AFC Sunday in five facts

1 Big Ben’s experience

Even if you’re of the mind Miami running back Jay Ajayi is the equal of Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell, it’s at quarterback where the Steelers hold a big advantage. Ben Roethlisberger is 11-6 (. 647) in the playoffs, which includes two Super Bowl victories. His 22 post-season TDs are almost as many as counterpart Matt Moore’s 25 overall since 2011. Roethlisberger’s savvy, elite arm, escapability and chemistry with one of the best receiving corps in pro football render him this game’s difference maker.

2 Miami’s defence

The Dolphins’ defensive philosophy is essentially attack, attack, attack — and if you get burned by big plays occasionally, so be it. You’d think that would play into Pittsburgh’s hands, but Roethlisberger struggled when these two teams met in Week 6. He completed only 56 per cent of his throws for 189 yards and tossed two interceptions. Miami’s two D-line studs — Pro Bowlers Cam Wake and Ndamukong Suh — might be playing their best football of the season.

3 Home comforts

Most teams perform better at home, but with this year’s Steelers, the difference usually was stark. Roethlisberger’s TD-to-interception ratio on the road was a dull 9:8; at home, a shiny 20:5. Similarly, excluding two mid-season games Roethlisberger missed with a torn meniscus, Pittsburgh scored 24 points per game on the road, 31 at home.

4 Moore or less?

First-year head coach and chief offensive strategist Adam Gase didn’t throw out the Dolphins’ playbook after five-year starter Ryan Tannehill went down a month ago with a sprained knee. Moore is more functional than most people think. In 15 starts over the past six seasons, he has a 24:11 TD-to-INT ratio. He’s slippery in the pocket, too. On Moore replacing Tannehill, Steelers cornerback Ross Cockrell said “it won’t change much for us.”

5 Weather ready

The standard cliché — that a team from Florida or California plays like crap in winter weather — probably won’t apply. On Christmas Eve, the Dolphins played well against the Bills in chilly Buffalo, Moore included. It’ll be considerably colder at Heinz Field, but the experience in Buffalo should bolster confidence.