POSTGAME NOTES: --
Quick-Hits --
Denver improved to 3-3 on the season, all the wins coming on Jason Elam field goals (two as time expired in regulation, one in overtime)...
Elam's kick prevented the second overtime game in the series; the first, which ended in a 35-35 tie in 1974, was the first regulation OT game in NFL history...
Denver improved to 4-3 in its all blue uniform look...
Pittsburgh had outscored its opponents by 57-6 in the first half this season, but the Broncos more than tripled that by taking a 21-7 edge into halftime...
Denver improved to 10-6 on Sunday nights, while Pittsburgh fell to 6-10...
Tim Crowder's 50-yard fumble return was the first defensive touchdown by the Broncos in 2007; the last one came in the '06 finale against San Francisco (70-yard INT return by Champ Bailey)...
Denver had scored just one touchdown off six opponent turnovers prior to tonight, but had two off the three Steeler turnovers...
D.J. Williams interception was the first by a Bronco linebacker since December 24, 2004, when he picked one off at Tennessee at the tail-end of his rookie season.
Series Stuff --
Denver now leads the regular season series with the Steelers by 13-6-1 (the teams have split six postseason games); Denver has won all five games decided by three points or less (16-13 in 1970, 24-23 in 1989, 24-21 in 1997, 17-14 in 2003, 31-28 in 2007; the '89 and '97 games were postseason affairs). The 28 points by the Steelers were the most ever scored by the losing team in all games in the series where there was a winner (25; the 35-35 tie in '74 is an obvious exception (See page 361 in Broncos media guide for all series scores).
Scoring Streak --
The Broncos scored in their 235th consecutive game tonight, extending the streak for the 92nd time by scoring on their first possession of the game. Denver has extended the run 225 of 235 times in the 1st half. Front Range Trio: CU has scored in 230 straight and Air Force 175, meaning the three combined have gone 640 games without being shutout.
PK Jason Elam (4-4 PAT, 1-1 FG) --
Elam's game winning field goal gave him seven points in the game, enough to propel him past Nick Lowery (1,711) into sixth place on the all-time NFL scoring list with 1,712 points. It was his third "walk-off" field goal this year, and the 11th of his career (end of regulation or in overtime). It's the second time he did it against the Steelers, as he hit a 47-yard field goal to beat Pittsburgh 17-14 on October 12, 2003 in Denver; tonight's was a 49-yard kicker, which is the longest "walk-off" winning field goal of his career.
QB Jay Cutler (29-22-2, 248, 3 TD; 3-41 rush) --
He had the best single game passer rating (106.7) and completion percentage of his career (75.9), while also throwing a career-best three touchdown passes after have two on several occasions... His 31-yard run was also Denver's third longest this season (Selvin Young 40, Travis Henry 33), and was also his professional career long (old had been 11). It was the longest rush by a Denver quarterback since Sept. 22, 2003, when Jake Plummer recorded the franchise record with a 40-yard run against Oakland in Denver. This was his fifth straight game with a completion percentage of better than 60 percent (61.9 is his five game low).
Third Down & Long --
Denver came in a respectable 5-of-18 on 3rd-and-9 or longer (27.8 percent) and was 4-of-5 tonight, converting on 3rd-and-14 twice, on a 3rd-and-12 and on a 3rd-and-9; for the year, Denver is now 9-of-23 in such situations, or 39.1 percent.
P Todd Sauerbrun --
His 64-yard bomb in the fourth quarter was his fourth 60-plus yard punt of the year (second longest, 65 is his season best), and for the year, he now has 15 punts for a 51.33 average.
DE Elvis Dumervil --
Had his third multi-sack game this season (2-18), giving him 5 for his career. He now has 6 sacks in `07 to lead the team.