as soon as the injury report comes out, I will make a prediction.

as of now

Broncos 23

Steelers 17

Thuro

I think that is a very fair and accurate assessment of the game.  I think we lose but with a lot more respect than last week.  I'm hopeful we will make the necessary adjustments to cope with the pressure they will no doubt bring against our O.

Not going to predict a score.  They'll score 24 points somehow.  You can bet they will pick up on what the Ravens did and do likewise.  Keys revolve around our offense:

(1) Run the ball and keep running it until we succeed at wearing them down.

(2) Not rely on screens so much to slow down the rush.  It wasn't terribly effective, and the Steelers have quick lateral-moving athletes on defense.

(3) Stretch the field.  Take some shots with Gaffney and Royal deep to keep them honest.

All comes back to running the ball better and making play action more effective.  More draws, a shovel pass here and there, less screens.  My two cents..

And if we don't score, it would be nice to get more than 30-35 yards out of punts.

BigBronco wrote:

as soon as the injury report comes out, I will make a prediction.

 

as of now

 

Broncos 23

Steelers 17

AT home with a sore loss last week.

We come out refocused and take a win at home.

I like BB's score.

Den 23

Pitt 17

frankinphoenix wrote:

Not going to predict a score.  They'll score 24 points somehow.  You can bet they will pick up on what the Ravens did and do likewise.  Keys revolve around our offense:

 

(1) Run the ball and keep running it until we succeed at wearing them down.

(2) Not rely on screens so much to slow down the rush.  It wasn't terribly effective, and the Steelers have quick lateral-moving athletes on defense.

(3) Stretch the field.  Take some shots with Gaffney and Royal deep to keep them honest.

 

All comes back to running the ball better and making play action more effective.  More draws, a shovel pass here and there, less screens.  My two cents..

 

And if we don't score, it would be nice to get more than 30-35 yards out of punts.

Your first idea is terrible. Your third idea is good. I can tell you straight up,...trying to wear down the Steelers by running will guarantee a lot of three and outs for you. Theres a reason we haven't allowed a 100 yrd rusher in 30 games or so. But i'll also add that our cornerbacks can definitely be had. So that would be your best bet. This game really hinges on how Big Ben copes with your defense. Because right now I don't see how your offense will do much against our D given Orton's limited range.

Well, we didn't run very much against the Ravens, and I felt like we had too many screen passes. 

I think this offense has to run the ball to set up the pass, so we need to test the waters and not just abandon the run completely.  I don't think we can afford to have the Steelers teeing off on Orton because the threat of a run game is not there.

I agree that the Steeler D is highly susceptible to the pass, especially with a late lead.  Maybe our best bet is to get down 21-0?

21-17  Steelers but a defensive struggle.   Even in defeat the team will gain respect.

slammer8 wrote:

21-17  Steelers but a defensive struggle.   Even in defeat the team will gain respect.

I can see that too.

Basically, as long as we dont get blown out again Ill be pretty happy.

Couldn't pick a worse game to have Ryan Harris out of the lineup hurt.  I hope to keep this one close but our offense is really going to have trouble with the pass rush and putting up points IMO.

Something like 21-7 Pittsburgh is what my head says.  My heart is hoping for 10-7 Broncos

Do we really feel that our O-line got exposed?

Or was it a wake up call?

Like I've said, very impressed with the Ravens pass rush, but I think if we played them again today, our O-line would do worlds better.

I have a feeling it was a VERY GOOD THING for our O-line to be shown that this is the NFL.

I think they might have been a bit full of themselves. We shall see.

The Ravens had two weeks to prepare and they were a desperate and hungry team who had to win that game.  The schemes were just right and it was the first game that McD was outcoached.  That aint bad since he outcoached the hell out of Norv and even  Coach Bill.  I just dont see this game as a blow out.  Your Defense is still solid and you play very well at home.  The Steelers still have some concerns on the O line and Troy P is not 100%.   I  hope Pitt wins like I predict but wouldnt be shocked if you pulled it off.  What cannot happen is that you play from behind.  Orton can  manage the game but is not so good at catching up..

Except he won, from behind, against Dallas AND New England.

Don't let facts get in the way of an otherwise outstanding argument.

He really came from behind against Baltimore and in his entire career he has not been known to be able to throw the ball downfield very well or score alot of points quickly.  Time will show who has the facts right.  Like I have said before props to your new coach,  your D and the way your team is playing.  Even  Orton has done well so far but you cant convince me he is an elite QB.

slammer8 wrote:

He really came from behind against Baltimore and in his entire career he has not been known to be able to throw the ball downfield very well or score alot of points quickly.  Time will show who has the facts right.  Like I have said before props to your new coach,  your D and the way your team is playing.  Even  Orton has done well so far but you cant convince me he is an elite QB.

Im not trying to convince you of that.

Im on the fence myself.

However, he has done well enough to earn himself some major breathing room, IMO anyways.

Im not trying to convince you of that.

I don't think I've seen one posting anywhere, that makes the assertion that Orton is an "Elite" QB.  Quit trying to convince yourself that someone is saying that.  I will say, he's not a bad QB, and, based on his play witht he Broncos to this point, I'd say there is no question he's good...very good, IMO, has yet to be acheived.  I don't think great is in the cards for him.

The response was to Mooses post not to what you guys are saying.  I would think that my statement above regarding Pitt and not playing from behind makes sense to you guys at least.

TheRealMoose wrote:

Except he won, from behind, against Dallas AND New England.

 

Don't let facts get in the way of an otherwise outstanding argument.

It's a weak argument.  As the others have said, nobody is trying to convince you that Orton is an elite QB.

But claiming he cannot come from behind is simply not true, as evidenced by two prior games this season, where he came from behind to win football games.

slammer8 wrote:

The response was to Mooses post not to what you guys are saying.  I would think that my statement above regarding Pitt and not playing from behind makes sense to you guys at least.

TheRealMoose wrote:

Except he won, from behind, against Dallas AND New England.

 

Don't let facts get in the way of an otherwise outstanding argument.

 

I said he was not very good at it and two games ,for which is Defense helped him out alot,  does not make the reference for his body of work.

Thats Ortons main knock.

Will he be able to pull out a win from behind.

He has done it twice for us so far, but the Ravens showed us what a good pass rush means for a team.

However, Not even the greats get a come back win when they are being pressured like that.

True but the greats will make the quick reads,  get rid of the ball fast,  use footwork to allude,  make good decisions and are very accurate.   I wouldnt blame that loss to Baltimore all on Orton because the Oline sucked but he didnt play well either.  I look foward to the games sunday.

slammer8 wrote:

True but the greats will make the quick reads,  get rid of the ball fast,  use footwork to allude,  make good decisions and are very accurate.   I wouldnt blame that loss to Baltimore all on Orton because the Oline sucked but he didnt play well either.  I look foward to the games sunday.

No, you're trying too hard to lay this one on Ortons feet.

How does a great team like Indy get bounced from the playoffs so often?

It takes GREAT defensive schemes, and Ill call the one we lost to great, not to mention a complete revitalization of the vaunted Ravens D we have known for so many years.

The run was stuffed, and the blitz got through very consistently. Orton had no chance. Combine that with them stretching their lead with special teams TD's, we had no chance.

And Ill say now, Not Peyton, Not Tom...and certainly not Phillip, could have won that game.

Point well taken.  Baltimore played very well.  I was so impressed with the Ravens play against you and they go and lay an egg against cincy  and mess up my fantasy picks!

Hey I am a Chargers fan, so I guess you can figure out who I want to win.

But I am also a betting man...and I've really analyzed this game from many different angles, and I honestly think the Broncos are not getting enough respect.

The Steelers are going to have a tough time with your pass rush and I also believe the Broncos will make some huge big plays during the game, either special teams or a break out pass and catch to the house.

One main factor, and probably obvious....Turnovers!  If the Broncos can win the turnover game, that will help tremendously.  Denver has only two takeaways in last three games, after 10 in first four....so obviously, the Broncos need to get back to their early season form.  Also Orton needs to just steer the ship....no picks!  He will be under a lot of pressure....don't throw it into tight coverage, just throw it away.

The spread says the Steelers -3....I think the Broncos might pull this out and win 27-24.  Denver has a great tradition of winning on MNF and at home....I think it will continue.

You heard it here first.  Good luck!  It will be a good game...

Well, - whatever you do, - good luck tonight. ... I ALWAYS like to see the Steelers lose.

Chargerhonk wrote:

Hey I am a Chargers fan, so I guess you can figure out who I want to win.

 

But I am also a betting man...and I've really analyzed this game from many different angles, and I honestly think the Broncos are not getting enough respect.

 

The Steelers are going to have a tough time with your pass rush and I also believe the Broncos will make some huge big plays during the game, either special teams or a break out pass and catch to the house.

 

One main factor, and probably obvious....Turnovers!  If the Broncos can win the turnover game, that will help tremendously.  Denver has only two takeaways in last three games, after 10 in first four....so obviously, the Broncos need to get back to their early season form.  Also Orton needs to just steer the ship....no picks!  He will be under a lot of pressure....don't throw it into tight coverage, just throw it away.

 

The spread says the Steelers -3....I think the Broncos might pull this out and win 27-24.  Denver has a great tradition of winning on MNF and at home....I think it will continue.

 

You heard it here first.  Good luck!  It will be a good game...

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dont start THINKING we will win!!!!! We need to be disrespected, and thought s surefire loss...

We need to be the underdog, and feel like we have something to prove!

I don't like all this confidence from outside the franchise!

Hunter07 wrote:

Well, - whatever you do, - good luck tonight. ... I ALWAYS like to see the Steelers lose.

You're not happy very often.

The key to this game I think will be McD's offense.

If he can rally the offense and score we can win. Last week the defense did their job. It was the offense that failed to produce and should they play the same way this week, we will lose again.

McD seems to be able to throw wrinkles into a game plan and I think we will see some wrinkles this week.

Having home field advantage should help the team to be able to do some different things and attempt to confuse the steelers.

GO BRONCOS! 

The key to this game is who scores the most points. So far it aint Denver!

God Mitch Berger sucks. Why the hell did we cut Brett Kern? Kern could at least boot it down the field. Besides Orton's mistake the offense has looked alright and the defense looks amazing. Offense needs to score though.

so far i am completely disappointed with our offense. the defense has played as well as they could possibly play, with the exception of the first 12 or so minutes of the third quarter, forcing two turnovers with one being a red zone pick and the other a fumble TD. the fact that the field goal the first drive is all we have is flat out pathetic, no matter the defense. here's to hoping for a wakeup call on that offense and some fourth quarter magic in mile high.

The offense can't get it going tonight. The running game is nonexistent and although they are getting some passing yards they are stalling out, and now another INT for Orton. Well there goes the game. Hope they get it together for the Skins on Sunday.

God our offense is terrible. Terrible. We can't get anything going. Orton has been alright but everybody knows how to play him now. They are just jumping the short routes and putting 8 in the box like the Ravens and guess what? We can't do ****. Orton is going to have to start throwing the ball deep or we are going to get destroyed like this every week.

Mark87 wrote: The Broncos are showing in front of the nation that they're an elite team

LOL

Those of us who had deep concerns about Kyle Orton - tonights game shows why.

The running game is a non factor and that does not help at all, but sooner or later in the NFL you have to throw downfield and do it accurate.

See my post above -

Hopefully things will get better next week.

Clearly - the Bronco offense is not up to par with the elite teams.   

Guys we are going to get our ass kicked the rest of the year unless Orton steps up. Pitt is keeping 8-9 guys in the box everytime and we can't get anything deep? Pathetic. Really pathetic.

therockofrockies wrote:

Those of us who had deep concerns about Kyle Orton - tonights game shows why.

 

The running game is a non factor and that does not help at all, but sooner or later in the NFL you have to throw downfield and do it accurate.

 

See my post above -

 

Hopefully things will get better next week.

 

Clearly - the Bronco offense is not up to par with the elite teams.   

I think your offense is great when you are ahead but with Orton and that offense you are pretty much done if you are down by 7, unless you get an 80 yard deflected pass your way.

I'm afraid you're right Jim.  We have two main problems on offense... we can't throw deep, and we can't consistently run the football.  We are in serious trouble.

jimtaylor wrote:

God our offense is terrible. Terrible. We can't get anything going. Orton has been alright but everybody knows how to play him now. They are just jumping the short routes and putting 8 in the box like the Ravens and guess what? We can't do ****. Orton is going to have to start throwing the ball deep or we are going to get destroyed like this every week.