The Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers are one step away from the AFC Championship game, and one step closer to realising their Super Bowl dreams as they face off in the divisional round. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:40 am (AEDT).
The last time the Broncos and the Steelers matched up was Week 15, when Pittsburgh handed Denver their fourth and final loss of their 12-win regular season. It was a shootout between the two quarterbacks, and a furious Steelers comeback in the fourth quarter gave Pittsburgh the win at home with an Antonio Brown touchdown in the final minute to win it.
Brock Osweiler finished with 296 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, completing 21 of 44 passes, while Ben Roethlisberger finished with 380 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, completing 40 of 55 passes.
Both teams were lacklustre on the ground, but the receivers came through all game long. Emmanuel Sanders finished with 10 catches for 181 yards and a score, while Antonio Brown put up 189 yards and two touchdowns off 16 catches.
One of the Broncos best wins of the year, and one that’s in their recent memory, was their Week 16 overtime win against the Cincinnati Bengals, the team who the Steelers knocked out in the divisional round to set up their meeting with Denver.
AJ McCarron threw for 200 yards and a touchdown, but Osweiler just played better, putting up 299 yards and a touchdown. The difference for the Broncos was the road game – Jeremy Hill carried the ball 19 times for 63 yards, while CJ Anderson logged single digit carries (9) but put up 73 yards and a score.
Peyton Manning will be playing in his first game since Week 10, and it’ll be fascinating to see how one of the best quarterbacks in the league bounces back from not playing in a game for two months.
Before he was deactivated midway through the season, the numbers weren’t great for the five time MVP. Manning had thrown for 2,249 yards with a 59.8 per cent completion rate, but his 9-17 TD-INT ratio, along with his 67.9 passer rating, was cause for worry.
The Steelers finished 2015 with a 10-6 record, but go up against Denver with confidence after getting their first win of the playoffs against the Bengals last week in the wild card round.
Despite a fourth quarter comeback, Pittsburgh held their own on the road to outlast Cincinnati 18-16 behind 229 passing yards and a touchdown from Ben Roethlisberger, seven catches for 119 yards from Antonio Brown and three sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception.
Roethlisberger will be playing in the game against Denver, despite being listed as questionable on the injury report with a right shoulder injury, and when he took the field this season (12 games played, 11 games started), he put up 3,938 yards, completing 68 per cent of his passes for 21 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and a 94.5 passer rating.
Antonio Brown earned Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro nods this season after leading the league in receptions (136) and posting 1,834 receiving yards, second only to Julio Jones’ 1,871 yards.
With Brown ruled out from Sunday’s game with a concussion, the Steelers’ could suffer as their number one target is forced to watch from the sidelines.
Roethlisberger will have to rely on Heath Miller, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton to get the job done, and added pressure will be on the quarterback as their running back, DeAngelo Williams, is also ruled out of the game with a foot injury he incurred in the Steelers’ Week 17 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Elsewhere for the Steelers, fullback Will Johnson (hamstring) is questionable, while tight end Matt Spaeth (not injury related), linebacker James Harrison (not injury related), safety Will Allen (not injury related), safety Robert Golden (shoulder), defensive end Cameron Heyward (back) and linebackers Ryan Shazier (knee) and Vince Williams (hamstring) are all probable.
The Broncos have 14 players on their injury report – the only questionable one is quarterback Brock Osweiler (knee). Tight end Daniel Owens (knees), quarterback Peyton Manning (foot), defensive end Malik Jackson (illness), cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (shoulder), guard Robert Myers Jr. (illness), center/guard Max Garcia (groin), safeties Darian Stewart (hamstring) and T.J. Ward (ankle), inside linebackers Todd Davis (shoulder) and Brandon Marshall (ankle) and outside linebackers Von Miller (illness) and DeMarcus Ware (knee) are all probable.
Prediction: With Peyton Manning back in the fold, despite his struggles earlier in the year, the Broncos will win in a game dominated by big performances by the quarterbacks – expect 300+ yards and three touchdowns by both Manning and Roethlisberger.
The Steelers may have won on the road last week, but without Antonio Brown and DeAngelo Williams, they will be no match for a rejuvenated Denver offence led by The Sheriff and an explosive defensive attack.
Will Peyton be one step closer to his second Super Bowl ring?
