Mile High Sports

Broncos lead 27-13 at half, now 30 minutes from a playoff berth

MHS Staff
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After a rough start on offense – fumbling on their second snap, leading to a Steelers touchdown – the Broncos found paydirt twice in less than two minutes on their next two drives. Denver would add two more touchdowns and the Broncos lead 27-13 going into the locker room at halftime.

Needing just a win to clinch a playoff berth for the fifth year in a row, Denver is just 30 minutes of football away from accomplishing that task.

Brock Osweiler ended the first quarter with a perfect QB rating and hit both Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders for touchdowns to give the Broncos a 14-7 lead after the first quarter.

And the Denver defense was incredibly stout for several drives throughout the first quarter to set up a third touchdown drive that crossed over to the second quarter. Denver looked like it was going to stall out again in the red zone, a problem that plagued them last week, but Brock Osweiler took matters into his own hands and ran in from seven yards out put Denver up 20-7 (after a missed PAT).

Denver conceded a field goal on the Steelers’ ensuing drive, despite some big catches by Antonio Brown, who looked like he was finally starting to figure out Chris Harris.

Osweiler was huge on third down throughout the half, completing all eight of eight third downs, including the touchdown run and a touchdown pass.

The Denver defense was firing on all cylinders in the first half, putting up a total of 295 yards (207 through the air) and scoring four touchdowns. That total matched their output in four-quaters plus against New England, their previous high on the year.

Demaryius Thomas responded from a tough game against Oakland to have four catches for 52 yards with two touchdowns. But it was Emmanuel Sanders who accounted for the big gashes against his former team. In on half, Sanders accounted for 139 receiving yards and 24 rush yards.

As the Broncos learned last week, they have to come to play for a full 60 minutes.

There was some cause for concern at the end of the half, though, as Osweiler went to the locker room for treatment on his shoulder. Trevor Simian took the final kneel down snap to end the half. Osweiler was announced as probable to return for the second half.

As usual, the team from Mile High Sports was offering perspective and analysis, along with the greater-Denver media, on the events that transpired.

Afternoon Drive host Eric Goodman may have just summed up the first half perfectly…

But it wasn’t all roses for the Broncos. It was a simple game plan, most people thought…

But on the Broncos’ second play from scrimmage…

And two plays later Pittsburgh was in the end zone…

Although it was a confluence of events that led to the early deficit…

Brock responds to the bad first drive with a statement…

The Denver defense rewarded the offense with a huge three-and-out capped by a sack…

And in the blink of an eye, Denver was up 14-7 when Osweiler connected with Emmanuel Sanders…

Denver evened the turnover count when Bradley Roby tipped a pass to Josh Bush…

Brock ended the first quarter with a perfect quarterback rating…

And to start the second quarter, when the running backs couldn’t find the end zone, Osweiler took it himself…

Pittsburgh had to take to the air to try and get back in the game, but the No Fly Zone limited the Steelers’ high flying offense to a field goal…

One of the real keys to the first half was Denver’s efficiency on third down…

Which was a big product of Pittsburgh’s blitz strategy…

The Broncos offense was firing on all cylinders, getting a fourth touchdown of the half…

Denver’s D bent but didn’t break again, holding Pittsburgh to a field goal…

But there was some cause for concern at the end of the half…

Stay tuned Broncos fans, this one could be interesting if Osweiler can’t return.

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