Steelers-Broncos Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Ben Roethlisberger On Steelers' Win

SCOUTING REPORT

Steelers-Broncos: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Steelers-Broncos matchup. 1. Could this be a "pass-heavy" game? Both of these offenses are capable of being physical with the run, but the defenses in this game could dictate a lot of multi-receiver sets with liberal passing. Pittsburgh's identity already revolves around the pass offense, while Denver would like to run the ball -- but that's not happening against the rock-solid Steeler run defense. With two really good defenses, do not be surprised if this is a wide-open offensive game with creative play calling.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
PIT	6-4	231	184	4-1	2-3	1-2	4-3
DEN	6-4	170	183	3-2	3-2	2-1	5-3
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Pittsburgh Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Roethl... 68.9 2867 17 10 Batch 50.0 17 0 0

Denver Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Orton 62.0 2202 11 5 Simms 29.4 23 0 1

Pittsburgh Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Menden... 134 689 5.1 4 Parker 67 218 3.3 0

Denver Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Moreno 142 600 4.2 2 Buckha... 73 399 5.5 1

Pittsburgh Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Ward 63 798 12.7 5 Holmes 50 764 15.3 1

Denver Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Marsha... 52 628 12.1 6 Gaffne... 26 346 13.3 0

Full Player Stats: Pittsburgh | Denver

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	PIT	380.0
	DEN	323.0
Yards Passing	PIT	268.1
	DEN	210.6
Yards Rushing	PIT	111.6
	DEN	112.4
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	PIT	277.9
	DEN	297.8
Pass Yds Allowed	PIT	208.7
	DEN	182.5
Rush Yds Allowed	PIT	69.2
	DEN	115.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Denver leads 3-2
Oct 21, 2007	PIT 28, DEN 31
Nov 5, 2006	PIT 20, @DEN 31
Jan 22, 2006	PIT 34, DEN 17
Oct 12, 2003	PIT 14, DEN 17

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't get off to a strong start this season, but the defending Super Bowl champions are now playing at a high level.

Pittsburgh goes for its fifth straight victory Monday night, when it looks to snap a three-game losing streak to a Denver Broncos club trying to bounce back from its first defeat of the season.

Since opening the season 1-2, the Steelers (5-2) have gone undefeated to give themselves a legitimate shot to win a third straight AFC North title. They own the same record as Cincinnati, although the Bengals currently own the tiebreaker by virtue of a home win over Pittsburgh in Week 3.

"We've put ourselves in a good position to go into this bye, but November, December, that's where the real teams start to separate themselves," Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel said. "Hopefully, if we're a real team around here, we can continue this win streak."

Pittsburgh will attempt to continue its surge in Denver, where it hasn't won a regular-season game since a 34-17 victory on Oct. 14, 1990.

The Steelers, though, defeated the host Broncos by the same score in the 2005 AFC title game en route to their Super Bowl 40 victory.

Coming off its bye week, Pittsburgh looks to build off a 27-17 home win over Minnesota on Oct. 25.

Ben Roethlisberger, third in the NFL with 2,062 passing yards, threw his 11th touchdown of the season, while the Steelers' defense scored twice in the fourth quarter -- a 77-yard fumble return by linebacker LaMarr Woodley and Keyaron Fox's 82-yard interception return with one minute remaining.

Pittsburgh had four sacks -- with James Harrison recording two to increase his team-leading total to eight -- while holding the Vikings' Adrian Peterson-led running game to 89 yards.

The Steelers, who haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 25 regular-season contests, lead the league in run defense at 76.6 yards per game.

Pittsburgh, though, will have a patchwork defensive line when it faces rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter and the Broncos' 11th-ranked rushing offense.

Defensive end Travis Kirschke, who was replacing the injured Aaron Smith (torn right rotator cuff), suffered a torn left calf muscle in the victory over Minnesota.

Nick Eason -- Keisel's backup at right defensive end -- will move to the left side, while rookies Ziggy Hood and Sunny Harris are expected to get plenty of playing time as the Steelers rotate linemen in Denver's Mile High altitude.

"I was released (by Pittsburgh) the fourth game and the next thing you know I'm playing," Eason said Wednesday. "Now I'll be playing a lot more. My snaps have doubled in three weeks. It's amazing, but that's the life story in the NFL."

The Steelers' makeshift line will not have to contend with Broncos third-year right tackle Ryan Harris, who suffered a toe injury in last Sunday's 30-7 loss at Baltimore. Tyler Polumbus will likely make his first NFL start in Harris' place.

