Sunday’s AFC divisional game between the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-6) and the Denver Broncos (12-4) is shaping up to be an old school showdown.
Once thought to be the AFC’s most dangerous playoff team, the Steelers are now a beat up squad and, were it not for a self-destruct by the Cincinnati Bengals, could have gone out in the first round for the third straight time in the playoffs. The ever growing injury list, highlighted by Antonio Brown who has been ruled out due to his concussion last Saturday, definitely casts a shadow of doubt over the Black and Gold. With Ben Roethlisberger (shoulder) and DeAngelo Williams (foot) still questionable , the offense will definitely not be the same powerhouse that it was during the regular season.
Even if Ben plays, he will probably not be able to make the deep throws and he’ll be without his favorite target and the NFL’s best receiver. If Landry Jones gets the start, Pittsburgh will definitely rely on the running game mixed with short, high percentage passes. Jones has been getting most of the starting reps this week in practice so he will have as much preparation as possible. Head coach Mike Tomlin has also left the door open for Michael Vick to play, which could be a workable option considering his veteran presence and playoff experience. However, Vick has not played since injuring his hamstring in week six against the Arizona Cardinals and even now, his knowledge of the offense may not be to the level that Jones has.
If the Steelers are going to win this game, they’re going to have to rely on old school football: running the ball and playing dominant defense. What has been lost in all of the absurdity that was the final 1:36 of last week’s Wild Card win was the fact that Pittsburgh excelled in both of those areas. The defense held Cincinnati to just 279 yards of total offense; 188 through the air and 91 on the ground. They forced four turnovers, including the game-changing fumble of Jeremy Hill caused by Ryan Shazier in the final minutes. The only touchdowns the Steelers allowed came after either a big penalty (the 46 yard pass interference call on Will Allen) or a big play on special teams (the 25 yard punt return by Adam Jones). While the defense was suffocating, the offense pounded out 167 yards on the ground, including 65 on 11 carries from Jordan Todman. Fitzgerald Toussaint also carried the load with 58 yards on 17 carries.
The only problem is, Denver could have a very similar gameplan, the Broncos probably have a better running game than the Steelers and, at least statistically, they definitely have a better defense. During the regular season, Denver’s defense finished as the top ranked overall unit in the league, as well as the best against the pass, the highest number of sacks, third best against the run, and fourth best in points allowed. In the regular season, the Steelers started out slow but rebounded with 21 unanswered points in the second half for a 34-27 win over Denver in week 15. However, that was with a healthy Big Ben completing 40-of- 55 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to an equally healthy Antonio Brown, who finished the game with 16 catches. When the Steelers did try to run the ball, Williams was held to just 26 yards on 14 carries, so Pittsburgh will definitely need to improve in that regard.
Another reason to disregard the regular season meeting between these two teams is that Peyton Manning is back in at quarterback for the Broncos. In the past, this would definitely be a major cause for concern, but with all of the injuries and sub-par performances from the veteran, there’s no telling exactly what to expect. In nine regular season games, Manning threw just nine touchdown passes, 17 interceptions, and finished with a paltry passer rating of 67.9. Although he does have a career 3-2 record against the Steelers, he hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2013 AFC Championship against the Patriots and he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in more than two months. With that being said, he is still one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game and still knows how to preform in the postseason.
Bottom Line
If the Steelers can stop the run, mount a pass rush, and get Peyton off balance, they definitely have a chance to win this game. The offense will have to be incredibly disciplined and not make stupid mistakes to give Denver a short field. This game is going to test the limits, mentally and physically, of both teams. The Broncos will be looking to prove that their defense can continue to play at a high level when it matters most: in January. The Steelers will have to prove they can win without their biggest offensive weapons and they must continue to play defense at a high level.
Pittsburgh has knocked Manning out of the playoffs before. It’s two days, four hours, and two minutes until we find out if the Black and Gold can do it again.
Stats courtesy ESPN, Links to Behind the Steel Curtain and 24/7 Sports
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