Kiszla vs. renck:
Should Broncos fans worry about an early playoff exit?
Kiz: Nine times. Quarterback Peyton Manning has gone one-and-done in the playoffs nine times. We know the stat all too well in Denver, because we have seen a shockingly early end to the Broncos’ championship dreams in two of the past three years. Why will this season be different? Denver is a 7½-point favorite against Pittsburgh. So there’s no way the Broncos can lose this one? Is there?
Renck: With wide receiver Antonio Brown unable to play Sunday because of a concussion, running back DeAngelo Williams sidelined because of an ankle injury and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger compromised because of a damaged right shoulder, there are no excuses for the Broncos. They need not apologize for the good fortune. It would be a much better game if the Steelers were healthy, but Denver played without half its secondary at Heinz Field on Dec. 20. Injuries aren’t the issue. It’s their timing. All Super Bowl teams receive breaks. Denver catches one Sunday.
Kiz: Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict is a knucklehead. But he might also be the Broncos’ postseason MVP. By knocking out Brown and hurting Roethlisberger last weekend, Burfict reduced the Steelers from a formidable foe to a team that needs a miracle to beat Denver. What’s more, Burfict’s stupid penalty that allowed Pittsburgh to eliminate the Bengals from the tournament also prevented Manning from having to deal with a rugged Kansas City defense in this round of the playoffs.
Renck: Burfict is known as a bad dude. Talk to his college teammates, and they will tell you that he mastered the art of personal fouls and questionable hits at Arizona State. What’s sad is Burfict’s penalty is more defensible than the actions of Adam Jones. Burfict was attempting to make a play. Jones allowed himself to be drawn into a conflict with Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter that turned the winning field goal into a chip shot. Coaches are fond of saying: Discipline yourself before others have to. It applies to the Bengals.
Kiz: If Denver loses to these battered Steelers, it will go down as the worst playoff defeat since, oh, Indianapolis or Baltimore. OK, I get it. Those defeats weren’t all the fault of Manning. But before he can write the fairy-tale ending with one, last run to the Super Bowl, Manning must avoid the nightmarish start that has bounced him from the playoffs so many times. It doesn’t matter how many touchdown passes Manning throws against the Steelers. If No. 18 doesn’t over turn the ball, Denver will survive and advance. Renck: If the Broncos lose Sunday, it would rank as their worst playoff loss since the Jacksonville game in the 1996 season. Everything points to a Denver win. Manning doesn’t deserve full blame for the one-and-dones. He has been victimized by fumbles, porous defense and, in one case, an idiot kicker. His job description has changed. He doesn’t have to win this game. He just has to play his role, protect the ball, and the Broncos will win.