Third-and-12 at the Denver 18 (14:56, 2nd quarter): After a 21-yard pass to Eric Decker was overturned via instant replay challenge, momentum seemed to be on Pittsburgh’s side. Denver faced a third-and-long from deep in its own territory trailing 6-0, but this was the play that swung the momentum back to the home side as Tim Tebow found Demaryius Thomas deep down the left sideline for a 51-yard gain. The big play set up Tebow’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal two plays later that gave Denver a 7-6 lead.
Second-and-10 at the Pittsburgh 20 (13:21, 2nd quarter): Ben Roethlisberger connected on a 52-yard pass to Mike Wallace, but the Broncos successfully challenged the ruling. Instead of a long gain into Denver territory, Pittsburgh faced a third-and-10 and would go three-and-out, turning the ball back to the Broncos.
Second-and-7 at the Denver 30 (12:15, 2nd quarter): The Tebow-to-Thomas connection struck again, this time for 58 yards. Again, two plays after the long pass play, the Broncos found the end zone. This time, Tebow kept it himself and charged up the middle for an 8-yard rushing score to give the Broncos a 14-6 advantage.
3rd-and-16 at the Pittsburgh 14 (9:23, 2nd quarter): With heavy pressure from D.J. Williams, Roethlisberger heaved a pass down the field that ended up in the arms of Quinton Carter. The rookie safety returned the interception 9 yards to the Pittsburgh 18. The Broncos pushed the ball inside the Steelers 5-yard lie before settling for a 20-yard field goal to increase their lead to 17-6.
Second-and-6 at the Denver 35 (4:31, 2nd quarter): Tebow hit Daniel Fells over the middle for a gain of 40 yards to push Denver into scoring position. Prater added his second field goal of the game to give the Broncos a 20-6 lead.
Third-and-4 at the Denver 40 (0:39, 2nd quarter): With the Steelers at the edge of field goal range, Roethlisberger couldn’t handle a high snap from Doug Legursky. Roethlisberger recovered the loose ball, but not before Pittsburgh lost 23 yards on the play. Instead of having a chance to add points before the intermission, Pittsburgh had to punt.
First-and-10 at the Pittsburgh 23 (8:12, 2nd quarter): Roethlisberger threw what replays showed to be a backwards lateral to Mike Wallace. The whistle blew when the ball hit the ground, making what could have been ruled a Broncos fumble recovery non-reviewable. The play remained an incomplete pass, and Pittsburgh would go on to drive down the field for a touchdown to make the score Denver 20 Pittsburgh 13.
First-and-10 at the Denver 48 (7:43, 4th quarter): With the Broncos driving down the field looking to extend a 23-16 lead, Ryan Mundy forced a Willis McGahee fumble that was recovered by LaMarr Woodley. Pittsburgh used the turnover to knot the game at 23-23 after Roethlisberger threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery on the team’s ensuing drive.
First-and-10 at the Denver 45 (0:29, 4th quarter): Pittsburgh had moved the ball into Denver territory in the final minute of regulation when Elvis Dumervil stip-sacked Roethlisberger for a loss of 11 yards. Roethlisberger recovered his fumble, but the 11-yard loss led to a last-play Hail Mary attempt that resulted in another Broncos sack.
-Stuart Zaas
Sorry cant get it to work. I’m not good at this stuff
Harrison AIMED for the knee. I felt it was pretty obvious and sincerely believe he did it on purpose so he can say that that’s what happens when he can’t go high on a hit. When I played ball, Harrison would never have finished the game. We would have made sure of it, legally or not. No place in a GAME for people like that. IMO
McGahee has been hampered by injury but I dont think he is gassed or slowed down perse … i mean everyone knows we run the ball … we are the number 1 rushing offense … thats what they dedicate thier time o stopping because they dont believe we can pass … Steelers ALL GAME dedicated agaisnt the run which was why they got beat .. especially on the first play of OT. Thats why McGahee can’t run … when they are forced to play fair and cover RB and Pass … then McGahee and whoever is running the ball will be fine again. Its not always the RBs fault … same way I don’t blame Moreno for not being able to run in a McDaniel scheme … the injuries on the other hand … well … thats just Moreno. McGahee does fumble quite alot tho, but that fumble in crunch time yesterday … he had 2 hand son the ball … sometimes its just a great play or bad luck. Besides … everyone knows the Broncos cannot win a game without giving thier fans a heart attack first LOL. TRB
How Bout them Broncos
all good lbf
TRB
olap … dont u mean how bout them redskins?
GO SHANNAHAN
TRB
HO LEE CHIT!!!!What a game!Actually asked a Steelers fan if he had a nitro pill he could spare.Don’ knowt whether to keep callin’ um palpitations or start callin’ um Broncotations.They only during Broncos games.
