Steelers @ Broncos -- Game Day Open Thread -- 4th Quarter

by John Bena on Oct 21, 2007 8:37 PM MDT in 2007 Game Day Threads Comment 54 comments

Date: Sunday, October 21, 2007

Time: 6:15 p.m. MST

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) at Denver Broncos (2-3)

Location: Invesco Field @ MileHigh - Denver, CO

Steelers Eighth Drive....cont...

--Not much contact there, but it is a 15 yard penalty nonetheless. Steelers need to score, whcih means the Broncos defense needs to hold...
--Broncos seem to have lost a bit on defense now, and the Steelers are taking advantage. Big run by Parker
--Broncos pick up the pressure there and have made the plays when they needed to be made tonight....
--Roethlisberger again is able to get away. The D-Line is doing the job getting pressure, but cannot get Ben to the ground...
--Parker is short, but no doubt the Steelers go for it here...
--Once again the Steelers inch closer, and the Broncos offense will have to go back to work to put this one away....BRONCOS 28 -- Steelers 21

Broncos Eighth Drive --

--10 minutes to go and the Broncos up 7...Can they hold onto this one???
--Offense looking at a 3rd and 14....Big play to say the least...
--Cutler seems to be tightening up a bit and the game will fall to the hands of the defense.

Steelers Ninth Drive --

--Steelers moving the ball alot easier now. Defense seems to be tiring a bit....
--Everytime I think that the defense makes a big play...this time it is Williams, who follows the play down the line perfectly and stuffs the hole...
--Draw play gets nothing and the Steelers are faced with a 3rd and long. Play of the game right here....
--Not a false start here??? Damn that was close...
--And a replay confirms it...
--A John Engleberger sighting...Things are working out perfectly for the Broncos...
--3rd and 10 upcoming...The next biggest play of the game....until the next play!!!
--The Steelers convert...The Broncos defense seemed a bit in-between there and the Steelers made them pay...
--The Broncos defense just can't get that one big stop...
--Way too easy and this game is tied...Un-freakin-believable...BRONCOS 28 -- Steelers 28

BRONCOS NINTH DRIVE --

--70 seconds remain...Does Jay have any magic left??
--The offense will start at the 20...Whatever you do, no turnovers...
--It looks like Scheffler has re-injured his foot...Not good....
--3rd and one after the toss to Marshall and Cutler looks like he got it...
--The penalty give the Broncos a first down, and Glenn Martinez gets them even closer...33 seconds, the Broncos need another 10-15 yards...
--Incomplete pass...come on...
--Interesting review here...Needless to say, Daniel Graham has had an unforgettable year to date, that's for sure...
--Huge call, but the only one that could be made...The Broncos are now firmly in field goal range...
--Elam will either win the game or we are going to OT. Not a bad decision by Shanny, regardless of the outcome...
--Obviously, Tomlin is going to call a timeout, here....
--And there it is...No one has the impecible timing of Shanny....except for Lane Kiffin that is...
--And here we go....48 yards....And it si GOOOD!!!BRONCOS WIN!!!BRONCOS WIN!!!BRONCOS WIN!!! Jay Cutler has found a way, once again, to drive the Broncos to a winning score and the losing streak is over, the season is saved, and the Broncos have shown they can play a little bit of defense....

FINAL SCORE -- BRONCOS 31 -- STEELERS 28

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Comments

Nick's made some nice plays at the line

but on every long run is a missed Ferguson open field tackle, or terrible read...

by ohnokoolaid on Oct 21, 2007 8:40 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know that Big Ben got that

Sure looked like his progress was stopped until a late push. Oh well. Gotta get this game boys. Don't let it slip away.

by Make It Rain on Oct 21, 2007 8:49 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

This game reminds me

a bit of the SD-Homegame last saison... Let's the outcome will be different.

by DjBroncos on Oct 21, 2007 8:50 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Correction:

Let's hope the outcome will be different.

by DjBroncos on Oct 21, 2007 8:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

A little defense would be nice right here :)

by MattR on Oct 21, 2007 8:59 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Where was the false start?!?

That was an easy, easy call...

by ohnokoolaid on Oct 21, 2007 9:03 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Bring the blitz here

by ohnokoolaid on Oct 21, 2007 9:05 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought when Bates came in

we'd stop seeing soft cushions...pathetic...man up and play tight on the line.

by ohnokoolaid on Oct 21, 2007 9:07 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

This is ridiculous

Get off the damn field!

by Make It Rain on Oct 21, 2007 9:09 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

PATHETIC!!!! that was inevitable almost. Hopefully we can get a field goal here, or get the ball first in OT or forget it. Unbelievable! We had this thing in the bag.

by Make It Rain on Oct 21, 2007 9:11 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Great job there, guys.

Maybe your Indians can make a comeback, Guru.

