broncos-steelers

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PREVIEW

We are just past the half way mark of the season and the legit teams start separating themselves from the pack. The Steelers stumbled out of the gates and dealt with early injuries while the Bronco’s remained the cinderella story of the first half. It may seem early but this could very well be the matchup for the AFC championship game a few months down the road.

The Steelers are coming off their bye week and have been on a roll since they got back their defensive captain, safety Troy Polamalu. QB Ben Roethlisberger has his work cut out for himself going up against the #1 ranked defense in the NFL. He is going to need to spread the ball around and this game may well turn out to be an aerial attack from both sides. A major plus would be if Rashard Mendenhall can give the Steelers a boost by helping to balance the attack. With the pressure coming from Broncos star defensive end and AFC sack leader Elvis Dumervil, Ben will have to make quick decisions and trust his teammates to do their job.

The Broncos (6-1), are hoping to rebound from their first loss of the season. What better stage to do it on than in front of a national audience, under the lights on their home field. The offense has done just enough to win this year. They play it safe but get the job done. Kyle Orton has already won the hearts and respect of the Broncos fans. He is not the guy who will make the big plays but he has found success with his style of play throwing to some great receivers. The running game has been consistent and provides a good balance for this team. Knowshon Moreno has put together a nice rookie campaign and ex-Eagle Correll Buckhalter is proving to be a pleasant surprise. The Broncos O Line clashed with a rough defense last week at Baltimore. Like the Ravens, the Steelers play a tough, physical game. How this Denver team responds should paint a clearer picture of what kind of team they will be in the post season.

The Steelers have not won a regular season game in Denver since 1990 and that streak may not be ending tonight.
Prediction: Steelers 17 – Broncos 20