The Broncos offense went without a touchdown last week against Oakland. (Getty)
The weather’s getting cold, but the Steelers are on fire. It’s a shame they’re not in the playoffs. Yet.
Pittsburgh has scored 30 or more points in five straight games, yet still trail both the Jets and Chiefs for the final playoff spot in the AFC. A win over the Broncos would help their cause, but it won’t come easy. Pittsburgh’s aerial assault is meeting a defense that leads the NFL in several categories.
Here’s everything you need to know about the AFC matchup:
Date: Sunday, December 20, 2015
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA
TV Channel: Locally broadcast on CBS with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms on the call. Click here to check and see if you’re within the game’s coverage zone.
Line: Pittsburgh -6.5 via OddsShark.com
Live Stream: NFL.com; NFL Game Pass
Game Preview:
Pittsburgh needs to get into the playoffs, and Broncos need better seeding. With a road win, Denver could make a push for the top seed in the AFC, especially given Cincinnati’s injury troubles. The opportunity looms large for both teams, and it’ll come down to who can keep their respective quarterback upright.
Brock Osweiler had won his first three starts this season, but his first loss came last week against Oakland. That’s when he was introduced to Raiders LB Khalil Mack, who recorded five sacks in the win.
On the other side, Denver has more sacks (44) than any NFL team. The Steelers will only go as far as Ben Roethlisberger will take them, and he’s missed multiple weeks this year due to different injuries. Whether it’s Roethlisberger or Landry Jones, Pittsburgh will have a chance as long as they keep feeding the ball to Antonio Brown. In his last five games, the Steelers wideout has 48 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns.