Broncos Blow Big Lead, Fall to Steelers 34-27

The Broncos held a 27-10 lead at one point in the first half on Sunday against the Steelers, and at that point you would expect them to close the game out and take a huge step towards their playoff destiny. Unfortunately, the Broncos could not hold that lead and the Steelers made a valiant comeback to win the game 34-27. It was a crushing blow for the Broncos because of the dominance of their offense in the first half. The Broncos scored on four possessions of the first half and Brock Osweiler threw three touchdown passes and ran for another to give the Broncos that big lead. The defense held the Steelers in check and even produced an interception to help them take the lead, but the game turned in the second half. The Broncos offense went stale and couldn't move the chains and keep their defense off the field, and the Broncos defense simply wore down and couldn't contain Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and the rest of that passing attack. The result was a Steelers comeback capped off by a Big Ben to Brown laser touchdown pass with over three minutes to go in the game and that proved to be the game winning play. The Broncos are left to ponder what could have been, and now they have to fight for their playoff lives and the AFC West crown the last two weeks. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) You can't ask for a better first half, with the exception of Ronnie Hillman's fumble on Denver's first possession, than the one that Brock Osweiler and the Broncos produced. Four touchdown drives, three Osweiler touchdown passes, and a 27-10 lead. Osweiler was sensational in the first half. He was very efficient on third down and was constantly moving the ball down the field with big-time throws. Emmanuel Sanders had a great game overall (10 receptions for 181 yards) and he caught a 61-yard touchdown catch to make it 14-7. Demaryius Thomas also had a strong first half and added two touchdown receptions to add to the lead. It was about as good of a first half as you can get.

2) It felt like early on the Broncos defense had the advantage on the Steelers up front in the first half. They were getting pressure on Big Ben, and they were able to disrupt the Steelers enough to get some stops, force an interception, and keep Pittsburgh to only 13 points. The only touchdown that Pittsburgh scored was when they converted after an early Ronnie Hillman fumble deep in Denver territory. The only part that I didn't like in the first half on the behalf of Denver's defense was when they gave up a field goal towards the end of the half to make it 27-13. You would have liked it if Denver's defense gave up no points in that spot.

3) This game is really the tale of two halves. Once again, the Broncos offense got shutout in the second half, and I don't think it was Pittsburgh's defense that adjusted so well. I think it was a combination of lack of execution, penalties/mistakes, and play-calling that doomed the Broncos in the second half. Where were some boots and rollouts? It just seemed like they were playing from their heels in the second half instead of attacking.

4) You can't kill the Broncos defense for giving up 21 second half points to the Steelers. They were on the field constantly, and with the offense going three and out, there was no rest for them and they simply wore down. The Steelers didn't even attempt to run the ball, and the Broncos just couldn't keep up with Antonio Brown and the rest of those receivers. You could just see it coming each drive the second half. The Broncos defense even forced three punts in the second half, but the combination of bad punting buy Britton Colquitt, inept offense, and a late Osweiler pick but the defense in a bind and they couldn't hold on.

5) The Broncos almost got bailed out when Big Ben threw an inexplicable interception with 2:01 left in the game. Brandon Marshall was covering the back out of the backfield when Big Ben threw it right to him. Eventhough the defense made that big play to keep their hopes alive, the Broncos offense couldn't even get a first down and the game ended.

6)  It was a disappointing loss because of how dominant the Broncos looked in the first half. If you would have told me that the Broncos were going to score 27 points in the first half, I would have really liked our chances. I had a feeling that Denver was going to lose this game, but they way they lost really hurts. At 10-4, the Broncos now have only a one game lead over the 9-5 Chiefs for the AFC West title, and there is a possibility that if the Chiefs, Jets, and Steelers all win out, then the Broncos could miss the playoffs all together. The Broncos need to win their last two games at home against Cincy and San Diego to win the West and clinch a #2 seed. They certainly control things if they win out, but it is very interesting and very nerve-wracking as they head into these last two games. Nothing will be easy here down the stretch.