Looking to get back in the win column, the Denver Broncos (3-1) head to Heinz Field to battle the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3) on Sunday.
The Broncos, who lost their first game of the season last week to the Baltimore Ravens, are still wondering whether Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock will be the starting quarterback. Regardless, Ben Roethlisberger will start for the Steelers.
Though it has been nearly 15 years, Roethlisberger was also the starter for the Steelers the last time Denver won a game in Pittsburgh.
That win came back on November 5, 2006. Jake Plummer was the quarterback for the Broncos.
The Steelers were the defending champions that year, having won the Super Bowl in what would be the final game of the careers of both Bill Cowher and Jerome Bettis the year before. This win would be extra sweet for the Broncos as the Steelers had come into Denver and smashed the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game the year before.
On this day in Pittsburgh, Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker had a career day. He caught six passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns and scored another touchdown on a 72-yard run. That accounted for most of the Broncos’ scoring in a 31-20 victory.
Roethlisberger attempted 54 passes in the game and threw for 433 yards but he also threw three interceptions on the day. Two of those were made by Champ Bailey.
The Broncos have actually had good luck in Pittsburgh overall, with each team winning seven games all-time in the Steel city. That includes the 1997 AFC Championship Game which the Broncos won.
The Steelers have taken the last two games in Pittsburgh including a 26-21 victory there last year. Lock was injured in that game so it would be ironic if he were to come back and start for the team there this year.
The all-time series between these teams leans in the favor of Denver by a count of 20-12-1. They have also won six of the last nine meetings against the Steelers.