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
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.
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.
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hp
Guest
Wow, Steelers are tough. They beat up the Bengals pretty good last week and now putting the clamps on the Broncos. They look real hard to stop on offence with the speed and talent everywhere and their young defense has some really great players and athletes. Tough physical team and they know it.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
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 strong 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. Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
AFC STANDINGS AFC EAST 1 Patriots (12-2) 2 Jets (9-5) 3 Bills (6-8) Dolphins (5-9) AFC NORTH 1 Bengals (11-3) 2 Steelers (9-5) 3 Ravens (4-10) 4 Browns (3-11) AFC SOUTH 1 Texans (7-7) 2 Colts (6-8) 3 Jaguars (5-9) 4 Titans (3-11) AFC WEST 1 Broncos (10-4) 2 Chiefs (9-5) 3 Raiders (6-8) 4 Chargers (4-10)
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
NFC STANDINGS NFC EAST 1 Redskins (7-7) 2 Eagles (6-7) 3 Giants (6-8) 4 Cowboys (4-10) NFC NORTH 1 Packers (10-4) 2 Vikings (9-5) 3 Bears (5-9) 4 Lions (4-9) NFC SOUTH 1 Panthers (14-0) 2 Falcons (7-7) 3 Buccaneers (6-8) 4 Saints (5-8) NFC WEST 1 Cardinals (11-2) 2 Seahawks (9-5) 3 Rams (6-8) 4 49ers (4-10)
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
WEEK FIFTEEN SCORES SO FAR Rams defeated Buccaneers 31-23 Jets defeated Cowboys 19-16 Chiefs defeated Ravens 34-14 Texans defeated Colts 16-10 Falcons defeated Jaguars 23-17 Vikings defeated Bears 38-17 Patriots defeated Titans 33-16 Panthers defeated Giants 38-35 Redskins defeated Bills 35-25 Packers defeated Raiders 30-20 Seahawks defeated Browns 30-13 Steelers defeated Broncos 34-27 Chargers defeated Dolphins 30-14 Bengals defeated 49ers 24-14
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FINAL The Steelers have defeated the Broncos by seven points Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Q4 0.29 3rd & 12 DEN 48 (PIT) Roethlisberger kneels for -1 yard Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
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Q4 0.47 2nd & 11 DEN 47 (PIT) Roethlisberger kneels for -1 yard Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
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Q4 1.26 1st & 10 DEN 46 (PIT) Roethlisberger kneels for -1 yard Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
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Q4 1.30 3rd & 6 PIT 45 (PIT) Roethlisberger passes to Brown, out of bounds for eight yards Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
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Q4 1.30 Broncos call timeout Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
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Q4 1.35 2nd & 9 PIT 42 (PIT) Williams up the middle for three yards Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
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Q4 1.35 Broncos call timeout Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
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Q4 1.40 1st & 10 PIT 41 (PIT) Williams gains one yard Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
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Q4 1.46 4th & 10 PIT 41 (DEN) Osweiler passes incomplete Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
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Q4 1.52 3rd & 10 PIT 41 (DEN) Osweiler passes incomplete Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
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Q4 1.56 2nd & 10 PIT 41 (DEN) Osweiler psases incomplete. Allen can't catch the interception Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
Riley Pettigrew
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Q4 2.01 1st & 10 PIT 41 (DEN) Osweiler passes incomplete Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
Riley Pettigrew
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Q4 2.08 2nd & 9 PIT 37 (PIT) Brandon Marshall intercepts Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27
Riley Pettigrew
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Q4 2.08 Broncos call timeout Pittsburgh Steelers 34 Denver Broncos 27