Denver Broncos Squeak Past Steelers, Win 23-16

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Broncos Jump Out to Early Lead, but Trail at Halftime

To start the game, the Pittsburg Steelers received the opening kickoff, resulting in a quick three-and-out. Following the punt, the Denver Broncos managed to gain 20 yards off of five plays, setting up Brandon McManus for a 28-yard field goal attempt. McManus nailed the kick, putting the Denver Broncos up early, 3-0.

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The Denver Broncos defense looked locked-in early in the first quarter, forcing a turnover on downs on the Steelers’ following drive after the field goal. Each team punted once before the Denver Broncos tacked on three more points. Despite having good field position, the Pittsburg Steelers managed to force the Denver Broncos to a three-and-out, but McManus hit his second field goal of the first quarter, this time a 41-yard field goal.

With the Steelers down 6-0, their passing attack came alive in the following drive. Martavis Bryant headlined the drive for the Steelers, catching a 23-yard pass from Roethlisberger, and he had an impressive reverse for 40 yards on the next play. With the 40 yard rush, Bryant now has back-to-back games with a rush for 40 yards or more. A couple of plays later, Fitzgerald Toussaint plowed into the endzone from the one-yard line for the touchdown, putting the Steelers up 7-6.

The Denver Broncos gave up 133 yards to the Steelers in the first quarter, the most yards they have given up in any first quarter this season. The Denver Broncos’ offense looked to sputter towards the end of the first quarter, and it lingered into the beginning of the second quarter, resulting in a punt on their first drive of the second quarter.

After the punt, the Pittsburg Steelers had unfavorable field position, but behind Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers managed to march down the field for a field goal. The Denver Broncos had the Steelers where they wanted them; however, on a busted coverage, Roethlisberger connected with Darius Heyward-Bey for 58 yards. Chris Boswell knocked in his 43-yard attempt to extend the lead to 10-6.

Following the field goal, the Denver Broncos struggled to get much going in their offensive attack. The Denver Broncos’ receivers failed to haul in catchable passes on numerous occasions, with C.J. Anderson and Bennie Fowler both dropping key passes. Sure, Peyton Manning’s throws could use some work, but these passes were still hitting the receivers in the hands.

While inside the 45-yard line, the Denver Broncos and Gary Kubiak opted to go for it on fourth-and-short. Peyton Manning found Emmanuel Sanders on a short pass, but Sanders took a big hit that resulted in an incomplete pass, forcing a turnover-on-downs. The Steelers could not do much with the favorable field position and punted the ball on the following drive.

The Pittsburg Steelers’ punt backed the Denver Broncos inside their own 10-yard line, but C.J. Anderson broke free for a big run to put the team in Steelers’ territory. Outside of the impressive run, the Denver Broncos struggled to get much going, leaving them with a lengthy field goal attempt just before half time. From 51 yards out (and a 24 mph crosswind), McManus made the field goal to cut the Denver Broncos’ deficit to one point, 10-9.

Next: Denver Broncos Down at Halftime, Moving on to 2nd Half

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