2012 NFL Playoff Predictions: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos
Written by Matthew Regaw
Thu, 5 Jan 2012
Category sportsbook
Feedback Rating - no votes
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos meet this week in the AFC Playoffs. The Broncos will host the Steelers since they won the AFC West. The Steelers will have to go up against the Tebow Mania that is engulfing Denver this season.
The Steelers are not a top seed this year, but they are still one of the best teams in the NFL. Losing two games to the Baltimore Ravens cost them the division, but they could still represent the AFC in the Super bowl. They do have a problem with injuries however.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is still not 100 percent after suffering a high ankle sprain. Runningback Rashard Mendenhall is out of this game and the running duties will be handed over to Isaac Redman. Finally defender Ryan Clark will also sit out this game and that will leave the Steelers scrambling to get the team in order for the playoffs.
The Broncos have a big question and that is Tim Tebow. The defense has been playing well enough to keep Denver in the game, but the rest of the league has seemed to figure out Tebow. He is fumbling on a regular basis and his passing is hurting this offense. When the Broncos get in a position where they are down by more than one score they have a very difficult time coming back. While Denver looks as though they will be one-and-done in the NFL post season, they could not have asked for a better matchup.
The Broncos defense matches up well with the Steelers offense. Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil will be able to get some shots at Roethlisberger who loves to stay in the pocket and the Broncos have corners and safeties that can contain the speed that Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown bring to the game.
The Steelers have an equally impressive defense and James Harrison is a terror that cannot be contained. However when it comes to trends the Steelers have some problems. The Steelers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a win and 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games.
The Broncos may not win this game, but they can keep this game close. The points are a bonus in this spot as the Broncos are at home and in the playoffs. The Steelers need to get it together or they can be on upset alert in week one of the playoffs.
NFL Playoff Predictions: Denver Broncos +9