By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER EAST SIDE — The pre-game was on Second Avenue for the Jets' clash the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday.
Gang Green fans packed bars and pubs ahead of the big game.
"It's always been a heartbreak," said Paul Wick, 27, of the pain of being a lifelong Jets fan as he watched the NFC Championship game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers at Jack Russell's Pub Sunday afternoon.
"They've always sucked, so this is exciting," Wick said of the Jets' run to the division championship.
Fans decked out in their favorite player's jerseys expected nothing less than a trip to the Super Bowl after today's outing.
"I think they're a better team this year and they're clicking at the right time," said Zach Abramowitz, 21, remembering last year's heartbreaking loss to the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC title.
Now pitted against the Steelers, Abramowitz said the teams were more evenly matched than last year and predicted the Jets to move ahead to the Super Bowl.
"24-17 Jets," he said, predicting the final score.
Although the Jets have been criticized for their tough talk before big games, fan Jean Tuohey, 26, said the team's play spoke for itself.
"They don't really hold anything back," Tuohey said.
Tuohey predicted a close game and hoped for a dramatic finish from Gang Green.
"I would like see something like what happened last week where they kind of pulled it out at the end," she said.
Amid the sea of green Jets jerseys, 27-year-old Kristin Rezzetano stuck out of the crowd with her black and yellow Steelers jersey.
The Pittsburgh native also predicted a close game, with the victory going to her beloved Steelers.
"We're going to win for sure," Rezzetano said a few hours before kick-off.
Despite her allegiance to the enemy, the fans at Jack Russell's Pub hadn't given Rezzetano too much of a hard time.
"I got some mean looks when I walked in, but nothing too bad," she said.
