We go behind enemy lines in Pennsylvania to get the scoop on the Broncos next opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Broncos are traveling to the east coast for their first road trip of the 2020 season. They will be heading to the Keystone State, near a city that is close to the Great Lakes. This will be a very big test for Denver this early in the season.
From all that I have heard, the Steelers could be in a tier that is just behind the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. Having to watch your divisional opponent be successful is something no one wants to see, as a die hard fan.
But that is what Denver and Pittsburgh had to see. Sadly, they were both at home last year while they saw Baltimore get the top overall seed and Kansas City win the Super Bowl.
For Denver, based on the other three divisional teams winning last week, this game becomes a must win. But it is a very tall task. Pittsburgh is no push over. While the Broncos have won the last two meetings and four of the last five, the Steelers are a dangerous team.
Here is hoping that the first road game turns into a win. With a big game coming up, I decided to go behind enemy lines once again to chat.
Like last week with the Titans, I will be talking with a longtime college teammate. Riannon and I have known each other since our first college visit. We played some intramurals together. She is also a huge Steelers fan. We chatted to see what the Broncos were to look forward to.
Ty: In your opinion, how did the Steelers look on Monday night against the Giants?
Riannon: The defense looked just as strong as they finished last year. Cam Heyward with a big interception and Bud Dupree seemed to meet Saquon Barkley in the backfield on every carry. It may have taken the offense a little while to shake off the rust but Ben’s chemistry with the young receivers showed in the second half.
Ty: How confident are you in Big Ben now that he has returned to the team after missing most of last season?
Riannon: As long as his elbow holds up, I’m sure we’ll see a huge improvement over the QB play from last year.
Ty: What are your thoughts on the team this season? Any chance of them getting to the postseason or winning the AFC North?
Riannon: Anything short of making the postseason would be a disappointment. They should be able to give Baltimore a run for the AFC North crown. They bring a top 5 defense to the table and how far they go will likely depend on how well the offense can produce quality carries and yardage. A healthy Ben Roethlisberger is critical to their success. They have so many young weapons on offense, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Joshnson, James Washington, even Chase Claypool had a big catch last week. Ben’s chemistry with those guys and their ability to consistently put up points will be the determining factor on if they can make the leap to the next level, and become AFC contenders.
Ty: The Steelers welcome the Denver Broncos in their home opener. What do you believe it will take to get the win against a young, but hungry Denver team?
Riannon: Turnovers. The front seven is going to need to pressure Drew Lock the same way they did Daniel Jones on Monday night, and force him to make mistakes. The offense is going to need to stretch the field a little more than they did against the Giants. Now that Roethlisberger has had 4 quarters to shake off the rust from missing most of last season, he’s going to need to make some big plays.
Ty: Which player for Pittsburgh will be the X-Factor for the game on Sunday?
Riannon: Benny Snell. With James Conner banged up, and frankly ineffective when he did get the ball on Monday, I believe the pressure is on Benny Snell to make the most of this opportunity. He’s a tough runner, he’s not afraid of contact, and has shown that he’s willing to do what it takes to move the chains. If he can put up similar numbers to what he was able to do last week against the Giants, it will go a long way towards helping the Steelers secure a W.