AFC West: Ryan Clark
Breakdown: Peyton Manning’s first game as the Broncos’ quarterback will be against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the same team that former Denver quarterback Tim Tebow beat in the playoffs in his second-to-last game with the team. The NFL will put Manning in the immediate spotlight -- his Broncos debut and first game since the 2010 season will be on Sunday night in Week 1.
The Broncos have two Monday night games, starting in Week 2 at Atlanta. They play in Week 6 at San Diego as well. The prime-time power of Manning is strong. Denver hosts New Orleans in Week 8 on "Sunday Night Football" and plays at Oakland in Week 14 on Thursday night.
The Broncos have the second-toughest schedule in the NFL, but they play three of their first four games at home and they play their final two games of the season at home.
Complaint department: It’s simply a byproduct of the tough schedule. There are no breaks. The season looks like one tough stretch. Denver must take advantage of starting and finishing the season at home.
The Ryan Clark factor: The Steelers’ standout safety missed the final game of his 2011 season and he will miss the first game of his 2012 season. He has a physical condition that makes it highly dangerous for him to play in the high altitude of Denver. He lost his spleen and gallbladder after playing a game there in 2007. Just a another reason the Steelers are probably not thrilled to go back to Denver so soon after the painful playoff loss.
Broncos Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Week 2: Monday, Sept. 17, at Atlanta, 8:30 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, Houston, 4:15 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, Oakland, 4:05 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, at New England, 4:15 PM
Week 6: Monday, Oct. 15, at San Diego, 8:30 PM
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, New Orleans, 8:20 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, at Carolina, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, Tampa Bay, 4:05 PM
Week 14: Thursday, Dec. 6, at Oakland, 8:20 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, Cleveland, 4:05 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, Kansas City, 4:15 PM
The Broncos have two Monday night games, starting in Week 2 at Atlanta. They play in Week 6 at San Diego as well. The prime-time power of Manning is strong. Denver hosts New Orleans in Week 8 on "Sunday Night Football" and plays at Oakland in Week 14 on Thursday night.
The Broncos have the second-toughest schedule in the NFL, but they play three of their first four games at home and they play their final two games of the season at home.
Complaint department: It’s simply a byproduct of the tough schedule. There are no breaks. The season looks like one tough stretch. Denver must take advantage of starting and finishing the season at home.
The Ryan Clark factor: The Steelers’ standout safety missed the final game of his 2011 season and he will miss the first game of his 2012 season. He has a physical condition that makes it highly dangerous for him to play in the high altitude of Denver. He lost his spleen and gallbladder after playing a game there in 2007. Just a another reason the Steelers are probably not thrilled to go back to Denver so soon after the painful playoff loss.
Broncos Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Week 2: Monday, Sept. 17, at Atlanta, 8:30 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, Houston, 4:15 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, Oakland, 4:05 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, at New England, 4:15 PM
Week 6: Monday, Oct. 15, at San Diego, 8:30 PM
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, New Orleans, 8:20 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, at Carolina, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, Tampa Bay, 4:05 PM
Week 14: Thursday, Dec. 6, at Oakland, 8:20 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, Cleveland, 4:05 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, Kansas City, 4:15 PM
DENVER -- The inactives for Sunday’s wild-card game between the Broncos and Steelers have been announced.
There are no surprises. Below are the inactive lists for each team for a game that will be played in chilly, but clear conditions:
DENVER
S Brian Dawkins
FB Austin Sylvester
FB Spencer Larsen
LB Mike Mohamed
T Ryan Harris
TE Julius Thomas
DE Derrick Harvey
PITTSBURGH
RB Mewelde Moore
S Ryan Clark
CB Cortez Allen
C Maurkice Pouncey
LB Mortty Ivy
DE Al Woods
T Jamon Meredith
There are no surprises. Below are the inactive lists for each team for a game that will be played in chilly, but clear conditions:
DENVER
S Brian Dawkins
FB Austin Sylvester
FB Spencer Larsen
LB Mike Mohamed
T Ryan Harris
TE Julius Thomas
DE Derrick Harvey
PITTSBURGH
RB Mewelde Moore
S Ryan Clark
CB Cortez Allen
C Maurkice Pouncey
LB Mortty Ivy
DE Al Woods
T Jamon Meredith
Will bum ankle give Denver a chance?
January, 4, 2012
Jan 4
4:30
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he suffered “a little setback” in his recovery from an ankle injury when he played against Cleveland on Sunday.
"I had a little setback early in the third quarter," Roethlisberger told reporters in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. "We’re working really hard with the trainers and doctors to get back to even where we were before the Cleveland game. I felt pretty good going in and moved a little bit at the beginning of that game. It’s a little setback but we’ll get moving."
