NFL

Steelers power back pounds Jets defense

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers’ punishing defense usually sets the tone around these parts, but Rashard Mendenhall stole its thunder yesterday.

Pittsburgh’s power back practically imprinted tread marks in the chest of Jets defenders in the AFC Championship, paving the way for a 24-19 win that sent the Steelers back to the Super Bowl for a record- tying eighth time.

Mendenhall, who did most of his damage in the first half, rumbled for 121 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries while giving the Steelers the early psychological edge with his relentless running.

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Mendenhall meted out so much pain the Jets seemed hesitant to tackle the third-year back from Illinois, who had more than 40 yards after initial contact in the first half alone.

Mendenhall hadn’t been a factor at all the previous week in the Steelers’ divisional-round win over the Ravens, totaling just 46 yards, but he was a tour de force for Pittsburgh last night. And to hear Mendenhall tell it, he and the Steelers expected it all along despite facing the Jets’ third-ranked defense.

“We knew we were going to have a chance to run the ball,” Mendenhall said.

Mendenhall had that premonition even though Pittsburgh’s offensive line has been its Achilles’ heel all season and lost its lone Pro Bowl pick, rookie center Maurkice Pouncey, to an ankle injury on the game’s opening drive.

But Mendenhall said he sensed a difference in his linemen as kickoff approached yesterday, and that renewed focus and intensity showed itself right away.

When Mendenhall accounted for 26 yards and his touchdown on the opening drive, a 15-play march that consumed nearly 10 minutes off the clock, the Steelers’ physical prowess was established.

And when Mendenhall wasn’t killing the Jets with his feet, he was hurting them with his hands. He had two catches for 32 yards, including an 18-yarder, in the first half.

“I’ve got to give all the credit to our line, because we controlled the line of scrimmage,” said Mendenhall, who turned in his third-best rushing performance of the season. “They opened a lot of holes, and we were able to get up on them early.”

The Jets got their bearings back and toughened up against Mendenhall in the second half, limiting him to just 26 yards on 10 carries, but the early damage he inflicted was too much to overcome.

“Our guys really fed off him,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “He brought a lot of energy. It was fun to watch.”

bhubbuch@nypost.com