Honorable Mention Stud – DeMarcus Ware
The veteran linebacker may be on the final leg chase for a Super Bowl title, but he’s playing with the passion and intensity of a first-year player.
After missing four weeks (10 through 13) and being limited in action in Weeks 14 through 17, Ware was on the field for more than 50 percent of the snaps on Sunday for the first time since Nov. 1.
Ware didn’t get to Ben Roethlisberger with the frequency he might have liked, especially considering Von Miller commanded double-teams for most of the day. But Ware and Miller made their one sack count, getting to the big Steelers quarterback late in the fourth quarter to quell a potential game-tying drive.
His biggest play of the day was a fumble recovery (caused by Bradley Roby), which resulted in the Broncos’ only touchdown of the day – one that proved to be the eventual game winner.
Ware’s biggest impact, though, might have been the steady hand he provided as the leader of a defense that struggled in the middle half of the game, giving up several plays of 30-plus yards. Behind Ware the defense settled down and made the late stops that mattered.
