7:04 P.M. MDT: Dre’ Bly has a bruised shoulder after the interception … his return is probable.
7:06 P.M. MDT: Denver’s first turnover of the game … Jay Cutler for Brandon Marshall in double coverage, intercepted in the end zone. Anthony Smith nabbed it for the touchback.
7:07 P.M. MDT: Pittsburgh now averaging 3.75 yards per carry on its four rushes so far …
7:07 P.M. MDT: Well, make that 8.2 yards a rush after Parker sprints 26 yards up the left side to the Denver 49.
7:08 P.M. MDT: As some Broncos fans brandish their pom-poms, Steelers fans bust out their towels. One visible symbol of loyalty begat another. The result — a crowd awash in color as the Steelers have third-and-4 at the Denver 43 … and the Broncos get the stop after John Lynch barely missed Ben Roethlisberger on the potential sack … R’berger got away, but his pass for Hines Ward was too far and went incomplete.
7:12 P.M. MDT: Broncos start at their 14 after Glenn Martinez calls for the fair catch … Travis Henry gets 4 yards to the 16; he has 29 yards on eight carries so far, good for 3.6 yards a rush.
7:13 P.M. MDT: Well, that average took a dip after he gained one yard on the next play; he’s now at nine carries for 30 yards.
7:15 P.M. MDT: Cutler’s third-down pass skips off Marshall’s hands near the left sideline. Marshall still looking for his first reception as the Broncos go three-and-out.
7:17 P.M. MDT: Steelers start at their 32 … now at their 31 after losing a yard on first down … and great prnetration by John Lynch and Jarvis Moss to snuff out the second-and-11 draw play; Pittsburgh now has third-and-14.
7:18 P.M. MDT: R’berger steps out of a collapsing pocket to find Santonio Holmes; Pittsburgh keeps its drive alive with a 16-yard play to its 44.
7:19 P.M. MDT: Steelers challenging a pass ruled incomplete, but it looked like the football hit the ground before Hines Ward could finish hauling it in.
7:22 P.M. MDT: The incompletion stands.
7:23 P.M. MDT: Third-and-9 now for the Steelers at their 45 … Steelers are third-and-5 on third downs so far … R’berger in the shoutgun, finds Ward, but it skips off the wideout’s hands and into those of D.J. Williams … Broncos will take over at their 39 … Need to capitalize off the solid field position.
7:28 P.M. MDT: A splendid decision by Cutler to keep it himself and take off into an acreage of open territory; he finally goes down at the Pittsburgh 15, when Troy Polamalu went for Cutler’s head, drawing a personal-foul penalty.
7:29 P.M. MDT: Now first-and-goal, and Henry gets six yards to the 1 … Some nice running from No. 20 on this drive; he earlier made a nice cut and sprint upfield for six yards to get things going.
7:30 P.M. MDT: No gain for Henry on second-and-goal; Broncos about 10 inches shy of the goal line now.
7:30 P.M. MDT: Short pass to the fullback in the flat … touchdown, Cecil Sapp. Broncos lead for the first time this month, 14-7.
7:33 P.M. MDT: Steelers with the ball at their 28 … now to the 35 after Willie Parker scoots right for 7.
7:34 P.M. MDT: Steelers on the move now at the Denver 38; R’berger found Heath Miller for 27.
7:35 P.M. MDT: Nice pass rush by Marcus Thomas on first down, but he fell just short of R’berger, who managed to get away a pass that was practically a spike at Parker’s feet.
7:36 P.M. MDT: Fumble … R’berger loses it … in the mayhem, Tim Crowder picks it up and scoots the distance … gaining distance between himself and the Steelers chasing him with every step … touchdown for the rookie … Elvis Dumervil credited with the sack and fumble … holy crap!
7:37 P.M. MDT: Denver’s young pass rushers are growing stronger as the game progresses tonight … Duemrvil was there, along with Marcus Thomas (two nice pass rushes in a row for the rookie) … The ball squirted loose, and Crowder, who was standing near the pile of humanity on the ground, alertly picked up the loose football and took off.
7:39 P.M. MDT: A crash course in McKinleynomics as Alvin McKinley gets to R’berger for the sack … “He’s standing in the mountains, so he’s Mt. McKinley,” says Kyle Sonneman, who will be quite peeved that I credit him with such a pun, even through he did say it.
