Denver Broncos 23, Pittsburgh Steelers 16
It didn’t look good for the Broncos well into the third quarter. The Steelers had made big plays and controlled the clock most of the game. The Broncos could not convert on third down and despite never being down by more than four points, they looked unable to break out a game-changing play. Luckily for the 76,877 in attendance, the Broncos had been in this position many times before and made the plays late to steal a playoff victory.
Brandon McManus’ fourth field goal of the day inched them to a 13-12 deficit with 2:45 left in the third quarter. The score would stall there for nearly 15 more minutes of game clock. Both teams battled back and forth to try and take the upper hand but on a windy afternoon neither could finish a drive. As the clock ticked down, the turnover battle became a conscious thought for both teams. The Broncos came out on top 23-16 after the game’s lone turnover and not a moment too soon.
A late turnover by Steelers running back Fitzgerald Toussaint handed the Broncos the ball near midfield and suddenly the balanced attack the home team had been trying desperately to stoke into efficiency, came to life. They took the ball and ran off 6:52 of the game clock and scored eight points to take a 20-13 lead and ultimately seal the victory.
The game featured eight field goals and only two touchdowns. Several big plays were made by the Steelers while the Broncos waited until the fourth quarter to make a few of their own. The one turnover by the Steelers was ultimately the difference and after a field goal and a failed onside kick by the visitors, the Broncos walked off with a win to the relief of the crowd.
Here’s a look at what was said and who had the biggest impact in the Broncos thrilling win.
Best quotes
Gary Kubiak on another crazy win and the ups and downs of the season:
“There hasn’t been one way that we’ve won. We’ve kind of won all kinds of different ways. We’ve had a lot of different players contribute to our success when we’ve been successful. We’ve been through a quarterback ordeal with two guys playing, but here we are. That’s what team is all about and that’s what I’ve preached to them. I told them it would take them all today. It sure did. It will continue to take all of us as we move forward.”
Owen Daniels on the team’s ability to overcome tough situations and come out with a win:
“Teams don’t get to this point if you don’t have that mentality. If you don’t, you probably would have let some games slip away earlier in the season and we didn’t let that happen. For the most part, we were in a lot of ‘iffy’ situations, we were able to fight back and come out on top. Having that experience and being able to do that, you got to have that if you’re a playoff team.”
DeMarcus Ware on the personal significance of their entrance in the AFC Championship:
“It is real big. For me, I’ve played in a game like this and was never able to close it out. This right here is that chapter that you can write down and say you did that. For me, it is always, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ I’m still writing on that page and trying to get to the end. We’ll be ready for next week and I’m excited about it.”
Peyton Manning on the defense’s ability to come up with game-saving plays all season:
“Our defense has been outstanding all season. They have led us to this point. Let’s make that clear. Different guys stepped up at different times all season – David Bruton and [Darian] Stewart kind of combined for that interception on the last play at the Baltimore game; [Brandon] Marshall, [Bradley] Roby creating that fumble for a touchdown in the Chiefs game, and I could go on and on. Each game, key defensive players stepped it up, but you have to be a good team to win these playoff games and you have to win as a team. Defense did a great job holding them, and offensively, we did just enough to win.”
Best plays
The game had been a sloppy one, especially for the Broncos for nearly all four quarters. As the Steelers were driving into Denver territory, trying to increase their meager one-point lead, a big play needed to be made. The defense has incredibly been able to come up with turnovers all season when the team most desperately needs them. It happened again when Roethlisberger handed the ball off to Toussaint on a run over the left side.
“It was just something that we were stressing. We all needed to get a turnover, we hadn’t had one and the offense needed something. I saw [Toussaint] running the ball and I punched it out. Simple as that,” Bradley Roby said after the win.
The ball tumbled backwards and DeMarcus Ware was trailing the play and jumped on the ball for the game-changing turnover.
“On that play, I read pass, but it was a run play. I got off the ball pretty fast and I saw that it was a draw play and Roby came around, and he actually saves the day. He knocked the fumble out. It was a hustle play for me saying, ‘I know I messed up,’ and I needed to do a spin move to get the ball and save the day,” Ware said with a smile after the game.
The Broncos took the game’s only turnover and capitalized. They drove down the field, shifting the time of possession in their favor and scored on the 13-play drive. The took only their second lead of the game, their first since 3:40 remained in the opening quarter, and didn’t relinquish it.
Honorable mention: Bennie Fowler was the man of the hour on the team’s impressive touchdown drive. They ran the ball 10 times but on third-and-12 they needed a big time pass play to continue the drive. Fowler, who had dropped a pass earlier, sprung loose over the middle.
“Really they went to two-deep is what they did. They cut the cover-two. Peyton [Manning] read the covers well. Bennie bent to the post and he made a great throw. Bennie has made some big plays for us this year as a player,” Kubiak said of the vital first down.
It took nine more plays to punch it in for the game-winning score but Fowler’s play kept the drive alive.
MVP
In a playoff game featuring two likely future Hall of Fame quarterbacks it is strange to say that the biggest factor in the game was a kicker, but it was true Sunday afternoon. Brandon McManus fished the day five-of-five on field goals and kept the Broncos in the game until they could muster their one touchdown. The weather also played significant factor in the game and he had to deal with it on the fly.
