After a dismal first half, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense stood tall with the game on the line.
A staunch defensive effort in the second half, combined with 21 points from the offense in the second half delivered the Steelers (9-5) a 34-27 win over the Denver Broncos (10-4). The Steelers are now sixth in the AFC, and control their own destiny for a Wild Card berth.
First-half defensive woes
The Steelers defense may as well have stayed in the locker room in the first half.
After fumbling on their second play, the Broncos scored a touchdown on four straight possessions.
Aside from that early recovery, not much went right for the Steelers defense in the first half. Quarterback Brock Osweiler accumulated four total touchdowns. Running back Ronnie Hillman averaged 4.67 yards a rush. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas caught two touchdowns, including one where he stiff armed Steelers corner Antwon Blake in the chest before running into the end zone. Emmanuel Sanders had a huge half.
The former Steelers wide receiver had eight catches for 139 yards and a 61-yard touchdown where he blew by Blake and found himself wide open. He added a 24-yard run on an end around.
Adjusting to quick passes
Antonio Brown almost wasn’t ready. Brown ran a quick out and as soon as he turned to face Roethlisberger the ball was in his hands and he was pushed out of bounds for a four-yard gain halfway through the second quarter.
But those were the adjustments the Steelers made earlier in that drive.
Defensive linemen Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe had success breaking through the Steelers pass protection, and the Steelers needed to make an adjustment. On the first play of the team’s first offensive possession of the second quarter, Roethlisberger had to step up in the pocket and throw the ball quickly to avoid getting sacked. The play gained 17 yards to Antonio Brown, and the Steelers continued to use quick passes to drive down the field that eventually ended in a Chris Boswell 24-yard field goal.
The Steelers used a combination of quick catch-and-run routes and middle-distance routes to drive down the field in their next drive, but had to settle for a field goal to end the half.
The Steelers continued to use quick routes in the second half, and found success. Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton all found space underneath and along the sidelines, and the offense used those passes to erase a 17-point deficit.
Second-half defensive resurgence
The Broncos scored 27 points in the first half. In the second half they had none.
In the first half, the Broncos took advantage of the cushion the Steelers’ secondary gave, so the Steelers tightened their coverage. The Broncos had trouble picking up yards through the air in the second half as a result. Osweiler was 7/26 for 55 yards and an interception in the second half.
Cornerback Brandon Boykin also saw more playing time on Thomas, including a play when Boykin ripped the ball out of Thomas’ hands to force an incompletion in the third quarter.
After scoring on their last four first half possessions, the Broncos punted on their next six possessions before Osweiler threw an interception to linebacker Ryan Shazier late in the fourth quarter set up the Steelers go-ahead touchdown.
The Broncos had one last chance to tie the game after Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception at the Steelers’ 41-yard line but Osweiler threw four straight incompletions on the ensuing drive.
Thirty points for the sixth straight game
CBS commentators Phil Simms and Jim Nantz raved all game about the skill and depth of Broncos’ secondary.
But the Steelers’ passing game had the last laugh.
The Steelers scored 30 or more points for the sixth straight game, and Roetlisberger tied his career-high with 40 completions in a game. He finished with 380 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.
Brown had another huge game, finishing with 16 catches, 189 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown from 23 yards out gave the Steelers a 34-27 lead that they didn’t give up.
Bryant added 10 catches for 87 yards, and Wheaton had six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Up next
Next up for the Steelers is a trip to Baltimore to face the Ravens (4-9) next Sunday. The game is scheduled to play on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, but may be flexed to an afternoon CBS game.