"We always give (Tyler) plenty of reps in practice. He handled himself well in the preseason," Broncos first-year coach Josh McDaniels said. "We'll expect him to go in there and play well."

McDaniels' team did not play well last week, dropping its first game of the season following a 6-0 start.

"Anytime you have a game like this, it forces you to look in a mirror," he said. "Hopefully we can find out just as much about one another ... through the adversity of a loss as you can through six wins."

The Broncos' defense is looking to rebound from its worst effort of the season. Denver ranks third in the NFL in rushing defense at 86.1 yards per game, but surrendered a season-high 125 to the Ravens.

"Last week was last week," Broncos safety Brian Dawkins said. "We did some things in the second half that were not like us defensively. Getting out of our gaps -- I think we were trying to do too much towards the end -- and we gave up some scores that we usually don't give up."

Denver will try to slow a Steelers running game led by Rashard Mendenhall -- who has a team-high 418 yards and four scores -- and veteran Willie Parker.

Parker, who rushed for 93 yards on 21 carries in the teams' last meeting -- a 31-28 Steelers loss at Denver on Oct. 21, 2007 -- missed practice time this week due to a fever, but is expected to play.

"Pittsburgh is going to pound the ball," Broncos defensive lineman Kenny Peterson said. "They have a physical offensive line. Their mentality has been the same for decades, which is physical play."

Denver's offense looks for a better effort after posting a season-low 200 yards last week, when they went scoreless in the first half for the first time this season.

"Yeah, they beat us up pretty good, no question about it," quarterback Kyle Orton said. "We feel like we've got a physical football team and certainly Pittsburgh prides themselves on that, too. So, it'll be a hard-hitting game and whoever can win that battle is going to have a good chance to win."

Denver, which leads the all-time series 13-6-1, has won nine of 12 overall versus Pittsburgh.

Big Ben practices; backup Dixon takes snaps

Ben Roethlisberger has practiced despite sustaining a concussion against Kansas City and is expected to play Sunday in Baltimore.

Broncos RT Harris to miss fourth straight game

The Broncos will be without right tackle Ryan Harris again for their game against the Giants on Thanksgiving.

Outsiders: Week 12 previews

Football Outsiders analyzes Week 12 in the NFL. Ideas: Oakland isn't THAT bad; Reggie Bush is poised for a big game vs. New England; Pittsburgh needs to play better in the second half; David Garrard gets knocked around too much and a plan for Houston.

Shanahan hears Bills' pitch in 7-hour encounter

Former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan met for seven hours in Denver with Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Ward helping out young receivers

Wide receiver Hines Ward watched the play unfold in the Steelers indoor practice facility during OTA's and then walked over to first-year running back Stefan Logan and shared a little bit of advice.

Steelers' rookie tries to overcome obstacle

Mike Tomlin knows a thing or two about motivating players. So it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that the Steelers coach regularly tells rookie center A.Q. Shipley, "Man, those arms are looking short." The length of Shipley's arms is a big reason why 225 players were selected before the Moon Area High School graduate in April.

Steelers players brighten some spirits

John Harris is a sports columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached via e-mail or at 412-481-5432. An excited Heather Miller of Bedford got a chance Wednesday to meet her favorite football player, Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton, as part of her Make-a-Wish Foundation request.

Steelers' LB Davis seeking his seat on bus

The BMOC of UCLA has been MIA in Pittsburgh. Linebacker Bruce Davis went from what he called a "rock star" in college football to almost rock bottom with the Steelers.

Mundy impresses Steelers with smarts, skills

Twenty-nine has significance for Steelers safety Ryan Mundy beyond the fact that it is his uniform number.

League won't punish Marshall

Brandon Marshall Issues remain for Brandon Marshall, but he no longer has to worry about a possible NFL suspension.

Broncos' Marshall has quick trip

As the Broncos restart their passing camp today at their Dove Valley headquarters, receiver Brandon Marshall will be in Orlando, Fla., where he will continue to rehabilitate after hip surgery.

Broncos' Marshall denies ever abusing ex-girlfriend

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall defended himself Sunday on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," which detailed seven reported incidents of domestic violence.

Scheffler on board with Broncos' plan

A year after hobbling around Dove Valley with a foot injury, tight end Tony Scheffler is part of the Broncos' passing minicamp this season.

No Bronco escaped new coach's scrutiny

The old regime brought them in for a reason. They fit in specific offensive or defensive schemes, or had attributes the organization craved.