“During warmups, we went out there and it was a pretty calm day, a nice, tempered day. We come out seven minutes before kickoff and I see a 30 MPH crosswind come in over the Rockies, so I wasn’t nervous at the time, but I knew it would make for an exciting day, and you know, play a little target practice out there,” McManus said from the podium Sunday night. “You kind of have to hit a ball to a spot and hopefully the wind takes it. I had that 51-yarder right before halftime. I thought it wasn’t going to be easy down the middle, and it barely snuck in that way.”
Only one of his field goals was within 40 yards (his first make was from 28 yards out) and his 51-yard field goal came as the first half expired and brought the Broncos to within one point, 10-9, after a forgettable opening two quarters. He remained focused throughout the contest while also hoping he wouldn’t be needed for any more three-point attempts.
“Anytime I think No. 18 [Peyton Manning] gets the ball, I’m thinking we’re going to score a touchdown. I try to prepare my mind for the extra point. We move the ball decently all game, and we weren’t able to at least punch them in for touchdowns, but I want to help my team any way I can. No matter the yards or the field goals, it’s kind of my job out there to make them,” he said.
Honorable mention: No one on the offense stood out but collectively they got it done. C.J. Anderson once again had some big plays when it mattered most and tied the team for their longest play, a 34-yard run in the second quarter that set up McManus’ longest field goal. He also accounted for the team’s only touchdown, a one-yard run with 3:00 left in the game. He finished the day with 72 yards rushing on 15 carries for a great 4.8 yard average per carry.
Defensive MVP
The MVP discussion is a tough one to make when the defense collectively played a “bend but don’t break” ball game. At time they missed coverages and allowed giant gains for the Steelers while at other moments they came up with game-saving plays. The most consistent player Sunday afternoon may have been veteran corner back Aqib Talib. Chris Harris Jr. was dealing with a shoulder injury that took him out of the game often and Bradley Roby looked fooled several times and missed some big tackles.
Talib finished the day with just four tackles and two passes defensed but they were all at big moments. The two passes defensed in particular both occurred in the end zone and one was on as early fourth down attempt by the Steelers. Talib covered several Steelers receivers but was impressed by one in particular.
“Martavis Bryant, that’s a great receiver. One day he is going to have a nice pay day. He’s an excellent receiver. He could easily be their No. 1 receiver, and he came out and played a great game for them. They just came up short,” Talib said from his locker.
Bryant, in Antonio Brown’s absence, caught a game-high nine passes for 154 yards but Talib held him scoreless on his one shot at a touchdown. Both end zone plays were broken up by perfectly timed pass break ups by Talib.
Honorable mention: Ware played a solid game and came up big at two critical times in the contest. He finished with three combined tackles, two for a loss, one sack and a fumble recovery. His recovered fumble represented the lone turnover in the ball game and his sack appeared with 1:56 left on the Steelers second fourth-down attempt of the game as they tried to answer directly after the Broncos took their fourth quarter lead,
Best Statistics
The best statistic that came out of Sunday’s game was Denver’s continued record in close games. The Broncos improved to 10-3 this season in games decided by seven points or less. The fact was not lost on Manning, who has become accustomed to such wins since week one.
“I think it helps playing a lot of close games during the course of the season, starting with the very first one against Baltimore. That was a dog fight, grinder and went down to the last drive. If you can be in a lot of those games and win those games, it certainly gives you confidence and, hey, it’s playoff football,” he said.
The balanced offensive game plan was also a welcome sight. Despite their inability to convert third downs (20 percent success rate), they stayed true to their game plan and it ultimately paid off. The Broncos called 38 pass plays and 32 runs. Their late touchdown drive consisted of 10 runs and three passes and seemed to wear down the Steelers.
“I think it is one of those things where it [wore] them down,” Daniels said after the game. “You have to stay committed to it, even when you are not getting big chunks, continue to wear them down and trust that it is going to pay off.”
On defense, the Broncos held the Steelers to one touchdown and three field goals despite allowing several big plays. They buckled down on third downs, allowing the Steelers to convert just two-of-12 attempts.
As a team, the Broncos were flagged for just four penalties and after a team effort won both the turnover battle (1-0) and time of possession, holding the ball for 31:33 of game clock.
Up next
The Broncos victory set up another matchup with the defending Super Bowl Champions. The New England Patriots will come to town next Sunday ready to avenge their Week 12 30-24 overtime loss. The Patriots made triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, winning by a score of 27-20.
Manning will meet Tom Brady for the 17th time, but was concentrating on the big win last night when asked about the upcoming AFC Championship.
“Obviously, we’re excited to be in the game. We knew we were going to have to beat a good football team tonight in order to get there. We’ll try to enjoy this one tonight and then get a jump start on preparing for that game on Monday and then we’ll talk about who we’re playing on Wednesday,” he said plainly Sunday night.
The defense played a battered Patriots offense in late November and with several key offensive players back for Brady, Derek Wolfe understands the challenge ahead.
“Well, it’s always harder to beat a team twice in the same season. If anything, we’re at a disadvantage. We’re going to have to really be on top of our game.”
Von Miller was also watching their game closely Saturday and echoed Wolfe’s sentiments after Sunday’s victory saying, “They looked good. Having Julian Edelman back is just another plus for those guys, but you know, tonight, we played a great game tonight. I’m happy for all my guys. We’re going to celebrate tonight and get right on the Patriots tomorrow … That’s what we got. I wouldn’t want it any other way. They’re one of the best teams in the AFC, let’s go out and play and see who wants the Super Bowl.”
Email Sam at sam@milehighsports.com and follow him on Twitter @SamCowhick.