But perhaps the one benefit to missing time with a torn plantar fascia/being benched was that he had to endure only 10 games during the grueling regular season.
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However, if he does have a concussion he would have to go through the NFL’s protocol. What do the Steelers do against the NFL’s No. 1 defense? “So, he’s playing. So, we’re going to prepare the same way”.
Haley has done a relatively good-to-great job with play-calling this season as three quarterbacks have had to take high-level snaps this season for the Steelers. The Steelers announced on Friday that Brown would miss their Sunday playoff game against the Denver Broncos, and Jones issued an apology. Unfortunately for the Steelers, the guys at Pro Football Focus do not like the chances of that happening for them on Sunday. Brown was injured following a hard hit from Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict in the Steelers’ game Saturday.
Brown led the Steelers last week with seven receptions for 119 yards and had 16-189 with two touchdowns in the December 20 game against the Broncos. He can’t be expected to effectively throw the ball another 55 times.
As for this 39-year-old version?
Although Manning completed just one of four passes of 15 yards, don’t doubt his downfield prowess, tight end Virgil Green suggested. He had 200 carries for 907 yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season. And he does have a history of failure in the postseason. Either way, revenge will be on the menu for one team next Sunday, but whom is searching for the revenge will depend on the second Divisional game in Mile High.
The greatest factor Denver has in their favor is the defense. That makes sense from a coaching standpoint, it will certainly look better for Gary Kubiak and the Broncos if Manning comes out and loses as the starter compared to Osweiler having a bad game.
This is most definitely the biggest key to the success of the Steelers.
The Broncos wanted Brown to be healthy; that’s the most important aspect of this ongoing story. Or suppose Denver pass rushers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware collapse the pocket and make a Roethlisberger sandwich? They gave of a ton of passing yards in three late-season games against the Giants, Saints, and Falcons. They are 10-8 when they already have an opponent. The victor will play the Patriots after they knocked the Chiefs out of the playoffs. The Cardinals sacked Aaron Rodgers nine times.
And then, to top it off, the Broncos are getting a depleted Steelers team. Carolina went to Seattle in October 18 and won, 27-23. As head coach Mike Tomlin repeats over and over again, “the standard is the standard” even without the receiver who sets the standard.
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All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey hasn’t played a snap since August.
