Offense will have to win this game
DENVER – Worried about all of the injuries on the Steelers defense heading into tonight’s game at Invesco Field? Don’t.
Just count this one as one the Steelers offense will have to win.
Sure, the Steelers will miss Travis Kirschke and Ryan Clark (if he doesn’t play), but they’ll adjust well enough to stay in the game long enough for Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense to pull out a win.
After watching Baltimore basically disassemble the Broncos last Sunday, I’m convinced of two things:
1. Denver isn’t as good as the perfect record the Broncos carried into the game.
2. Baltimore did their AFC North brethren a favor by putting on film the blueprint of how to beat the Broncos.
Did you hear the sound bites from Roethlisberger earlier in the week? He basically said we can expect him to run a no-huddle offense at any time or from any spot on the field.
Isn’t that what many of you fans have been clamoring for anyway?
It’s confounding to watch the Steelers offense sputter its way through the first half of a game only to kick into high gear when the clock starts to wind down toward halftime. “Why can’t they do that all the time?” is a common response when the Steelers reach the end zone shortly before the clock hits all zeroes.
Well, cheer up, Steelers fans. You’re about get your wish.
Actually, I expect this game to almost mirror the Steelers effort against San Diego back on Oct. 4. In that game, the Steelers did nothing more than take advantage of the Chargers’ various defensive alignments. The Chargers opened the game with seven defensive players in the box and Roethlisberger responded by completing his first three passes for 65. So the Chargers took their sixth man out of the box and three Rashard Mendenhall carries had Pittsburgh in the end zone.
The Steelers eventually scored on three of their first four possessions to take a 21-0 lead en route to a 38-28 win imply by allowing Roethlisberger to assess the defensive alignment and execute the correct play. Oh, by the way, while Roethlisberger was compiling a 128.9 passer rating and Mewelde Moore was catching and throwing touchdown passes, Mendenhall was having his breakout game. He ran for 165 yards and a pair of scores.
Of course, you can’t expect this game to play out exactly like the Chargers game did. For one thing, this one isn’t at home. For another, the Broncos aren’t coached by Norv Turner. Josh McDaniel has proven after his rocky start (pun intended) that he can coach.
I just don’t believe he has the defensive players (or enough of them anyway) to shut down Pittsburgh’s offense. Their season-opening winning streak is over and if the Baltimore loss wasn’t enough of a reality check, this one will be.
Denver’s offense may make a few plays against the Steelers defense, but I don’t expect Denver’s defense to be able to hold down Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense.
Sports editor Mike Ciarochi may be reached at mciarochi@heraldstandard.com.