Roethlisberger and the Steelers play at Denver in a wild-card game Sunday. The 12-4 Steelers are heavy favorites against the 8-8 Broncos, who have lost three straight games. Yet, the Steelers are already playing without running back Rashard Mendenhall and safety Ryan Clark. With Roethlisberger still gimpy, perhaps the home team has some hope.
There’s no doubt Roethlisberger's play has been affected by the injury. Since the injury he has completed 56 of 96 passes (58.3 percent) for 729 yards. He has thrown one touchdown and four interceptions for a 68.4 passer rating.
In other AFC West news:
"I had a little setback early in the third quarter," Roethlisberger told reporters in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. "We’re working really hard with the trainers and doctors to get back to even where we were before the Cleveland game. I felt pretty good going in and moved a little bit at the beginning of that game. It’s a little setback but we’ll get moving."
Roethlisberger and the Steelers play at Denver in a wild-card game Sunday. The 12-4 Steelers are heavy favorites against the 8-8 Broncos, who have lost three straight games. Yet, the Steelers are already playing without running back Rashard Mendenhall and safety Ryan Clark. With Roethlisberger still gimpy, perhaps the home team has some hope.
There’s no doubt Roethlisberger's play has been affected by the injury. Since the injury he has completed 56 of 96 passes (58.3 percent) for 729 yards. He has thrown one touchdown and four interceptions for a 68.4 passer rating.
In other AFC West news:
- Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs takes some shots at Denver quarterback Tim Tebow and the Raiders.
- ESPN’s John Clayton looks at the potential quarterback options for Denver in 2012 if the team moves away from the struggling Tebow after the playoffs.
- There wasn’t a big AFC West representation on Clayton’s All-Pro team.
- ESPN columnist Ashley Fox looks at the Chargers’ decision to keep Norv Turner as coach.
- Denver linebacker Von Miller has dropped on ESPN.com’s rookie watch. Miller has been essentially playing with one arm because he is wearing a cast after undergoing thumb surgery in late November.
Steelers S Ryan Clark won't play in Denver
January, 3, 2012
Jan 3
1:40
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
When the Pittsburgh Steelers held safety Ryan Clark out of a game at Denver in 2009, there was some talk if the Steelers ever came to Denver for a playoff game, a different decision may be made.
No, it wasn’t.
Taking a firm hand and quickly ending any speculation, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday that Clark will not play in Denver during the Steelers-Broncos AFC wild-card game Sunday.
Clark has sickle cell trait; a condition that can trigger serious medical complications in high altitudes. In a 2007 game there, Clark became violently ill and lost his spleen and gall bladder because of deprivation of oxygen to his major organs.
Really, Tomlin had no choice but to make this call. The Steelers will also be without running back Rashard Mendenhall because of a serious knee injury, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not 100 percent because of an ankle injury. Still, the visiting Steelers are heavily favored over the Broncos, who backed into the playoffs with three straight defeats.
In other Steelers-Broncos nuggets::
ESPN.com’s playoff predictor
, an Insider piece, doesn’t like the Broncos’ Super Bowl chances. I don’t blame it.
In an Insider piece, the Football Outsiders show some alarming results of Tim Tebow's recent performances. He is not throwing or running the ball well and the result, according to this article, is the Broncos have little chance of beating the Steelers.
No, it wasn’t.
Taking a firm hand and quickly ending any speculation, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday that Clark will not play in Denver during the Steelers-Broncos AFC wild-card game Sunday.
Clark has sickle cell trait; a condition that can trigger serious medical complications in high altitudes. In a 2007 game there, Clark became violently ill and lost his spleen and gall bladder because of deprivation of oxygen to his major organs.
Really, Tomlin had no choice but to make this call. The Steelers will also be without running back Rashard Mendenhall because of a serious knee injury, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not 100 percent because of an ankle injury. Still, the visiting Steelers are heavily favored over the Broncos, who backed into the playoffs with three straight defeats.
In other Steelers-Broncos nuggets::
ESPN.com’s playoff predictor
, an Insider piece, doesn’t like the Broncos’ Super Bowl chances. I don’t blame it.
In an Insider piece, the Football Outsiders
show some alarming results of Tim Tebow's recent performances. He is not throwing or running the ball well and the result, according to this article, is the Broncos have little chance of beating the Steelers.
Three things to know about next week's Pittsburgh Steelers-Denver Broncos wild-card game:
1. Backing in: The Broncos aren’t exactly storming into the playoffs after a six-year break. Denver has lost three straight games after turning around its season with a six-game winning streak. The Broncos are the seventh team in NFL history to make the playoffs on the heels of a three-game skid to end the season. Denver made the playoffs because the San Diego Chargers beat the Oakland Raiders on the road. Denver, Oakland and San Diego all finished 8-8. The Broncos advance to the postseason against the 12-4 Steelers on the merits of a tiebreaker. Unless Denver’s offense and beleaguered quarterback Tim Tebow get out of its doldrums, it will be short postseason ride in the Rockies.
