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	Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
	Quarterback Kyle Orton looked uncomfortable and made uncharacteristic mistakes Monday night against the Steelers, throwing three interceptions.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER -- The Denver Broncos are suddenly no longer the charming story of the NFL and by no means have firm control of the AFC West.

Since coming out of their bye week at 6-0, the Broncos have transformed into the lackluster team they were expected to be prior to the season. Although the entire Denver team is reeling, the problems start with the offense and quarterback Kyle Orton.

Orton, acquired in the Jay Cutler trade with Chicago, is suddenly not the cool customer he was when he led Denver to a 6-0 start.

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Orton followed up a poor outing against Baltimore with his sloppiest game of the season as Denver lost to Pittsburgh 28-10 on Monday night. Orton couldn't get Denver into a rhythm and was forced into mistakes he wasn’t making during the early part of the season.

Orton looked uncomfortable and was unable to lead his team for the second straight week. Denver was beaten 30-7 at Baltimore in Week 8.

For his part, Orton kept his poise after the game.

“We lost to two good football teams,” Orton said. “We will try to come back and play better at Washington [on Sunday] … It’s a team game and the offense didn’t play very well.”

Although he deserves points for not panicking, Orton would probably be wise to feel some urgency.

The San Diego Chargers are roaring back into the AFC West race, which looked all but over three weeks ago. The Chargers have won three straight games and are now 5-3. They trail Denver by a game in the division. The two teams play in Denver on Nov. 22.

Orton needs to find his early-season rhythm by that game. Orton was intercepted three times Monday night after throwing just one interception in the first seven games. The first two interceptions (one was returned for a score) Monday led to Pittsburgh points and the final interception ended the game.

Orton had been so patient and instinctive early in the season. Last week and on Monday night, he was throwing into traffic, overthrowing targets and passing off of his back foot. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Orton had a passer rating of zero in the fourth quarter.

Essentially, he looked like the mediocre quarterback he was with the Bears, not the early-season MVP candidate he had been this season.

Denver never had a trip into the red zone against Pittsburgh. Its lone touchdown came on defense. In the past two games, Denver’s offense has scored 10 points. Against Baltimore, Denver entered Ravens territory just three times.

	AP Photo/David Zalubowski
	Correll Buckhalter and Knowshown Moreno (not pictured) couldn't get on track against Pittsburgh, gaining just 27 rushing yards combined.

Making matters worse for Orton was that he had no support from the ground game. Denver mustered just 27 yards on 14 carries on the ground. Pittsburgh was just teeing off on Orton.

“We didn’t execute at all,” Denver receiver Brandon Stokley said. “We didn’t make any plays.”

Denver coach Josh McDaniels came to town with a pedigree of offensive genius. Early in the season, he was working wonders with Orton & Co. McDaniels, the architect of New England’s record-breaking offense in 2007, has to find a way to reconstruct the Kyle Orton of the first six games of the season or this feel-good story could continue to turn for the worse.

Here are other key aspects of Denver’s loss:

• Here come the Chargers: Denver travels to Washington on Sunday and the Chargers host Philadelphia. Denver hosts San Diego in a huge division game Nov. 22. No team has ever had a 3.5 game division lead, like Denver did earlier this season, and not made the playoffs.

Denver handed San Diego the division last season, losing its final three games of the year while the Chargers won their final three, including the season finale over the Broncos. It was the first time in NFL history a team blew a three-game lead in the final three weeks of the season.

Two weeks ago, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers said it was the team’s goal to play well and hopefully look up in a month and realize that it had caught the Broncos. It could happen.

Still, Denver, with 30 new players from last year’s team, is not ready to worry about a repeat performance.

“We’re 6-2 and we’re still leading the division,” linebacker Andra Davis. “We’re not going to panic.”

• What happened to the second-half magic? In the first six games, Denver outscored its opponents 76-10 in the second half. It had four late comebacks.

