Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers: NFL Week 15 Pick
By Erik Lambert
Dec 6, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes against the Indianapolis Colts during the second quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 45-10. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Easily the biggest game of week 15 takes place between a couple of old AFC adversaries who are once again fighting for their spots in the NFL playoff picture. Can the Denver Broncos maintain their pace or are the surging Pittsburgh Steelers in position to pounce?
Backdrop:
The stakes can’t get much higher than this game. For the Broncos, they can’t afford another setback or they risk handing home field advantage to their hated rival New England Patriots in the AFC. Brock Osweiler has absorbed 17 sacks in five games and goes into a stadium that will be electric.
Pittsburgh on the other hand knows they are in a frantic race with the New York Jets for one of the wild card playoff spots. A loss could be potentially devastating to their chances. They’re at home and have played some of their best football the past couple weeks. It would be a huge letdown if they don’t get it done against an old nemesis.
Matchup To Watch:
CB Chris Harris Jr. vs. WR Antonio Brown
If the Broncos have any sense, the first thing they do on defense should be to put their best cover corner on Steelers superstar receiver Antonio Brown. The All-Pro has been wrecking defenses this year (1,397 yards, 7 TDs). There is no question he’ll see a ton of passes thrown his way. Chris Harris Jr. may be one of the few in the league qualified to slow him down. Quarterbacks have just a 69.0 rating when targeting him and no touchdowns.
Key Stat:
This game is going to be on the shoulders of the quarterbacks. Brock Osweiler has struggled throwing the football consistently since taking over as starter. He has a prime opportunity to take the shackles off against a Steelers defense that is 31st in the league against the pass.
On the other side, Ben Roethlisberger has been carving up opponents of late thanks to his own talent and the loaded receiving corps around him. That will be put to the test against the Broncos defense which remains best in the NFL at defending the pass, allowing a scant 188.2 yards per game.
Prediction: Steelers win 24-20
Sooner or later it was bound to happen. The Denver Broncos couldn’t hope to rely on running the ball and great defense in every game. Eventually a scenario would come where Osweiler would have to win it for them. He proved last week he may not have the chops for that. Now they’re asking him to do it on the road against a really good opponent? Hard to see.