2. Steelers are banged up: The best thing Denver, who lost standout guard Chris Kuper to a potentially bad lower-leg injury Sunday, has going for it is the Steelers are hurting, too. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not completely healed from an ankle injury. Running back Rashard Mendenhall injured his knee Sunday and will miss the playoff game. Pittsburgh may also be without safety Ryan Clark, who has a rare sickle-cell trait that is affected by high altitudes. He missed a game in Denver in 2009 because he became violently ill during a game against the Broncos in 2007.
3. Bad playoff memories: The last time Denver played in the playoffs was a home loss to the Steelers in the 2005 AFC championship game. The Steelers ran away from Denver early and the game was never close. The Broncos have long rued that blown opportunity to go to the Super Bowl at home. Now, they will try to rekindle their playoff dreams against the same team.
1. Backing in: The Broncos aren’t exactly storming into the playoffs after a six-year break. Denver has lost three straight games after turning around its season with a six-game winning streak. The Broncos are the seventh team in NFL history to make the playoffs on the heels of a three-game skid to end the season. Denver made the playoffs because the San Diego Chargers beat the Oakland Raiders on the road. Denver, Oakland and San Diego all finished 8-8. The Broncos advance to the postseason against the 12-4 Steelers on the merits of a tiebreaker. Unless Denver’s offense and beleaguered quarterback Tim Tebow get out of its doldrums, it will be short postseason ride in the Rockies.
2. Steelers are banged up: The best thing Denver, who lost standout guard Chris Kuper to a potentially bad lower-leg injury Sunday, has going for it is the Steelers are hurting, too. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not completely healed from an ankle injury. Running back Rashard Mendenhall injured his knee Sunday and will miss the playoff game. Pittsburgh may also be without safety Ryan Clark, who has a rare sickle-cell trait that is affected by high altitudes. He missed a game in Denver in 2009 because he became violently ill during a game against the Broncos in 2007.
3. Bad playoff memories: The last time Denver played in the playoffs was a home loss to the Steelers in the 2005 AFC championship game. The Steelers ran away from Denver early and the game was never close. The Broncos have long rued that blown opportunity to go to the Super Bowl at home. Now, they will try to rekindle their playoff dreams against the same team.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
DENVER -- Kyle Orton's second interception of the season could haunt the Denver Broncos.
Orton hurled an overthrown pass and it was intercepted by Pittsburgh safety Tyrone Carter, who returned it 48 yards for a touchdown to give Pittsburgh a 7-3 lead with 12:50 to go in the second quarter.
It was Orton’s second interception of the season. His only other interception was a Hail Mary at the end of the first half against New England on Oct. 11. It was intercepted by Patriots receiver Randy Moss.
Carter is playing because starting safety Ryan Clark is inactive over health concerns. Clark has a rare sickle-cell trait that causes his body to adversely react to exertion in high altitudes. In 2007, the last time Clark played in Denver, he had complications that led to him losing his spleen and gall bladder.
DENVER -- Kyle Orton's second interception of the season could haunt the Denver Broncos.
Orton hurled an overthrown pass and it was intercepted by Pittsburgh safety Tyrone Carter, who returned it 48 yards for a touchdown to give Pittsburgh a 7-3 lead with 12:50 to go in the second quarter.
It was Orton’s second interception of the season. His only other interception was a Hail Mary at the end of the first half against New England on Oct. 11. It was intercepted by Patriots receiver Randy Moss.
Carter is playing because starting safety Ryan Clark is inactive over health concerns. Clark has a rare sickle-cell trait that causes his body to adversely react to exertion in high altitudes. In 2007, the last time Clark played in Denver, he had complications that led to him losing his spleen and gall bladder.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
DENVER -- Below are the inactive players from Monday night’s game.
As expected, Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark is inactive because of concerns over his health. He has a rare sickle-cell trait that causes his body to adversely react to exertion in high altitudes. In 2007, the last time Clark played in Denver, he had complications that led him to lose his spleen and gall bladder.
PITTSBURGH
2 Dennis Dixon 3QB
25 Ryan Clark S
65 Kraig Urbik G
66 Tony Hills T
77 Sunny Harris DE
81 Shaun McDonald WR
90 Travis Kirschke DE
94 Lawrence Timmons LB
DENVER
3 Tom Brandstater 3QB
22 Peyton Hillis RB
30 David Bruton S
70 Seth Olsen G
74 Ryan Harris T
81 Richard Quinn TE
84 Brandon Lloyd WR
98 Ryan McBean DL
DENVER -- Below are the inactive players from Monday night’s game.
As expected, Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark is inactive because of concerns over his health. He has a rare sickle-cell trait that causes his body to adversely react to exertion in high altitudes. In 2007, the last time Clark played in Denver, he had complications that led him to lose his spleen and gall bladder.
