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Steelers roll, set up showdown
The Pittsburgh Steelers set up an epic AFC North Division clash by dominating Denver, 28-10, at Invesco Field Monday night.
With the victory, Pittsburgh's fifth straight, the Steelers set up a showdown with Cincinnati (6-2) for first place in the AFC North. The Steelers (6-2) host the Bengals Sunday.
Denver, meanwhile, falls to 6-2 after a 6-0 start and is just one game ahead of San Diego in the AFC West.
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Rashard Mendenhall, meanwhile, had his second 100-yard rushing game of the season, gaining 155 yards on 22 carries.
Using a quick-passing attack right out of the playbook of the New England Patriots - for whom Denver first-year head coach Josh McDaniels was an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach - the Broncos controlled the play in the first half. Quarterback Kyle Orton was 16 of 21 for 163 yards in the first two quarters, as Denver outgained Pittsburgh, 183-54.
But the Steelers controlled the scoreboard, stopping the Broncos when it counted.
Though Orton was connecting on the majority of his short passes, leading the Broncos on a field-goal drive to open the game, he also made a critical error early in the second quarter.
Facing a third-and-short play from his own 31-yard line, Orton attempted a short pass over the middle to running back Knowshon Moreno. But just as Orton released the ball, Moreno ran into umpire Garth Felice. The ball sailed over the middle of the field and into the arms of safety Tyrone Carter.
Carter, who was starting in place of Ryan Clark, returned the errant pass 48 yards untouched for Pittsburgh's first score and a 7-3 lead.
The Broncos drove to the Pittsburgh 39 on their next possession, but Orton's third-down pass to Jabar Gaffney was broken up by cornerback William Gay. McDaniels unsuccessfully challenged the play, then decided to go for it on fourth down.
Orton threw an eight-yard completion to Brandon Stokley, but guard Ben Hamilton was penalized for holding Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison, and the Broncos eventually punted.
As much as Denver controlled the first half offensively, the Steelers did the same in the second half.
Pittsburgh opened the half with the football and went to a no-huddle offense, quickly moving to the Denver 33. But Roethlisberger was sacked by Ken Peterson, who stripped the ball from the quarterback's grasp. Rookie linebacker Robert Ayers scooped the ball up at the Denver 46 returned it 54 yards for a touchdown and a 10-7 lead for the Broncos.
The Steelers stayed in the no-huddle and again quickly moved into Denver territory. Mendenhall broke off a 24-yard run and Roethlisberger connected with Santonio Holmes for a 35-yard gain to the Denver 4. Roethlisberger then tossed a four-yard TD pass to Hines Ward to give the Steelers a 14-10 lead.
The Steelers again put together a long drive on their third possession of the third quarter, moving from their own three to the Denver 15. But Roethlisberger was intercepted by cornerback Andre Goodman in the end zone on a pass intended for Ward.
An interception by Troy Polamalu with 8:31 remaining gave the Steelers the ball at the Denver 25, and Roethlisberger made the Broncos pay with a 25-yard TD pass to rookie wide receiver Mike Wallace to put the Steelers comfortably ahead, 21-10.
Odds and end zones
Fullback Carey Davis left the game in the first quarter after suffering a hamstring injury. He did not return. ... Denver entered the game first in the NFL in yards allowed at 266.7 per game. After gaining just 54 yards in the first half, the Steelers finished with 376. ... Denver managed just Attendance was 76,108, with roughly a quarter of those being Steelers fans. ... Denver gained just 27 yards rushing on 14 carries.
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