Purple Row

by Russ Oates on Oct 21, 2007 9:12 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Complete lack of gumption

with those defensive calls. Soft coverages, four man rushes (and not the same DE heavy rushes) and easily exploitable matchups (any time Ferguson is in man coverage).

This defense just cannot play a complete game, and it could come back to bite them big time.

by ohnokoolaid on Oct 21, 2007 9:12 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Feels like I am back at the Jaguars game

Watching guys get wide open in the flats off of play action

by MattR on Oct 21, 2007 9:14 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK. Time for a big kick return

One time. Let's get good starting field position.

by MattR on Oct 21, 2007 9:13 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Graham's knee is on the ground

when the Pitt defender hits his arm which knocks the ball out. They can't rule this a fumble. Worst case would be incomplete.

by MattR on Oct 21, 2007 9:20 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

This review may hurt Denver

unless they rule that at the instant Clark touches Graham he's down, and that that isn't a forced fumble on a non-downed receiver.

It is a catch, but is it a fumble?

by ohnokoolaid on Oct 21, 2007 9:20 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Jason Elam for MVP!!!!

by MattR on Oct 21, 2007 9:26 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice to get a win, but

the team can't keep doing with last-second field goals.

Purple Row

by Russ Oates on Oct 21, 2007 9:27 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Most defrintely

It would have been nice to see either side of the ball step up in the fourth quarter and put the game away.

by MattR on Oct 21, 2007 9:29 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm happy!

But those kind of wins are terror for my heart...

by DjBroncos on Oct 21, 2007 9:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Good!

A win against a really good team that will still allow us to fly low for another game. Just what we needed!

by Jeremy Bolander on Oct 21, 2007 9:30 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's face sth. different:

The ST played well tonight - quite surprising :P

by DjBroncos on Oct 21, 2007 9:30 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point.

I almost overlooked that. STs did step up big.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2007 9:32 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have

been playing teams with above average and spectacular (buffalo) ST this year. PIT is just average at best. We are still shaky, it would be nice to get high boots on kickoffs or touchbacks, but who cares!!

Go Broncos!!!

by Jeremy Bolander on Oct 21, 2007 9:33 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Selvin Young

should be the sole kick off returner. That guy is a football player.

by Tim Lynch on Oct 21, 2007 9:42 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm very satisfied with what I saw tonight.

Despite the injuries and,
Despite the quality of PITT,

Denver gets it done, and the defense looked like it was performing the system correctly. Despite the last PITT drive I think we performed well over 4 quarters.

Excellent work even without Walker and Bailey. Denver's back.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2007 9:31 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

We can do it!

We can play in this League!! It's about time!!

Turnovers!! Yeah!!!

A little luck!! YeeeHaaaw!!

by Jeremy Bolander on Oct 21, 2007 9:34 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's the first time

I've actually been impressed with Ben Rothlisberger. I rarely see him make good decisions with the ball, but today, he made the right reads when he needed to, and his escapability was impressive today.

On to Green Bay, where I think we actually match up really well.

by ohnokoolaid on Oct 21, 2007 9:35 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

I think we win the GB match up.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2007 9:41 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great Game....

Cardiac Kids are back...

Looking ahead at the schedule, 8-2 for the rest of the season looks like a very realistic possiblity, that's counting losses to SD and Chi. If our D shows up like they did tonight that could easily be 10-0.

by SD Bronco on Oct 21, 2007 9:36 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I think we beat the Bears. n/t

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2007 9:39 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly

I think we beat the bears too... I'm not impressed with them at all. I was just trying not to be too optimistic. It could just as easily be a loss @ KC (although if that happened I'd probably shoot myself in the face).

by SD Bronco on Oct 22, 2007 6:14 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Before the season I predicted 10-6

Including being 2-3 before the bye and losses on the road to KC, Chicago and San Diego going forward. After the past couple games I was having my doubts, but this game managed to erase some of them and give me hope that the team can go on a run in the second half of the season.

by MattR on Oct 21, 2007 9:44 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome win!

Could be a season changer with our upcoming schedule. Defense has to get off the field on 3rd down and get big stops though. Elam has some serious balls, and don't forget Cutler led them down there. He seems unphased by the pressure situations.

by Make It Rain on Oct 21, 2007 9:39 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I will excitedly...

Eat crow....I just may have to pick against the Broncos every week!!!

-TSG

www.milehighreport.com

by John Bena on Oct 21, 2007 9:39 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

That makes two of us. n/t

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2007 9:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vegas'

line next week for GB should be interesting...my guess?

Denver -3. It's not much, but it's a start...

by Jeremy Bolander on Oct 21, 2007 9:42 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It'll end

at 3.5 or 4. home field, plus a half or full point.

by Tim Lynch on Oct 21, 2007 9:44 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That sounds...

about right....-3 would be a Pick Em, which I think is fair...

