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Pittsburgh Steelers vs Denver Broncos: NFL live scores, blog

20th December, 2015
Kickoff: 8:25am (AEDT)
Venue: Heinz Field
TV: Live, 7mate
Steelers record: 8-5
Broncos record: 10-3
Betting: Steelers $1.36, Broncos $3.20
Peyton Manning might go down as the best quarterback in history. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)
Roar Guru
20th December, 2015
210
2028 Reads

Match result:

The Pittsburgh Steelers have defeated the Denver Broncos 34-27, with the Broncos unable to score any second-half points for the second week in a row.

Ben Roethlisberger had a near-perfect game, with 40 completions from 55 attempts for 380 yards and three touchdowns, demonstrating why the Steelers are heavy contenders for the AFC Championship.

DeAngelo Williams rushed for 26 yards and one touchdown, with Antonio Brown receiving 189 yards from 16 receptions for two touchdowns, and Martavis Bryant receiving 87 yards from 10 receptions in an outstanding game from the Steelers offense.

Brock Osweiler began to show signs, with 21 completions from 44 attempts for a total of 296 yards and three touchdowns. This included 181 yards and one touchdown from ten receptions for Emmanuel Sanders, an average of 18.1 yards, with DeMaryius Thomas gaining 61 yards from five receptions for two touchdowns.

The Broncos now face the risk of losing the AFC West to the Chiefs and face a tough draw over the final two weeks, with both the Bengals and Chargers at home.

The Steelers meanwhile will head to Baltimore and Cleveland, with one of the easiest draws of any team heading into the playoffs.

Final score
Pittsburgh Steelers 34
Denver Broncos 27

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Match preview

Can the Denver Broncos come back from a shock loss, or will the Pittsburgh Steelers continue their charge toward the AFC North division title? Join The Roar from 8:25am (AEDT) for live scores and coverage.

With no Peyton Manning last week, Denver struggled against the Raiders in a game they should have won.

Brock Osweiler failed to inspire the Broncos offence, and was on the receiving end of five second-half sacks courtesy of Oakland outside linebacker Khalil Mack.

It was the second time in four career starts Osweiler was sacked five times. Manning has been sacked five times only twice in his 265 starts.

While the Broncos will be relying on Osweiler to fire, the Steelers’ defence need to put in their best effort.

Led by Keith Butler, Pittsburgh have produced 35 sacks this season – the fifth-best in the league – and are in defensive form with at least three takeaways and three sacks in their past two games, against the struggling Indianapolis Colts and Andy Dalton-less Cincinnati Bengals.

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However, this week they face a much tougher opposition.

The Steelers defence need to improve allowing easy receiving yards. The Broncos have one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Demaryius Thomas, on their roster, and Pittsburgh must stop him from getting the ball having leaked extensive yardage through the Bengals’ AJ Green last week.

While Thomas has not been performing as well as he could be over the past few weeks, he is ready to bounce back and will be marked as the Broncos’ danger man.

Prediction
Ben Roethlisberger to lead the Steelers to an impressive win, leaving the Broncos in serious danger of finishing second to the Chiefs in the AFC West.

Steelers by 3.

Join The Roar from 8:25am (AEDT) for score updates and debate in our live blog.

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