion.

Grammy Award-winning country music recording artist Martina McBride will perform the National Anthem prior to the opening kick-off, while the presentation of the Lamar Hunt Trophy to the AFC Champions will be conducted live following the game.

            Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports and serves as executive producer for the Network's coverage of the NFL.  Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

            Eric Mann is senior producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.

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CBS Sports Contacts: 

Jen Sabatelle                212/975-412                jsabatelle@cbs.com

Robin Brendle              212/975-1533              rlbrendle@cbs.com

Jerry Caraccioli            212/975-7466              gwcaraccioli@cbs.com