Blitzing Barricade Batters Broncos

The two best teams in the AFC collided in the Rocky Mountains Monday night. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ scruffy defense did most of the late scoring in lifting them over the 6-1 Denver Broncos 28-10. The defending Superbowl champions won their fifth straight game and were lead by replacement safety, Tyrone Carter. Carter’s 48 yard interception return to the Denver end zone was intended for Knowshon Moreno. It was one of three picks thrown by the suddenly sliding Purdue product, Kyle Orton. The Broncos have lost back-to-back games after rushing hurriedly off to a 6-0 start. The regressing Denver club outgained and outpassed the Steelers during the first half. Yet, Pittsburgh’s defense made the principal prevailing plays to escape the high altitudes of Colorado with an impressive 6-2 record.
Ben Roethlisberger was stripped of the football on his first possession in the second quarter. First year linebacker, Robert Ayers, carted the pigskin 54 yards the other way to give Denver a 10-7 lead. The rumbling didn’t last long for the roused Broncos. Roethlisberger drove the Steelers 80 yards to set up Hines Ward’s three yard touchdown reception. The strike to Ward put the visitors back on top by four. Despite Dick LeBeau’s depleted defense, the Invesco Field crowd was still forced to commit to memory superstars like Troy Polamalu, Brett Keisel, James Harrison and Carter. Polamalu snared an Orton pass in the fourth quarter with Pittsburgh clinging to a 14-10 lead. The safety’s pick set up Roethlisberger’s touchdown toss to rookie, Mike Wallace. Big Ben was 21 for 29 for 233 yards. He fled the pocket to hit Wallace from 25 yards and found Ward again for another Pittsburgh seven with 1:22 remaining in regulation. The Broncos offense was held without a touchdown. Save for the interception return in the early minutes of the third quarter, Denver never scored again after they were “Polamalued”.
The defense flogged a very prominent opponent on the road. Orton completed 23 of his 38 passes through the air. Eddie Royal collected three receptions for 47 yards for the ailing Broncos. Running back, Brandon Marshall, turned in a 112 yard day but rookie head coach, Josh McDaniels, lost his second game because of a porous offensive line. Denver rushed for one yard during the second half thanks in part to the blitzing of a pounding Pittsburgh defense. Polamalu intersected and interrupted Orton’s lane to Marshall throughout the game. He is one of the most electrifying players in the NFL, and the glue holding together the Steelers’ defense. William Gay disputed any attempt of Orton hitting an open Royal. The relentless Steelers capped their night off with a third interception. Carter caught his second turnover with fifteen seconds remaining. Rashard Mendenhall rushed over the Broncos for 155 yards. The Steelers dominated the second half with a no-huddle offense and three wideout set. The Broncos owe self-destruction helped the Steelers pummel the number one defense in the NFL. Pittsburgh’s health problems weren’t a concern as the team game together to stop the impotent Broncos ground game. The Steelers return to Heinz Field next Sunday to play the team they are tied with in the NFC North—the Cincinnati Bengals.

Parting Points: It looks like Charlie Weis is on the hot seat again.
Interesting read I picked up today- “Ten Minutes From Normal” by Karen Hughes