Whether you want to call it a gutsy win, or a lucky one based on the eventful final minutes, the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to eke out a victory in Cincinnati. They went into the game already down the services of DeAngelo Williams, but then had stud starters Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown get hit with injuries as well.
It was easier to see how Pittsburgh could beat Cincinnati; they’re division rivals and know each other better than anyone else in the league. But with the Steelers facing off against the Denver Broncos this week, they’ve still got a great chance at winning, but it depends entirely on the health of their offensive studs.
I think the matchup is pretty cut and dry. If Pittsburgh can get Roethlisberger’s shoulder healthy enough to get the ball deep, Brown back on the field and Williams back running the ball, I think the Steelers take this game. With those three in the game, I think the Steelers’ offense is too good to be stopped.
Make no mistake, Denver has a great defense. But its Achilles’ heel is the high-scoring shootout type of game. Peyton Manning is a shell of who he used to be; the reality is he’s not the Manning we’re used to seeing anymore. And Brock Osweiler, while performing admirably in relief duty, isn’t primed for an offensive shootout against the elite yet. They’re both just too prone to mistakes at this point in time.
If Denver is going to win this game, it can’t get into a situation where it has to trade scoring drives back and forth. At this stage in their careers, I don’t think Manning or Osweiler can hang with Roethlisberger on that front. That’s what wound up happening last month when these two teams faced off, and Roethlisberger won with a massive output from Brown. Pittsburgh turned on the afterburners in the second half, and Denver just couldn’t respond.
But if Roethlisberger can’t get the ball out, Brown’s concussion sidelines him or Williams can’t go, the entire dynamic of this game shifts. Without all of those three, Pittsburgh’s offensive firepower takes such a big hit that I think Denver can handle it and play a more controlled attack. The Broncos will be able to get C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman going and give their defense not only more rest, but more of an advantage by making the Steelers’ play calling more predictable. That’s the kind of game Denver can win, and the kind of game it’ll have to play if it wants to win.
Otherwise, if all three can go at almost full speed, the Steelers can hang points up too quickly to be stopped. Roethlisberger is too experienced, Brown is too good and Williams is dangerous enough to shift the tides in their favor. This will probably be the most intriguing and entertaining game of the year, and the winner will probably be the odds-on favorite to go to the Super Bowl. No matter which way it goes, it’ll be one heck of a game.
