Denver Broncos: Mile High has been a struggle for Big Ben
By Jakob King
Ben Roethlisberger has struggled in Denver throughout his career. He has a 2-4 career record there. He returns to Mile High to face the Denver Broncos.
Invesco Field at Mile High, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Whatever the businessmen want to change the name to, that building has been a perennial Danger Zone for quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame or those bound for enshrinement. The Denver Broncos can be a challenge for quarterbacks.
The building opened in 2001, and the Denver Broncos have enjoyed great home success for the most part since then, even when they welcome in the league’s best quarterbacks.
The top ten quarterbacks who are either still active or retired after 2000 are Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, and Matt Ryan.
All ten of those quarterbacks have played at least one game at Broncos Stadium, and only three of them – Peyton Manning, Favre, and Ryan – have winning records in the Broncos’ friendly confines. Favre and Ryan have only played there one time each.
In all, those ten have a combined 18-24 record including postseason at Broncos Stadium.
One of those quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger comes to Denver this Sunday for the seventh time in his career. He is 2-4 in Denver, hasn’t won there since 2009 and has dropped three in a row at Broncos Stadium. Roethlisberger recently called Denver “a special place” to play.
Next. What Broncos Country should be thankful for. dark
It’s also a place that hasn’t been kind to Roethlisberger, as well as many of the NFL’s best passers. With a Denver Broncos team that should have momentum both on the field and in the crowd, coming off of a potential season-changing win last Sunday, it will likely have to be hard-earned if Roethlisberger’s Steelers are to hand the Broncos a loss that would all but end their playoff hopes.
Included in his 2-4 record in Denver is a 1-2 postseason record, and while this one obviously isn’t a playoff game, it should feature a playoff-type atmosphere as the Denver Broncos and their fans know they likely have to win out in order to secure a wildcard spot.
This game looks on paper to be Denver’s toughest on the remaining schedule, and they are lucky to be playing it in a building that offers one of the league’s best home-field advantages.