What is in control is finding a way for the Broncos (10-3) to keep pace with the surging Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5), who will take a nine-game December winning streak into a stretch that will determine whether they chase down a playoff spot for the second straight season.
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The exclamation points and quick response to the report during Sunday’s pregame coverage show just how much that report from Ian Rapoport – and the ensuing debate from the in-studio panelists that included former National Football League players Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk – incensed the Denver Broncos as they prepared for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the second half, though, he was 7 of 26 for 82 yards.
With All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell out for the season with a knee injury, DeAngelo Williams has provided the Steelers with a consistent rushing attack. Shamarko Thomas looked to down the ball but Jordan Norwood then picked it up and ran 71 yards for an apparent touchdown.
The penalty negated a play that would have given the Broncos a two-touchdown lead. Pittsburgh punted late in the third quarter and two Steelers attempted to down it, only to whiff. Roethlisberger completed 40 of 55 for 380 yards, three TDs, two interceptions.
Entering Sunday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers everyone was wondering how the Denver Broncos’ vaunted defense would match up with Big Ben Roethlisberger and his speedy cohorts. Sanders had eight catches and 139 yards at halftime, and Thomas had two first-half touchdowns. Brown has 64 catches for 868 yards in the last six games, leading the leagues in both categories in that span, and the Steelers are 5-1 in those games to improve their record to 9-5.
Ben Roethlisberger orchestrated the 2-minute drill to perfection, and moved the ball into Denver territory for a 41-yard Boswell field goal to narrow the deficit to 14-points. Last week, Denver led Oakland, 12-0, at the half but lost, 15-12. He was torching Chris Harris Jr. throughout the night, one of the best cover corners in the league. The next play was a touchdown pass to Brown from Roethlisberger, and after the Boswell extra point narrowed the lead further.
Peyton Manning isn’t accustomed to being on the sideline. It was the most any Denver player had put up in a first half since at least 1991, and the Broncos’ 27-13 halftime lead seemed fairly definitive. A couple of Denver linemen – all the way on the other side of the field – thought the play was dead. I’m not trying to be harsh, I just know that we’ll be facing better offenses in the playoffs. For the Broncos, they can’t afford another setback or they risk handing home field advantage to their hated rival New England Patriots in the AFC. Pittsburgh started the drive at their 37-yard line.
Pittsburgh’s defense, shredded so easily on, made it stand up. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has totaled five touchdown passes in a game three times in the last five weeks.
The Broncos out-gained the Steelers 385 yards to 377, they sacked Roethlisberger three times to only two on Osweiler, they went 3-of-3 in the red zone but it was almost all in the first half.
“It was the best versus the best, and he won”, Harris said.
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Osweiler tried to connect with Sanders with 4:20 left, but Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier intercepted. The Broncos offense, which had been so efficient in the first half, cooled rapidly coming out of the locker room.
