Revisiting the Broncos Past – Pittsburgh Steelers

To say that Broncos fans are playing the waiting game is an understatement!  The Peyton Manning saga is well behind us, Tebow Time has come to an end in the Rocky Mountains, the 2012 schedule has been released, and the draft is over, so now all we’re doing is counting down the days until our weekends are filled with NFL football…. scratch that, we are counting down the days until the weekends are filled with Broncos football.  To help get Broncos Country through the TRUE offseason, I will be reviewing some past games against the teams the Broncos will face during the 2012 regular season.  First on the docket is the Broncos’ week one opponent – the Pittsburgh Steelers.

January 8, 2012: No one will forget last season’s Wildcard playoff game that ended one play into overtime when Tim Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard touchdown pass giving the Broncos a 30-24 victory.  Little did Bronco fans know at that time this would be Tebows last touchdown pass as a Bronco.

November 9, 2009: The Steelers visited Denver on a Monday night in 2009 to close out the 9th week of the NFL season.  While the Broncos kept it close for the first three quarters, two Pittsburgh touchdowns in the fourth quarter ultimately lead to a 28-10 loss on national television.  Kyle Orton was the starting quarterback for the Broncos and had a subpar game completing 21 passes for 221 yards and only one touchdown.  Unfortunately, while Orton struggled with three interceptions, one of which was returned for a Pittsburgh touchdown, Ben Roethlisberger was the complete opposite.  Big Ben was 21-29 for 233 yards and three touchdown passes, two to Hines Ward and one to Mike Wallace.  Robert Ayers provided the biggest highlight of the night for Bronco fans when he returned a fumble 54-yards for a touchdown in the third quarter that gave the Broncos a 10-7 lead.

October 21, 2007: Despite two fourth quarter touchdown passes by Ben Roethlisberger, the Broncos still escaped in this Sunday night showdown in Denver with a 31-28 victory thanks to a 49-yard field goal by Jason Elam as time expired.  Jay Cutler completed 22 passes for 248 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.  The Bronco defense added to the scoreboard when Tim Crowder returned a Pittsburgh fumble 50-yards for a touchdown giving the Broncos a 21-7 halftime lead.

Considering the opponent, opening the 2012 season will be quite the challenge!  I am confident though that Bronco fans will be near playoff form considering the excitement that was re-instilled with last season’s success and excitement, as well as the fact that Peyton Manning and the rest of the Broncos will be on display for the entire nation on Sunday Night Football!

125 days and counting …. Go Broncos!

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