The Pittsburgh Steelers received some extra motivation when odds were released for the AFC championship game: They were three-point underdogs to New England despite having the NFL’s best record, despite being at home and despite having beaten the Patriots.

Some were surprised by the perceived slight, given that Pittsburgh carries a 15-game winning streak into Sunday.

The Steelers love it, though. What’s better than being able to trot the old “We get no respect” line?

In other words, no one wants to be the favorite.

“They deserve it,” Pittsburgh cornerback Chad Scott says. “They’re the champions. They played very well against the Colts and we just barely beat the Jets. That’s why they’re favored.”

True, though the odds seem to ignore the Steelers’ 34-20 victory over the Patriots on Oct. 31. Then again, the Patriots played that game without Corey Dillon, who ran for 144 yards against Indianapolis last weekend.

This is the first time the visiting team is favored in the AFC title game since the 1997 season, when Denver was favored by 21/2 at Pittsburgh. The Broncos won 24-21 and went on to win the Super Bowl.

Minnesota was a two-point road favorite against the New York Giants four years ago in the NFC and that didn’t work very well: The Giants won, 41-0.

In Patriots-Steelers, the spread reflects the quarterbacks.

Tom Brady has been the Super Bowl MVP in two of his three seasons as New England’s starter, while the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger is a rookie whose two interceptions almost did in his team last week against the Jets.

Yes, Roethlisberger is 14-0, far better than any rookie quarterback ever fared in the league, and he was a unanimous choice for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. But “rookie” and “championship” are words that don’t mesh. And yes, the Patriots’ party line about Pittsburgh is, “We’re playing the best team in the league.”

Not until proven otherwise.

PATRIOTS, 20-19 Atlanta (plus 5) at Philadelphia

The Eagles demonstrated in their win over Minnesota last week that they don’t need Terrell Owens to be effective on offense.

That game also showed why Philadelphia lost its third straight NFC title game last season — they didn’t have Brian Westbrook, who like Owens is a threat from anywhere on the field.

EAGLES, 24-13