However, in the past two weeks, Denver, known early in the season for making great second-half adjustments, has been hammered in the final 30 minutes of games.

Pittsburgh outscored Denver 21-7 in the second half; Baltimore outscored Denver 24-7 in the second half last week. Suddenly, 76-10 has turned into 45-14 -- the wrong way.

Pittsburgh’s offense exploded in the second half as Orton imploded. The Steelers, who were held to 56 yards of offense in the first half, had 321 yards in the second half. Denver had 59 yards in the second half.

Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall had 130 yards rushing in the second half.

“It’s not hard to get back to playing better,” Denver cornerback Andre Goodman said. “Even when we were 6-0 we didn’t think we were playing great football. We have work to do, but we can get there.”

If the Broncos can't return to their early-season dominant form, we may see a second straight Rocky Mountain collapse.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER --The Denver Broncos decided to beat the holiday season rush this year by allowing the San Diego Chargers to get back into the thick of the AFC West race earlier than usual.

I'm not ready to say Denver is in the middle of a historic collapse like it suffered last year, but the Broncos are no longer dominating the division.

After losing decisively to an AFC North opponent for the second straight week, the Broncos -- the early-season story of the NFL -- are now 6-2.

Denver had a 3.5 game lead over the Chargers, who have won three straight AFC West titles, when it beat the Chargers in San Diego on Oct. 19. Since then, the Broncos had a bye and lost to the Ravens and Steelers. The Chargers have won three straight games. The 5-3 Chargers now trail Denver by one game with half of the season to go.

Denver travels to Washington on Sunday and the Chargers host Philadelphia. Denver hosts San Diego in a huge division game Nov. 22. No team has ever had a 3.5 game division lead and not made the playoffs.

Denver handed San Diego the division last season when it lost its final three games of the year, while the Chargers won their final three games, including the season finale over the Broncos. It was the first time in NFL history a team blew a three-game lead in the final three weeks of the season.

Again, it is too soon to say Denver has another collapse in its future in the first year of the Josh McDaniels era.

But the Broncos have some shoring up to do as they try to hold off the Chargers. Denver quarterback Kyle Orton suddenly looks mortal again and the once-stout Denver defense is showing holes against both the pass and the run.

So, here come the Chargers, Denver. It can’t happen again, can it?

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER – The Steelers have taken a commanding lead after another Kyle Orton mistake.

Orton overthrew Brandon Marshall and the ball was intercepted by Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu at the Denver 25 with just over eight minutes to go. Three plays later, Ben Roethlisberger hit rookie receiver Mike Wallace on a 35-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-10. Pittsburgh leads 21-10.

Orton had a ball intercepted by Pittsburgh safety Tyrone Carter, who took it back 48 yards for a touchdown, in the first half. Orton has been intercepted three times this season.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER -- Denver’s defense has held Pittsburgh the last two drives.

Pittsburgh smoked Denver’s defense in the third quarter. It had 199 yards and the score as it took a 14-10 lead. The Steelers had just 56 yards in the first half.

Denver has the ball at its own 9 with 9:13 to go. This may be its best chance to win the game.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

Goodman

DENVER -- Andre' Goodman might have just saved Denver’s night.

The Denver cornerback intercepted Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the end zone.

The Steelers were driving down the field after having started from their own 4-yard line. The Steelers' offense had suddenly taken over the game.

After struggling for the first 36 minutes of the game, Pittsburgh’s offense was hammering the Broncos for the second straight series.

Goodman’s interception turned a potential double-digit deficit into an opportunity for Denver.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER -- The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t take long to make up for Denver's defensive touchdown.

Pittsburgh went down 80 yards in four plays to score a touchdown and take a 14-10 lead.

Pittsburgh’s offense was anemic before the drive and Denver had all the momentum going after linebacker Robert Ayers scored on a 54-yard fumble recovery.

Suddenly, this game, which Pittsburgh led 7-3 at halftime, is a score-fest less than six minutes into the second half.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER -- The Broncos and Steelers have traded defensive touchdowns.

