By: Phillip Murray
DENVER, CO— It was a perfect football afternoon at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos would host the visiting Steelers in a winner advances closer to the Super Bowl, and loser goes home scenario. Peyton Manning and the Broncos Had 2 weeks to rest rehab and prepare for Pittsburgh, while the Steelers were just coming off their toughest game all season against the Bengals from last week. Both teams knew what was at stake and played very aggressively both sides of the ball. Both teams struggled to score in the end zone for most of the first half.
On a 4th and 1 play in the first, Steelers went for pass from Roethlisberger to M.Bryant in the end zone instead of electing to kick a kickable FG, or even a draw play to extend the drive. The pass was incomplete and it was a turnover in downs. Things started to go more the Steelers way in the second quarter, as Big Ben. Called play action to allow Martavis Bryant to breakaway for a 40 yard run… A few plays later RB Fitzgerald Toussaint ran the ball in for a TD to give Pittsburgh the lead. The continued to dominate throughout the half and into the 3rd quarter forcing Denver to settle for FGs.
The Steelers defense was putting immense pressure on Manning all game including a Will Allen Sack and also a sack by Veteran LB James Harrison. Steelers had no issue moving the chains with a huge play by Darrius Heyward-Bey, getting a 58 yard reception and also another huge catch by Martavis Bryant getting another 52 yard catch. The issue was that Pittsburgh couldn’t capitalize on huge plays scoring TDs which kept Denver in the game close and would later come back to haunt the Steelers.
The 4th quarter was all Denver. The second ranked Denver D half the Steelers at bay. The biggest play of the evening was a knocked out tumble by Bradley Roby on Toussaint to allow Demarcus Ware to recover the ball. Manning capitalized on the turnover by moving the chains with ease. With the tandem of Bennia Fowler catching a 31 yard catch, and Emmanuel Sanders extending drives, allowed Denver to score a late go ahead TD by CJ Anderson. To make sure that the only way for the Steelers to win is for them to score a TD , Denver went for and successfully got a 2 point conversion to go up 20-16. Once again it was Denver’s defense to save the day causing Ben Roethlisberger to not find a man open and ultimately sacking the QB on a 4th and 5 play. Denver ran down the clock to just kick a FG before end of regulation to the seal the victory.
With the win The Broncos will host the New England Patriots next Sunday to decide who will go to Super Bowl 50, and once again have in display this NFL greatest rivalry of Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady. Last time the two met in the playoffs was the AFC Championship in 2014 where the Broncos were victorious.
