Broncos Week

[flippy]

I'm happy to see us moving forward in the playoffs and excited to see what we can do when we go to Denver.

But I'm also concerned about our team health and think this will be a very tough battle with Denver's excellent D.

Anyone have any predictions for this game? I really have no idea what to expect. The conspiracy theorist in my head worries that the NFL wants to see one more playoff matchup between Manning and Brady in the AFCC.

Hopefully we can come up with some magic. After this last game, I'm confident anything is possible.

[Bigsteel]

Well if that be the case, hopefully the Chiefs take care of business on Saturday so we don't have to worry about the on Sunday

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

No predictions from me* until we have a health report.

I think it's going to be "probable" or whatever word they use for "less than probable, but not definitely out", for all involved, until the last moment - DW, Ben, AB.

BTW - when is the last moment they can announce who is in/out?

[Edit: sorry, clarification - no predictions from me *about how much we will win by* until we have a health report!]

[Sword]

Go Steelers!!!! 23 - 20 Steelers

[papillon]

I like the Steelers this weekend with or without Ben and Antonio or any combination of them playing or not. I think the defense sees blood in the water and what they can do to affect the game. Peyton is a sitting duck with his lack of mobility and with his arm strength diminished. They may give up a big play or two because they're sitting on the short stuff, but man the young guys were making plays everywhere against the Bengals and they're a pretty good offense even without Dalton. The offense needs to do what they did this weekend, take what's there, protect the ball and take their shots when they're available. This would be the plan even with Ben due to the injury, maybe as the killer drive in the 3rd quarter or early 4th quarter you let Ben air one out unexpectedly to go for the jugular.

I like the Steelers 21-10.

Pappy

[Eich]

I like the Steelers this weekend with or without Ben and Antonio or any combination of them playing or not. I think the defense sees blood in the water and what they can do to affect the game. Peyton is a sitting duck with his lack of mobility and with his arm strength diminished. They may give up a big play or two because they're sitting on the short stuff, but man the young guys were making plays everywhere against the Bengals and they're a pretty good offense even without Dalton. The offense needs to do what they did this weekend, take what's there, protect the ball and take their shots when they're available. This would be the plan even with Ben due to the injury, maybe as the killer drive in the 3rd quarter or early 4th quarter you let Ben air one out unexpectedly to go for the jugular.

I like the Steelers 21-10.

Pappy

I like it! But you have more optimism about our defense than I do. I hope you're right. I can just envision Manning carving up our D by getting rid of the ball quickly enough to avoid pressure.

But if Ben can't go or is significantly hampered, I don't see us scoring 21 points on the Donks.

Can't wait to find out!

[RuthlessBurgher]

Well if that be the case, hopefully the Chiefs take care of business on Saturday so we don't have to worry about the on Sunday

I think K.C. beats N.E. And not necessarily in a squeaker, either...maybe by 10-13 points or so.

As for our game, so much hinges on the progress of Ben, Antonio, and DeAngelo that you really can't say anything yet. Glad we get an extra day of rest going from a Saturday game to a Sunday game, though.

[flippy]

Did we beat Denver while they had a banged up secondary? Could their secondary health make a big difference in this week's matchup?

[fezziwig]

Not making an opinion, just telling what I was told. Chiropractic told me the injury they are announcing at this time about Ben, is very painful and can't see him playing this weekend and possibly additional games should we win Sunday. I asked about shooting him up with pain killers or what have you. He said it won't matter, the strength won't be there and the meds will also affect him. I hope he's wrong with his opinion.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Did we beat Denver while they had a banged up secondary? Could their secondary health make a big difference in this week's matchup?

I seem to recall some issues with their safeties last time we played them, but they definitely had their top 3 corners (Talib, Harris, and Roby), and Ben and Antonio shredded them anyway. Hopefully we'll have Ben and Antonio available again this time as well.

[NorthCoast]

Did we beat Denver while they had a banged up secondary? Could their secondary health make a big difference in this week's matchup?

Both starting safeties were out for the last game. One reason for Roethlisberger's big game.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Roethlisberger: We got lucky against Denver last time



Posted by Josh Alper on January 13, 2016, 11:12 AM EST


The Steelers and Broncos will square off in Denver on Sunday afternoon in the divisional round of the playoffs and the Steelers hope that they emerge with the same result they got when they took on the Broncos in Week 15.


In that game, the Broncos had a 27-13 lead at halftime, but the Steelers rallied on both sides of the ball to come away with a 34-27 victory that played a big role in advancing to the postseason. All 21 of those second half points came on Ben Roethlisberger touchdown passes against a defense missing three safeties, which is one of the reasons why Roethlisberger isn’t expecting things to play out the same way this weekend.


“We got lucky last time,” Roethlisberger said, via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We were at home…they had injuries…different on road.”


Another difference from last time is the injuries the Steelers are dealing with on offense. Roethlisberger hasn’t thrown since Saturday while rehabbing his right shoulder, wide receiver Antonio Brown is in the concussion protocol and running back DeAngelo Williams appears on track to miss another game with a foot/ankle injury. Speaking about his own injury, Roethlisberger acknowledged the difficulties in building a game plan around those issues.


“It’d be tough,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t want to be out there if I hurt the team. If you can’t throw the ball 25 or 30 yards down the field you’re hurting your team. I don’t think we’ll put ourselves in that situation. If we can, any way possible, pain medicine whatever it is, if I have to be in pain the next day, then I’ll deal with it. We’re going to do everything we can to get it as stable as we can. We’ll see what kind of pain we can deal with on Sunday.”


The Broncos never gave up more points than they did in that loss to the Steelers and their defense will be tough for Pittsburgh to crack a second time if they’re playing without a full deck.


[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/13/roethlisberger-we-got-lucky-against-denver-last-time/[/URL]

[SteelBucks]

Read somewhere that Deangelo Williams was ruled OUT for the game. Hope Ben and AB are healthy enough and can go...

[feltdizz]

17 to 16 Steelers

D shows up again and causes fits for Peyton and the running game.

[JAR]

Peyton is 0-5 in playoff games when the temp has been below 40. Kick off temp, 39.