7:40 P.M. MDT: R’berger gets out of pressure and finds Ward at the Pittsburgh 39 as the two-minute warning arrives.
7:43 P.M. MDT: Crowd getting the “Dee-fense” chant going … Steelers to their 48 … clock ticking … great pressure from Dumervil on second-and-1 … pass incomplete, but a flag flies … no foul on the play, because “it was unintentional by the left tackle.” What is “it”? Help us out, Mr. Referee.
7:44 P.M. MDT: Steelers to midfield as Najeh Davenport gets the carry. “Davenport!” I hear his name and I think of the scene with Eugene Levy in National Lampoon’s Vacation.
7:45 P.M. MDT: Ward with a reception for 18 yards to the Denver 31. Steelers have one timeout left. Clock ticking … R’berger in trouble again, directs traffic, looks for the end zone and nearly has his pass intercepted by Bly at the goal line.
7:47 P.M. MDT: Steelers called for illegal touching, which is declined, preserving second-and-10 at the Denver 31.
7:48 P.M. MDT: Still more pressure from the Broncos’ pass rushers … finally it results in a Steelers holding penalty, on Kendall Simmons … Fourteen seconds left in the half and the Steelers have second-and-20 at the Denver 41.
7:49 P.M. MDT: Dumervil with his second sack of the night … he’s having a whopper of an evening … Three seconds left and the Steelers call timeout with the line of scrimmage at the Denver 47.
7:50 P.M. MDT: A chance at history? Jeff Reed is coming onto the field for what would be a 65-yard field-goal attempt.
7:51 P.M. MDT: It’s short, Bly fields it and it’s halftime.
Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers
There you go “D”
The defense with a few exceptions is looking good
We need another stop!
just gotta stop them on third down. Can’t let Pitt. start to click.
Cutler needs to relax a little and go 10 yards at a time. If he does that today could be a real good day for the Broncos and the fans. Come on Boys lookin good!!!! Go Broncos!!!!
It is good to see those turnovers – an area we’ve been beat on all year!
nice pick….. Were rollin, Things are lookin good!!!!
Interception!! Big play, now we got to get the offense going again…could be a big chance to take control
bickers56, e-mail me if you can … if you can provide a report from the Wembley game, I’d be willing to post it as a guest-blog entry.
First game in awhile I have had an old feeling return. Feels good to be a Bronco fan today. Defense looks good. They got a different spark to them.
Run, Jay, RUN!
Mason ~ Please point that last play out to the Let Plummer Play guy tomorrow
Put in the end zone boys. Let’s Roll!!!!!
Love the hunger Cutler!
were leading, holy crap!!! Where did this team come from.
Let’s go Defense!!!!
It is good to see the hungry “D”
They’ve got some fire, and the young guys on the D-Line are stepping up HUGE!
Will that go down as a sack for Dumervill?
It will, unless they decide to split it with Thomas (who was there, but did not bring R’berger down).
LOOK AT THE BIG FELLA GO!!
AM – While we are at it – What is up with Simeon Rice? Hurt? Not in shape?
According to rumor at least the Broncos don’t believe that Rice is back from his injury.
Think Bly’s shoulder is separated?
their O-Line can’t block ANYONE!
Poorboy – I think Bly is tough – We need his legs more than his arms!
WOW! Where did this defense come from?
If his shoulder was separated I don’t think he’d still be out there.
And we get the ball to start the third quarter. If we can drive down the field, eat up some clock, and put some points on the board, it would put Pittsburgh in a very tough position.
Cutler is growing up, doing good, Dre’Bly played hurt and played very well, rookies stepped up, Crowder, and pulled weight where it was needed. Great show. Enjoyed the game emmensely! All of the players did well, I am one proud Bronco fan!
Its great to see BLY playing through an injury. It hopefuly will open the mind frame to players like Champ Bailey who are selfish and only think about their stats and themselves. I am sick of the selfishness. Stop thinking about yourself Champ. Lets let Foxwort play he was better than lazy Champ anyways.
Maceano- that is a joke, right? Champ, who played on a screwed up hamstring all of the ’06 season? Champ, who in spite of being valuable enough to this team to refuse to play special teams if he wanted to, had been our best coverage man? I can only assume that you are joking or referring to some other Champ Bailey.
Mason- great updates, and I laughed pretty hard at the “McKinleynomics” reference.