Broncos vs. Steelers: Injury UpdatesHere are the injury updates from this afternoon’s game.
*UPDATE* Pittsburgh offensive tackle Max Starks is questionable to return with a knee injury.
Pittsburgh defensive lineman Brett Keisel is questionable to return with a groin injury.
For the Broncos: Wide receiver Eric Decker has a knee injury, he will not return.
For the Steelers: Defensive tackle Casey Hampton has a knee injury and his return is questionable.
Check back here for the latest injury news.
-Kenny Legan
Pittsburgh Strikes FirstThe Steelers are on the board thanks to a 45-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham on their opening possession.
After starting the game on its own 20-yard line, Pittsburgh drove down the field with a couple big passes from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to tight end Heath Miller.
Miller’s first catch came on an 8-yard reception on third-and-3 from the Steelers 27-yard line to give the visitors a first down. Then the very next play, Roethlisberger found Miller open over the middle for a 33-yard gain. However, the Broncos held firm and kept the Steelers to just a field goal.
Denver took over on its own 20-yard line for its first possession with 11:14 left in the first quarter, but went three-and-out. Pittsburgh will start its second drive on its own 30-yard line.
-Kenny Legan
Broncos vs. Steelers: Pregame PhotosHere are some photos — courtesy of Eric Lars Bakke, Gabriel Christus and Ben Hays — of the Broncos warming up before their Wild Card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Broncos vs. Steelers: InactivesHere are the inactive players for today’s game.
For the Broncos: Safety Brian Dawkins, fullback Austin Sylvester, fullback Spencer Larsen, linebacker Mike Mohamed, tackle Ryan Harris, tight end Julius Thomas and defensive end Derrick Harvey.
For the Steelers: Running back Mewelde Moore, safety Ryan Clark, cornerback Cortez Allen, center Maurkice Pouncey, linebacker Mortty Ivy, defensive end Al Woods, and tackle Jamon Meredith.
-Kenny Legan
Notebook: Dawkins Out Sunday
Broncos veteran safety Brian Dawkins has been ruled out of Sunday’s Wild Card playoff matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a neck injury.
The 16-year player — who’s been to the playoffs on eight separate occasions — has sat out two of the previous three games and once again the team captain will be leading the team from the sideline.
“It’s kind of hard to put into words (how frustrated Dawkins is) because I know how much this game means to him,” cornerback Andre’ Goodman said. “I know how well he prepares week-in and week-out to get his body ready to play football games. He’s the guy who’s willing to put himself through anything to put himself out there. So I know how frustrated he is and we’re all frustrated for him.”
Submit Your Questions for ‘Elway Live’
For the first time in six years, the Denver Broncos are in the postseason. As a result, ‘Elway Live’ returns Tuesday at 2 p.m. MST for a special playoff edition.
Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway will join Broncos TV’s Chris Hall for the live, online-streamed audio broadcast on DenverBroncos.com. Elway and Hall will breakdown the team’s loss to Kansas City and look ahead to the Broncos home playoff game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The show is 30 minutes long and features fan-submitted questions for Elway.
Questions are currently being taken via Twitter and will continue to be taken during the show. To submit your questions, tweet using the hashtag #ElwayLive.
Click to continue reading “Submit Your Questions for ‘Elway Live’”
Tebow Acknowledges Need to Improve
Quarterback Tim Tebow is a big reason why the Broncos went 7-4 in their last 11 games to finish the season as AFC West champs.
However, his performance Sunday showed that the second-year quarterback still has a lot of growing up to do in the NFL.
“Well, obviously when you lose it’s just not good enough, and for me it wasn’t good enough,” Tebow said. “I just have to get better and learn from my great coaches and just come out next week and try to be a better quarterback, a better leader and be a better player.”
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Broncos vs. Chiefs: Gameday CoveragePREGAME:
We’re here at Sports Authority Field at Mile High with less than two hours until kickoff of the Broncos final regular season game this year.
Both teams are on the field warming up, as Denver looks to clinch the AFC West with a win or a Raiders loss.
Stay tuned as we keep you updated with all the latest info.
BRONCOS MOBILE APP: For those of you who follow the action on your smartphone, there’s a brand new — free — official Broncos mobile app. For more information on the app, check out this blog. On your smartphone, visit BroncosMobile.com to download it.
BRONCOS VS CHIEFS GAMECENTER: For play-by-play action and up-to-the-minute stats, check out the DenverBroncos.com Gamecenter. We’ll keep you updated here with scoring plays, drive recaps and all the fun bits and pieces you can’t get from looking at a box score.
BRONCOS ON TWITTER: Another option is to follow the @Denver_Broncos Twitter account. There are constant updates on there throughout the game. You don’t have to be on Twitter to read the posts, but if you are, you should follow the account for news throughout the week as well.
BRONCOS PLAYOFF SCENARIOS: The Broncos are in the playoffs with a win, but check out the other ways the team can make the postseason.
BRONCOS VS. CHIEFS – INACTIVES: Safety Brian Dawkins is one of the seven players inactive for the Broncos for today’s game.
PREGAME PHOTOS: Here are some photos of the Broncos warming up for this afternoon’s game courtesy of Eric Lars Bakke, Gabriel Christus and Ben Hays.
CHIEFS TO START WITH THE BALL: The Broncos won the toss and elected to defer to the second half, meaning Kansas City will get the ball first.
INJURY UPDATE: Right guard Chris Kuper will not return after he was carted off the field with a leg injury.
KANSAS CITY STRIKES FIRST: A Dexter McCluster 21-yard touchdown run gives the Chiefs an early 7-0 lead.
*INJURY UPDATE*: Fullback Spencer Larsen has a knee injury, he will not return.
BRONCOS TRAIL HEADING INTO HALFTIME: The Chiefs lead the Broncos 7-0 as the teams head into the locker room for halftime.
MCGAHEE TOPS 100 YARDS: For the seventh time this season, running back Willis McGahee has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game.
PRATER PUTS THE BRONCOS ON THE BOARD: Matt Prater’s 38-yard field goal cuts into Kansas City’s lead, 7-3.
BRONCOS SET SINGLE-SEASON RECORD: With McGahee’s four-yard run in the fourth quarter, the Broncos set a franchise record for rushing yards in a season.
CHIEFS BEAT BRONCOS 7-3: Tim Tebow’s fourth-down pass was intercepted sealing the Chiefs victory..
Prater Puts Broncos on the BoardMatt Prater’s 38-yard field goal has given Denver its first points of the day, as the Chiefs now lead the Broncos 7-3 with 8:11 left in the third quarter.
Prater’s field goal was set up by a huge play from the Broncos special teams. After Britton Colquitt punted on Denver’s first possession of the second half, returner Javier Arenas muffed the catch and Matt Willis recovered the ball, giving Denver possession at Kansas City’s 20-yard line.
After three plays, the Broncos kicked the field goal to narrow the Chiefs’ lead.
Click here to listen to the audio highlight of Willis’ fumble recovery on the muffed punt courtesy of AM 850 KOA.
-Kenny Legan
Broncos Trail Heading Into HalfWe’ve reached halftime here at Sports Authority Field at Mile High with the Chiefs leading the Broncos 7-0.
After a first quarter in which the Broncos didn’t record a first down, they put together a few solid drives in the second quarter but couldn’t put any points on the board to show for it. A Tebow fumble on a third-down run at the Chiefs 15-yard line hurt the Broncos, and later on they punted from the Chiefs 39-yard line with 31 seconds remaining in the first half.
However, in a quarter that has been their Achilles heal all season, the Broncos managed to play it evenly with the Chiefs. Denver got its running game going, as Willis McGahee is approaching another 100-yard game despite the loss of two of his main blockers due to injury in guard Chris Kuper and fullback Spencer Larsen: McGahee has 87 yards on 13 carries and has been the dominant factor in the Broncos offense thus far.
On defense, the Broncos have been able to keep quarterback Kyle Orton out of the end zone. Orton is 10-for-18 for 128 yards but it has been running back Dexter McCluster who has given the Denver defense trouble. The shifty back has eight times for 59 yards including a 21-yard touchdown for the game’s only score.
The Broncos will get the ball to start the second half, hoping to build upon a second quarter that saw them record seven first downs to Kansas City’s two.
-Kenny Legan