NFL Monday Night Recap - Steelers/Broncos

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After a rather slow and tedious first half, the Pittsburgh Steelers used their running attack in the second half to separate themselves from the Denver Broncos. The Steelers offense received a second half kickstart from their ground attack and turned the tables on Denver. The win keeps Pittsburgh tied with the Cincinnati Bengals atop the AFC Central at 6-2. Cincy currently owns the tiebreaker due to an earlier victory. Pittsburgh hosts the Bengals this week.

Meanwhile, Denver's second consecutive loss leaves them one game ahead of the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West. In two weeks, San Diego will visit Invesco for a crucial divisional matchup. First place could be on the line when they meet. The Broncos are also 6-2 and the Bolts are 5-3 after their win against the New York Giants on Sunday.

Some thoughts on last night's tilt.

1. A tale of two halves to say the least. Denver dominated the first half in every statistical category except the most important stat, the score. In fact, Pittsburgh did not have a single offensive play on the Broncos side of the field during the first half. But Pittsburgh reversed its fortune in the second half primarily on the legs of RB Rashard Mendenhall and his 155 total rushing yards. The Steelers running game had been a bit stagnant as of late but Mendenhall gashed the Broncos defense in the second half.

2. The Broncos were victims of their own mistakes. Broncos QB Kyle Orton tossed 3 INT with one of his picks being returned for a TD by S Tyrone Carter (left) and was the only TD either team scored in the first half. Oddly fact, the Steelers defense had accounted for the last three TDs the Steelers as a team had scored. Another odd thing. Carter was starting at safety due to S Ryan Clark being inactive. As many have heard, during the Steelers last Denver visit, Clark had his gall bladder and spleen removed to do complications of sickle cell trait. The trait is further complicated by altitude.

3. A sort stretch in the third quarter turned the game. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger dropped back to passed and had the ball stripped. Broncos LB Robert Ayers scooped up the ball and ran 54 yards for a Broncos TD. That made the score 10-7, Broncos. Most teams would have wanted to run a few plays just to get their heads back on straight. Not Ben and the Steelers offense. Roethlisberger led Pittsburgh on a 4 play, 80 yard drive that took all of 2:07. That quick scoring drive proved to be the difference in the game as the Steeler defense took over from there allowing only 27 rushing yards for the game.

4. Invesco is known as a difficult place to play. A sea of orange usually drapes the stands. Not last evening. A common phrase used in college sports is "the team travels well". It refers to a visiting team that has a large number of fans that attend their away games. The Steelers "travel well". In fact, it sounded like the crowd was more for Pittsburgh than Denver. I guess that happens when you win a Super Bowl...or six.

Next Monday, The Baltimore Ravens fly into Cleveland to challenge the Browns.