-TSG

www.milehighreport.com

by John Bena on Oct 21, 2007 9:44 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder...

... how much of a boost we get in various power rankings (TSN, ESPN, USA Today Sports Weekly).

Rightly so, a team moves slowly. We are in the low 20's in most I think. This win over a concensus #3 should bump us up about 5 or 6 (pretty fast movement for one win).

I personaly put us at in the 11 to 8 range, but i imagine most power ranks won't credit us for cathing on in defense and we go under the rader. They'll have us around 17 to 13.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2007 9:47 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does it matter?

Do power rankings even matter? We are only as good as our record so we may only move near the top of the list of 3-3 teams.

by Tim Lynch on Oct 21, 2007 9:49 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course not.

It doesn't matter. But it is a fun talking point, like the Vegas spread on a game or yesterday's statistics. None of that matters except for the win - loss column, but folks still enjoy the give and take is all.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2007 9:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

of course not

but they're fun.

by SD Bronco on Oct 22, 2007 6:16 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pic of the game:

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2007/09000d5d8037cccc_gallery_600.jpg

by DjBroncos on Oct 21, 2007 9:47 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

No MHR show tonight?

Just wondering...

by Tim Lynch on Oct 21, 2007 9:49 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't want to sound like a whiner

But...I think part of that win (the defensive side) was a bit flukey.

Why:

A) Pitt turned the ball over 3 times, thanks to the turnover-prone version of Big Ben showing up tonight. He is clearly reckless at times, and when he is, Pitt's offensive efficiency goes right down the toilet (see: last year).

B) Pitt wasn't given the chance to consistently pound the ball. And when they did run, their feature back is a classic case of the boom-or-bust RB. He isn't in the class of the backs we've faced previously, and I think it'd be wishful thinking to put too much into tonight's performance against the run.

There were still occasions where a side of our front was completely blown away by the combo of Smith and Faneca. I think we'll still be a weak team against the run because of our personnel, but we can definitely improve on our performances thus far.

But, I think our offense is definitely for real, as is our young QB. We still sliced and diced the league's best D despite the absence of a no. 1 wideout and a consistent ground game. He stepped up big time when it was needed. And, just think, it's only his 10th start or something...

So, in closing, I guess what I'm bitching about is the greatest question on our team is still unanswered, IMO. Other than that, everything else looks good (as I've said for a while now).

by WABronco on Oct 21, 2007 9:53 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know.

A) Ben has been steady this year. He is a super bowl winning QB. He has decent receivers, both in terms of WRs and TEs. I thought we did well, more so when one considers we were missing our best CB.

B) PITT didn't pound the ball (they should have taken my advice). But when they tried to run we stuffed 'em. Call the PITT run offense boom or bust, but they were the top ranked rush offense coming into this week (we were last in rush def btw).

Many analysts rank PITT 3rd in the NFL. I think this game was a good measure of where we're at.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2007 10:00 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is a good measure IF

our guys can continue to play at that high state of emotion. The energy on the field was tremendous. coincidentally, I have nothing bad to say about Nate Webster today....other than he came off as a dullard to me with his introduction statement at the beginning of the game. lol

The defense gave up the short pass(which killed us this game), but I'd take short passes all day long. We broke down on a couple of long runs, but we were solid up front all night long. With Champ in the mix, I doubt we give up as many short passes. Shoate got picked on a few times.

I am glad to see we have GREAT depth at CB. We can handle most teams with that depth(save NE or Indy or SD or DAL of course).

by Tim Lynch on Oct 21, 2007 10:09 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

I was pleased as pie (...) that Paymah didn't get noticeably burnt to a crisp tonight (or commit 5 holding penalties).

by WABronco on Oct 21, 2007 10:13 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

add Shoate to that sentiment...

by Jeremy Bolander on Oct 21, 2007 10:19 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, side note

You guys remember that illegal man downfield call against Pitt? Yea, it woulda been nice if that rule was recognized two years ago in the Super Bowl.

Sigh.

by WABronco on Oct 21, 2007 9:57 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Henry

I didn't catch it during the game but apparently Henry left the game with bruised ribs. Anybody hear about this?

by Jeremy Bolander on Oct 21, 2007 10:21 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

A

good run stopping effort but I think 119 rushing yards allowed is good enough to keep us at the #32 spot on rush defense.

We got 'em right where we want 'em...

by Jeremy Bolander on Oct 21, 2007 10:26 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Still not too bad.

We don't want to give up 119 yards rushing, but I figured we would let them play their game and pick up short yards (pass and rush). Not good for the stats, but worked for the gameplan.

Still, I didn't see them lining up 3 wide. Bailey must have been an influence. PITT should have stayed on the ground.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Oct 21, 2007 10:45 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs