Denver faces another red-hot team
The Broncos will accomplish a bit of history Sunday against Pittsburgh.
Per the team’s media relations staff, the Broncos will be the first team since the 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (who finished 0-14) to face three consecutive opponents on a winning streak of at least five games.
Houston had five won in a row when it faced the Broncos in Week 9 (and won 19-17). The Chargers were on a six-game streak last week (and lost 23-22). And the Steelers have won six consecutive games. Already this season the Broncos have faced Kansas City (9-2) twice and the Los Angeles Rams once (10-1).
“Close games against really good football teams,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said on Wednesday about the Broncos. “It is definitely a team that is much better than their record shows and we understand that.”
Broncos players said coach Vance Joseph mentioned the current string of on-a-roll opponents during their team meeting.
“It’s a tough stretch,” Joseph said. “That being said, we’re battle-tested. We’ve played the best teams in the league. Our team won’t flinch. We understand how hard it’s going to be, but our team is in a good place and looking forward to the next challenge.”
The Broncos are 3-4 in games decided by seven or fewer points. They had lost three straight such games until the come-from-behind win over the Chargers.
“They’re coming off a game where they finally broke through and won vs. a streaking team so I know that’s good momentum for them,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
Miller honored.
Broncos linebacker Von Miller was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after posting an interception and a sack in the win over the Chargers. It was the fourth time Miller has won the award, most in Broncos history. Linebacker Karl Mecklenburg and cornerback Aqib Talib won it three and two times, respectively.
Injury update.
Cornerback Bradley Roby (concussion), safety Dymonte Thomas (ankle) and linebacker Brandon Marshall (knee) did not practice. Receiver DaeSean Hamilton (knee) was limited.
Of Roby doing side-field work, Joseph said: “That’s part of the protocol. You have testing and on-field movement. If he passes that, we’ll move on (to the next stage). We want to be smart with his health. Once he’s cleared, he can play.”
Hall semifinalists.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame trimmed its list of candidates from 103 to 25 semifinalists and it includes former Broncos players Champ Bailey (first time as a finalist), safety Steve Atwater (eighth), linebacker Karl Mecklenburg (eighth) and safety John Lynch (seventh). Fifteen modern-era finalists will be announced on Jan. 3, followed by a final vote on Feb. 2. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, along with former Dallas executive Gil Brandt, were announced in August as finalists in the contributor’s category. They advanced straight to the final vote.
Footnotes.
The Broncos’ win at the Chargers was only their fifth in the last 20 years as a road underdog of seven or more points. Los Angeles closed as a sevenpoint favorite. The Broncos won at Indianapolis in 2003 (31-17, plus-seven), San Diego in 2005 (23-7, plus-11 1/2), the New York Jets in 2009 (34-17, plus-eight) and Oakland in 2011 (38-24, plus-seven)….The Steelers are 15-1-1 in their last 17 road games, including 4-0-1 this year. Their last road loss at September 2017 at Chicago….Through his foundation, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced a grant to Colorado Parks and Wildlife with funds to purchase and train a K-9 for law enforcement detection. Roethlisberger awards a grant to K-9 units in the communities of each Steelers road opponent…Joseph said receiver River Cracraft will handle punt returns Sunday and running back Devontae Booker will be the kick returner. … The Broncos signed rookie cornerback Linden Stephens to their practice squad. Stephens was with New Orleans in camp and on the Rams practice squad for two weeks.