Steelers @ Broncos: Official Game Thread

In week 11, the Steelers earned a come from behind victory over the Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Now the Steelers travel to Broncos Stadium to play the Broncos.

For the Steelers to win:
The Steelers offense needs to start fast and pour it on the Broncos - as Denver is a team not really built to come from behind.
The Steelers offense needs to block Von Miller and Bradley Chub.
The Steelers defense needs to stop the Broncos running game.
The Steelers need to win the turnover battle.


From Steelers Depot:
Steelers Versus Broncos Week 12 Projected Inactive List

Mason Rudolph – Rudolph has yet to dress for a game so far this season as the rookie third-round draft remains at the bottom of the quarterback depth chart behind second-year signal caller Joshua Dobbs. Barring an injury to either Dobbs or starter Ben Roethlisberger, Rudolph only get a chance to dress for the Steelers regular season finale should that contest ultimately become a meaningless one. Look for Rudolph to once again be one of the Steelers seven inactive players Sunday afternoon against the Broncos.

Marcus Gilbert – Gilbert once again ended the week listed as out on the Steelers official injury report after he failed to practice all three days because of a knee injury that has been bothering him since the team’s bye. Sunday afternoon will mark the fifth consecutive game that Gilbert has missed and his sixth of the season. With Gilbert sidelined on Sunday we could see rookie tackle Chukwuma Okorafor start in his place at right tackle.

Stephon Tuitt – An elbow injury suffered a few weeks ago against the Carolina Panthers will prevent Tuitt from playing Sunday afternoon against the Broncos. The Steelers officially ruled Tuitt out for Sunday’s game on their Friday injury report after he failed to practice all week and that means backup defensive end Tyson Alualu will likely once again start in his place against the Broncos. Additionally, Tuitt being sidelined again on Sunday should result in backup defensive lineman L.T. Walton dressing for a third consecutive game.

Matt Feiler – Feiler suffered a pectoral injury late in the Steelers Week 11 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars and he ended the week listed as questionable on the team’s Friday injury report after only being able to practice on a limited basis twice to close out the week. It’s hard to know if Feiler will ultimately be able to play Sunday in Denver as he could wind up being a game-time decision. I’ll guess that Feiler will ultimately be inactive and that Okorafor will start in his place against the Broncos. If that indeed happens, look for backup tackle Zach Banner to get a helmet for just the second time this season. If Feiler dresses, however, Banner would likely be on the inactive list.

Marcus Allen – Allen has yet to dress for a game this season and that’s not likely to change Sunday afternoon against the Broncos. The Steelers are currently very healthy at the safety position and that means the Penn State product and 2018 fifth-round selection won’t dress for an eleventh consecutive game.

Brian Allen – With all the cornerbacks ahead of him on the depth chart still very healthy, this Allen can also expect to once again be on the Steelers inactive list Sunday afternoon in Denver. Since being promoted to the 53-man roster from the practice squad in Week 5, Allen has only dressed for two games and none since the team’s bye week.

Justin Hunter – The Steelers are likely to have one wide receiver on their seven-player inactive list once again and odds are good that Hunter will once again draw the short straw. While rookie James Washington hasn’t contributed much of any in the nine games that he’s now dressed for so far this season, he has registered quite a few offensive snaps in the team’s last several games in addition to playing some on special teams. Hunter isn’t a special teams asset and with the Steelers currently being a very healthy team at the wide receiver position, his chances of dressing on Sunday against the Broncos will be very, very slim.

 

Tunch Ilkins 3 keys to the game:

Key # 1: Stop The Run
Key # 2: Stop Emmanuel Sanders
Key # 3: Block Edge Rushers

 

Looking forward to seeing how Okorafor fairs against Von Miller. Quite the test for a first start at Right Tackle.

 

Have a feeling our front seven is going to have a monster day.

 

Not liking this start...offense seems to be having its way but finding ways to come away with no points

 

seems like a lot of flags so far.

 

Refs are screwing us.

 

Defense looked like crap on that drive. Sensabaugh too far off the TE

 

Ridiculous to be down in this game. Steelers need to turn these yards to points

 

Offense on the move again. Need to tie this game. Then take the 2nd half kickoff and drive down the field to take a 7 point lead

 

Switzer looks damn good in the slot

 

And Switzer just got crushed

 

McDonald with the butterfingers in the end zone

 

Really not liking the shuffle pass on the goal line week in and week out...need to be a little less predictable

 

And with that they pull a fake FG from Boswell to Villanueva TD!

 

Fake FG gets the job done.

 

Remember to charge your defibrillator during halftime.

 

Not a game that should need it, but such is the life of a Steelers fan lol

 

TEs killing them today - Grimble fumble out of end zone and butterfingers

 

Ben just missed Juju on the first play + penalty on 2nd down + a bad playcall on 3rd = 3 and out on the opening possession of the 2nd half