Join The Roar this morning at 8:40 am AEDT for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
FULL TIME The Broncos get the win here as they advance to an AFC Championship clash against the New England Patriots. They left it late to score their only touchdown of the day, but Denver got it done when it mattered. Manning (21/37, 222 yards) wasn't as impressive as many would have liked,, but the fact he didn't turn the ball over is a positive. C.J. Anderson (15 carries, 72 yards, TD) was the man on the ground, while the defense (3 sacks, 1 forced fumble) was dominant all game. For the Steelers, they had the air game flowing, with Roethlisberger (24/37, 339 yards) posting big numbers, but their inability to make plays on the ground - Fitzgerald Toussaint (12 carries, 39 yards, TD) was unable to do much all game - meant they were doomed to fail. Martavis Bryant (9 catches, 154 yards) did his best Antonio Brown impression, but with the playmaking wide receiver unable to take the field in this one, Pittsburgh couldn't get the job done as their playoff journey ends in Denver. Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady? Bring it on. DENVER – 23 PITTSBURGH – 16 FINAL
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
FIELD GOAL PITTSBURGH Martavis Bryant reels in the 22 yard catch to set up a Chris Boswell 47 yard field goal. DENVER – 23 PITTSBURGH – 16 Q4: 0:25
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
FIELD GOAL DENVER The Broncos have appeared to lock this one up as Brandon McManus ties a postseason record with his fifth field goal, this time from 45 yards out. DENVER – 23 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q4: 0:50
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
The Steelers go for it on fourth down, but it ends disastrously, with Roethlisberger sacked by DeMarcus Ware as Pittsburgh turns it over on downs. DENVER – 20 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q4: 2:00
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Good start to the Steelers' quest to push this thing to overtime - Roethlisberger finds Bryant for an 18 yard gain. DENVER – 20 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q4: 2:50
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
TOUCHDOWN DENVER Finally, somebody scores a touchdown! C.J Anderson punches it in from one yard out for the Broncos' first touchdown of the day. Denver goes for the two point conversion and gets it, with a short pass to Demaryius Thomas. The Broncos have regained the lead late here, and have all the momentum in the world on their side as they look to close this game out with a victory. DENVER – 20 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q4: 3:00
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Denver converts on 3rd-and-12, as Manning hits Bennie Fowler for a 31 yard pickup. DENVER – 12 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q4: 8:30
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
A huge 28 yard C.J. Anderson run is negated by a holding call on the Broncos. DENVER – 12 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q4: 9:20
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Toussaint fumbles the ball after a big hit from Bradley Roby, and DeMarcus Ware recovers at the Broncos' own 35. Can the Broncos finally make some plays on offense? DENVER – 12 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q4: 10:00
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Roethlisberger finds tight end Jesse James for 22 yards, before he finds Markus Wheaton for 13 yards. DENVER – 12 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q4: 11:00
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Markus Wheaton fumble the punt return, but luckily the Steelers recover it in their own end zone for a touchback. DENVER – 12 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q4: 11:30
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Manning finds Sanders for a huge 34 yard gain as the Broncos look to make some plays late in the game. DENVER – 12 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q4: 13:00
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER Roethlisberger is sacked by Antonio Smith for the second time today as the Steelers get called for a facemask penalty on the play too. Bad sequence of events for the Steelers to end the third quarter. Pittsburgh has added yet another field goal, as has Denver, and will be interesting to see which team starts to dominate as we get into the final 15 minutes of play. DENVER – 12 PITTSBURGH – 13
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
A pass interference penalty called on the Broncos keeps the Steelers' drive alive and moves them onto the other side of the field. DENVER – 12 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q3: 1:30
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Sammie Coates makes his second big play of the game, as the rookie gains 24 yards with the catch. DENVER – 12 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q3: 2:30
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
FIELD GOAL DENVER The lead is once again shortened to just one point as McManus makes his fourth field goal of the day, this time from 41 yards out. DENVER – 12 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q3: 2:50
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Manning is sacked by James Harrison, the Steelers' first sack of the day. DENVER – 9 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q3: 4:30
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Sanders brings in the 10 yard pass, before Norwood catches one for 10 yards and then C.J. Anderson gains 11 yards on the ground. DENVER – 9 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q3: 5:00
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
Manning hits Sanders for a 19 yard gain, the QB's biggest play of the game so far. DENVER – 9 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q3: 9:20
Jason Pollock
Roar Guru
FIELD GOAL PITTSBURGH Chris Boswell makes it from 28 yards out and gives the Steelers a bit more breathing room. DENVER – 9 PITTSBURGH – 13 Q3: 9:30