PITTSBURGH
2 Dennis Dixon 3QB
25 Ryan Clark S
65 Kraig Urbik G
66 Tony Hills T
77 Sunny Harris DE
81 Shaun McDonald WR
90 Travis Kirschke DE
94 Lawrence Timmons LB
DENVER
3 Tom Brandstater 3QB
22 Peyton Hillis RB
30 David Bruton S
70 Seth Olsen G
74 Ryan Harris T
81 Richard Quinn TE
84 Brandon Lloyd WR
98 Ryan McBean DL
Five keys to the game for Denver
November, 8, 2009
11/08/09
9:50
PM ET
By
Bill Williamson | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson
DENVER -- Here are five keys to Monday night’s game for Denver (6-1) against visiting Pittsburgh (5-2):
Start fast: If Denver has had a problem this season, it is starting slowly. It has had to rely on great second-half play. The second-half luck ran out in Baltimore in Week 8, but the Broncos must take pressure off of themselves and jump to a lead. It will be interesting to see how this team would react to not have to scramble back into games. Plus, there’s bound to be a lot of Pittsburgh fans at the game (the streets of Denver were teeming with folks in Steelers’ gear Sunday), so the Broncos must take the Steelers fans out of the game early. In the 2005 AFC Championship Game, the Steelers took early control of the game and their fans took over the stadium in a 34-17 Pittsburgh win. Denver can’t allow that to happen again.
Control the no-huddle offense: There has been talk that the Steelers will try to use more no-huddle to keep the Broncos off balance. The Ravens had great success using the no-huddle in Week 8. Denver has responded well to everything thrown at them this season, so if the Steelers come with the no-huddle, the Broncos have to be ready.
Take advantage of the Steelers' injury issues on defense: The Steelers may be without three key defensive starters because of health issues. Defensive end Travis Kirschke, inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons and safety Ryan Clark are all unlikely to play. The Broncos must take advantage and get their offense going against the limping Steelers. This is a great opportunity for the Broncos.
Run the ball: The Broncos must keep Pittsburgh’s defense honest by running the ball. Correll Buckhalter and rookie Knowshon Moreno have been a good tandem for most of the season. But the pair struggled at Baltimore. These two must establish the run to create an offensive rhythm. That will allow Denver quarterback Kyle Orton to play his game and be more effective than he was against the Ravens.
Tighten the special-teams coverage unit: Denver allowed a punt return for a touchdown against San Diego and a kick return for a score last week against Baltimore. It can’t surrender a special-teams touchdown for the third straight game. This game probably will be closely contested. Denver can’t give an excellent team such as Pittsburgh a freebie as it did the past two games.
DENVER -- Here are five keys to Monday night’s game for Denver (6-1) against visiting Pittsburgh (5-2):
Start fast: If Denver has had a problem this season, it is starting slowly. It has had to rely on great second-half play. The second-half luck ran out in Baltimore in Week 8, but the Broncos must take pressure off of themselves and jump to a lead. It will be interesting to see how this team would react to not have to scramble back into games. Plus, there’s bound to be a lot of Pittsburgh fans at the game (the streets of Denver were teeming with folks in Steelers’ gear Sunday), so the Broncos must take the Steelers fans out of the game early. In the 2005 AFC Championship Game, the Steelers took early control of the game and their fans took over the stadium in a 34-17 Pittsburgh win. Denver can’t allow that to happen again.
Control the no-huddle offense: There has been talk that the Steelers will try to use more no-huddle to keep the Broncos off balance. The Ravens had great success using the no-huddle in Week 8. Denver has responded well to everything thrown at them this season, so if the Steelers come with the no-huddle, the Broncos have to be ready.
Take advantage of the Steelers' injury issues on defense: The Steelers may be without three key defensive starters because of health issues. Defensive end Travis Kirschke, inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons and safety Ryan Clark are all unlikely to play. The Broncos must take advantage and get their offense going against the limping Steelers. This is a great opportunity for the Broncos.
Run the ball: The Broncos must keep Pittsburgh’s defense honest by running the ball. Correll Buckhalter and rookie Knowshon Moreno have been a good tandem for most of the season. But the pair struggled at Baltimore. These two must establish the run to create an offensive rhythm. That will allow Denver quarterback Kyle Orton to play his game and be more effective than he was against the Ravens.
Tighten the special-teams coverage unit: Denver allowed a punt return for a touchdown against San Diego and a kick return for a score last week against Baltimore. It can’t surrender a special-teams touchdown for the third straight game. This game probably will be closely contested. Denver can’t give an excellent team such as Pittsburgh a freebie as it did the past two games.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Bill Williamson
Williamson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Denver Broncos for the Denver Post. He previously covered the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