Denver took a 10-7 lead when rookie linebacker Robert Ayers picked up a Ben Roethlisberger fumble and ran 54 yards for a touchdown with 11:16 to go in the third quarter. Denver defensive lineman Kenny Peterson caused the fumble on a sack. Ayers was a first-round pick acquired in the Jay Cutler trade with Chicago.

In the first half, Pittsburgh scored on an interception return following one of the few mistakes Denver has made all game.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER -- It’s halftime and Pittsburgh is leading 7-3 even though the Broncos are outplaying the Steelers.

Denver’s defense is playing very well and it looks to have bounced back from a poor effort in a 30-7 loss at Baltimore last week. The Steelers' offense has only 56 yards and hasn’t been past midfield yet.

Denver is putting good pressure on Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, sacking him twice in the first quarter.

Denver quarterback Kyle Orton looks better than he did against Baltimore. He has hit Brandon Marshall eight times for 82 yards and Eddie Royal four times for 58 yards.

Other than his interception that Pittsburgh returned for a touchdown, Orton has done well. He has completed 16 of 21 for 163 yards.

Denver cornerback Ty Law is playing as a nickel cornerback. The veteran signed with Denver on Saturday.

Denver used the Wildcat again in the second quarter.

Denver cornerback Champ Bailey is shadowing Pittsburgh receiver Santonio Holmes. Bailey usually doesn’t cover specific receivers.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER -- Broncos coach Josh McDaniels showed his mettle and the call worked.

Except for that holding penalty.

After McDaniels lost a challenge, he went for it on fourth-and-5 from the Pittsburgh 39-yard line with 7:40 to go in the second quarter and Pittsburgh leading 7-3.

Kyle Orton hit Brandon Stokley for a first down. However, guard Ben Hamilton was called for holding, nullifying the play. Denver had to punt.

But the play showed McDaniels has confidence his team can move the ball on Pittsburgh’s defense.

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.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER -- The Broncos used the Wildcat offense during their first series.

The team used a direct snap to running back Correll Buckhalter, who started the game ahead of rookie Knowshon Moreno. Denver used the Wildcat formation against New England earlier in the season.

The Broncos featured receiver Eddie Royal on their first drive, with the wide receiver catching three passes for 47 yards. That already makes it his second most productive game of the season. He entered the game with 158 yards receiving on 20 catches.

Denver took a 3-0 lead on a Matt Prater field goal on the first drive.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER -- Here are some pregame notes.

New Denver cornerback Ty Law is active and expected to play some. He signed with Denver on Saturday.

Pittsburgh linebacker Lawrence Timmons is out with an ankle sprain. He is being replaced by Keyaron Fox.

Defensive end Travis Kirschke is out with a calf injury. He is being replaced by Nick Eason.

Denver fullback Peyton Hillis is out for family reasons.

Denver tackle Ryan Harris is out with a toe injury. Second-year tackle Tyler Polumbus is making his first start.

Denver defensive lineman Ryan McBean is out with a knee injury. He is being replaced by LeKevin Smith.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is in Denver. He visited the Broncos’ facility Monday.

Minor point about the fact that Pittsburgh has not won during the regular season in Denver since 1990. The Steelers won in Denver in the 2005 AFC title game.

The Broncos huddled near where Pittsburgh was stretching about a half hour before the game. Denver did the same thing three weeks ago in San Diego. Pushing and shoving ensued. Pittsburgh’s players didn’t seem to mind it tonight.

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

Posted by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson

DENVER -- I am settling into the press box in Denver for the Broncos’ pivotal Monday night game against Pittsburgh.

It is a beautiful day in Denver. It is currently 59 degrees. It will be a cool evening but the game conditions should be good. There are many Pittsburgh fans milling around Denver, so the Steelers will have their usual impressive road support.

I will check back prior to the game with updates when warranted.

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.