Broncos-Steelers: Similar feel, different outcome
The Denver Broncos 23-16 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional Playoff should have come as no surprise to fans in Denver or observers across the NFL landscape. Denver did just as it has done so many times this season: Just enough to get the win.
For the 13th time this year, the outcome of the game was decided by only one score, and for the 10th time that outcome ended in Denver’s favor. The game was again a total team effort, and this time they walked away from the Steelers with a seven-point win.
The Denver defense surrendered its highest yardage total of the season, giving up 396 yards to Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers. But most of that yardage came in-between the 20s and Pittsburgh was held to just one touchdown and three field goals on the day.
The Broncos offense, on the other hand, did just enough with their excellent field position to put points on the board on six different drives. They capitalized on the game’s only turnover, putting their only touchdown of the day on the board after a Steelers fumble. It proved to be the difference in the game.
Special teams was the real difference-maker, as the Broncos punt unit routinely pinned Pittsburgh deep, put the offense in good positions and the field goal unit was a perfect five-for-five.
It took a village to get the win, but here’s who shined brightest (and who needed some help from the rest of town) against the Steelers in the AFC Divisional Playoff.
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.
Dud No. 3 – Broncos Play Calling / Timeout Management
Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos coaching staff were very lucky that timeouts really didn’t come into play in the closing minutes of the game because their management of those crucial game tools was lackluster at best.
Denver twice burned timeouts mid-quarter (one after a first down and one after a second down) and failed to capitalize afterwards. The first (3rd Q) resulted in an incomplete pass attempt to Jordan Norwood and an eventual field goal that looked like it was coming either way. The other (4th Q) led to a Ronnie Hillman rush that was stopped for a loss of minus-four yards and a punt two plays later.
Their final timeout was used to strategize the two-point conversion. It’s hard to knock that one, as it was successful and gave Denver a seven-point lead, but it also left them with no timeouts inside the two-minute warning. Luckily they weren’t needed, but it could have been a big issue if Pittsburgh had tied the game late.
Also a bit concerning was the play calling early in the game. Denver proved late in the game that they could control the clock with the run game, yet in their first six possessions they elected to pass on 15 of their first 24 plays including two drives that ended in punts in which they threw on 11 of 12 plays in those drives.
Stud No. 3 – Kayvon Webster
On Saturday, Kayvon Webster’s forced the Broncos to release the rare Saturday injury report. The cornerback / special teamer was suffering an “illness” that caused him to be throwing up all day, according to reports.
On Sunday, he had the Steelers feeling sick, routinely pinning them deep in their own territory on punt coverage and nearly making a game-changing fumble recovery.
Twice Webster prevented a return, once inside the five-yard line and another at the Pittsburgh 21. Midway through the third quarter he caused Steelers returner Markus Wheaton to muff a punt, which he nearly recovered. Wheaton fell on the ball and was inches away from being downed at the one-yard line. He eventually slid in for a touchback, but the momentum of the play caused a three-and-out for the Steelers.
As the Broncos continue to try and survive without gunner and special teams captain David Bruton, who is out on injured reserve, Webster came up huge and helped Denver win the special teams battle on Sunday.
Dud No. 2 – Chris Harris Jr.
It’s hard to pick on Chris Harris Jr. after the rough outing he had against Pittsburgh in Week 15. But that’s exactly what Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin did again in the Divisional Playoff on Sunday against the second-team All-Pro cornerback who is clearly hobbled by injury right now.
Harris has been one of the top cornerbacks in the league for several years running, but on Sunday it was clear that his left shoulder injury is not only limiting him in coverage, it’s also severely affecting his tackling ability.
Denver played much more zone coverage against the Steelers this week as compared to their Week 15 loss, and also giving up more yardage in man coverage situations, but Harris could not close the gaps as quickly as we’re used to seeing him do and he let receivers slip past him in multiple tackling situations.
For only the second time all season and the third time in three years, Harris registered a negative grade from Pro Football Focus. Harris needs to get healthy and fast or he could be a liability against the Patriots’ receiving corps.
Stud No. 2 – Aqib Talib
On a day in which the Broncos secondary was again susceptible to giving up big plays against the Steelers wide receivers, the biggest plays might have been Aqib Talib’s end zone defense against them. Talib registered two passes defended on the day, both of which came in the end zone and prevented potential tide-turning touchdowns.
On a fourth-and-one on Pittsburgh’s second possession, Ben Roethlisberger took a shot at the end zone with Markus Wheaton and Talib made a spectacular leaping defense of the pass. The play kept points off the board and Denver’s ensuing possession pinned the Steelers back on their own three-yard line. Denver would extend their lead to 6-0 shortly thereafter.
The second came at a much more critical time. Pittsburgh was leading 10-9 and driving on their first possession of the second half. Denver had failed to score on the opening possession and the Steelers were at the Broncos’ 10-yard line with a chance to go up by two scores. Talib went to battle with Martavis Bryant and emerged the victor, forcing the Steelers to settle for a field goal.
Without those two plays, Denver is booking beach time this week.
Dud No. 1 – The Pass Catchers
We can’t confine this list to the wide receivers, as C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman both had breadbasket passes fall to the turf, but the trend of drops by pass catchers continued again Sunday to an alarming degree.
At final count there were upwards of seven dropped passes by Denver wide receivers, tight ends and running backs, and just about everyone was to blame. Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Bennie Fowler and Jordan Norwood all dropped passes (in addition to Anderson and Hillman). Only Virgil Green and Cody Latimer were perfect on targets on the day, each going two-for-two.
Peyton Manning ended the day 21-of-37 for 222 yards – not great and certainly not terrible. None of those drops or misses resulted in interceptions (although a couple very nearly did), so Denver avoided the critical mistakes. But they also could have turned the tide in their favor by converting on even half of those drops, several of which came on third down.
Mistakes like that will not fly against the Patriots. As Denver learned in their first meeting this year with Tom Brady, they’re going to have to put the ball in the end zone. That’s going to mean the receivers have to convert.
Stud No. 1 – Brandon McManus
From Week 12 through Week 16, Broncos fans were starting to wonder if the Brandon McManus who lost his job to Connor Barth in 2014 had returned. Over that five-game stretch, McManus missed one kick in each game, including an extra point.
The worst of the lot was a dead-pull shank against the Bengals that would have won the game. McManus got redemption in overtime, eventually booting the Broncos to victory.
He got much more than that on Sunday, tying a playoff record with his five field goals on five attempts. He accounted for 65 percent of Denver’s offense on the day and did so in some of the toughest conditions of his career. At one point McManus faced a 30 mph cross-wind, yet nailed kicks of 51 yards, 45 yards and two from 41 yards.
Adding to his stellar performance, he was six-for-six on kickoff touchbacks despite that vicious wind.
In the January issue of Mile High Sports Magazine, McManus told Julie Browman, “I always want to be the person who attempts the game-winning kick. I want it to come down to me.”
McManus didn’t have to kick with the game on the line Sunday, but it did ultimately come down to him.