Broncos up- down drill: Best and worst performances against the Steelers
The Broncos have been injury- plagued early this season, and that trend continued Sunday as quarterback Drew Lock exited with a shoulder injury in the first quarter and did not return. As salt in the wound, the Steelers cashed in on Lock’s fumble during the sack with their first touchdown drive.
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DOWN — Ju- Ju SmithSchuster continues to be a problem for the Denver secondary, as his 18- yard catch on 3rd- and- 10 from the Denver 20- yard line set Pittsburgh up for that opening score.
UP — Brandon McManus finally got Denver on the board in the second quarter — and recorded his first field goal of 2020, and first since signing a four- year extension — with a 49- yarder.
UP — The Broncos caught a break when Diontae Johnson ran back Sam Martin’s punt 81 yards for the touchdown, but the score was negated by an illegal block in the back by Cam Sutton.
DOWN — But Denver gave up a touchdown the very next play anyway as Pittsburgh took a commanding 14- 3 lead off an 84yard touchdown pass. Rookie Michael Ojemudia, who continues to receive a rude introduction to the NFL, was burned on the play by fellow rookie Chase Claypool.
DOWN — The Broncos offense looked lost to end the first half: In their final three drives of the second quarter, Denver went missed field goal, interception and punt. The Broncos ran nine plays for 42 yards during that stretch.
UP — Justin Simmons injected much- needed energy into the Broncos’ sideline with an interception on the Steelers’ opening drive of the second half, Denver’s first takeaway of the season.
UP — The Denver defense held tall on fourth down, forcing a Ben Roethlisberger incompletion on 4th- and- 2 at the Broncos’ 35- yard line with 3: 54 left in the third. That gave the Broncos offense an opening.
By Kyle Newman, The Denver Post
UP — Backup Jeff Driskel DOWN — When it comes started to settle in, and to squeaking out a close engineered a six- play, 65win, this year’s Broncos yard drive that still look like the 2019 culminated with a 20- yard Broncos, who started 0- 4. This touchdown pass to Noah Fant. It time, Denver’s chances fizzled out marked Driskel’s first touchdown when the Broncos couldn’t get two pass for Denver. yards for a first down at the Steelers 15- yard line, and Driskel was sacked on fourth down.
Pittsburgh recorded a safety when punter Sam Martin dropped a snap — two points that ended up being critical, as the Broncos were forced to go for a touchdown on their final drive instead of a field goal to tie.
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UP — Driskel continued to elevate his play down the stretch in the face of a heavy Pittsburgh rush, and he connected with running back Melvin Gordon on a 16- yard touchdown pass with 7: 43 left to make it a one- score game.
Up to and through the final sack of Driskel, the Broncos’ offensive line was dominated by the Pittsburgh front in pass blocking, as the Steelers finished with seven sacks and 19 quarterback hits.
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