I said it last night and I will say it again today. That was the best game I have watched in a long, long time. I have to admit at the end of the 1st qtr. With our team only being on the field just over 2 minutes and with a total of 8 yards of offense, it looked really bleak. I don’t know what happened in the 2nd qtr. but what ever it was, it was great. 20 points in the 2nd qtr. sealed the game for us, I thought. But then Big Ben began to rear his ugly head and brought his team back to tie the game. I don’t know what got into McCoy on that OT play calling for the pass on 1st down, but that was priceless. Absolutely priceless. Not putting in my prediction for next week yet but I will say that I believe our team has a swagger now unmatched to any that they have had all season long, and that includes the winning streak. I also want to give props to the Steelers coach. He said it in his post game interview. Although they had hurt players, the back ups are just as capable to fill their respective positions. The Broncos outplayed them and they were beat. Simple as that.
only ^happen
yeah, that second fumble was more of a great strip………..he had both hands on the ball and it just squirted loose. But we can’t afford to have turnovers like that, I know that for a fact. And I’m sure he does too……..he must be so relieved that turnover didn’t cost us the game!
Man that game was so awesome.
IMO, the keys to this next game are the same from our regular season game against NE.
1. Heavy pressure on Brady, forcing him into mistakes.
2. Control the clock
3. win the turnover battle
Why is it always about thanking only a few players…this was a team win period. Everybody pitched in…..ok, maybe not julius thomas but im sure he will contribute someday.
New England will have an added edge this time around in McDaniels, who was hired by the Patriots on Sunday as an offensive coaching assistant and eventual successor for offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien once the season ends. McDaniels was offensive coordinator for the Patriots from 2007-2008 before leaving to become head coach of the Broncos. He drafted both Tebow and Thomas before the 2010 season, which would be his last in Denver. With new Penn State coach O’Brien retaining his offensive coordinator job with the Patriots until the end of the playoffs, McDaniels’ short-term role has yet to be defined.
I’m not sure what advantage McD is going to bring. What is he going to tell them, TT is great at riding the bench and 1 yard runs, and Ayers is a disappointment at OLB? Beadles is a great blocker.
Everything about or scheme is different then when McD was here, and he was misusing most of our talent, especially on D.
I just don’t see McD making that much of an impact on us this coming weekend.
but those two players never really played in his tenure here so I don’t think it’s going to make that much of a difference. Just more motivation for the broncos to not only stick it to brady and belichek, but even more so to McD as well! lol
I agree that McDaniels could be a hinderance, but I don’t think he is that smart. I think he will overreach in trying to stop us, and that may give us an edge.
That was absolutely nuts…. what a thriller to watch.
Way to get it done Denver!!!! I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!!!!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
I have a comment awaiting moderation cause I used the word McTw1t????? Seriously? Oh MY!
And McD is on the offensive side of the ball………..and that’s all he ever really cared about………….
One other thing, we are definately not using his play book so he knows virtually nothing about our offensive scheme that isn’t on film already. Looking at it from that perspective, we have the same defense here that was here under McD, so they should remember his play calling.
I will always love Shannahan, he gave me 2 rings, But the Broncos is my team.
So what’s going to happen to BLloyd? He said he wants to go where McD goes………..think he ends up a patriot next season?
Who cares. He should have stayed where he was. If he had he possibly could have been our leading receiver this year.
I’m pretty sure ochocinqo won’t be a pat next year……….I think his days are behind him…….not that he was ever really that great anyways. He was all talk…..maybe if he changed his name back to Johnson he might catch some balls…….lol
Who really changes their last name to a freaking number anyways…….so stupid!
nah, better off that he left. He doesn’t seem like a team player and would’ve been a cancer in our locker room.
btw – I’d love to see another open locker room session with Roddy White and McGahee again………Tebow’s performance far eclipsed that of his boy Matty Ice…………or Matty Iced I should say. Might just become the leagues most prolific playoff chokers.
Two things I notice from the Locker room vid that I didnt get a chance to see at the game. Decker was not on crutch or had a brace on his knee. Get that knee right Decker. We gonna need yu cuz after DT’s performance. NE is gonna double him all day.
Just when you thought it was over. Optimus Prime swooped in like in the move with the rocket pack on. Then saved the day. I thought this was a set up to the real drive 2. Tim n DT said forget that. We gotta play Sat if we win. Lets get them out of here now. Tim throws for 316, avg 31.6 a pass, The 4th qt n OT tv rating was 31.6. couldn’t of wrote it any better.
Killkod thats a lil ova the top on Ocho. lol He almost had about 220yds in 2 separate games against Champ alone. He was a Good to near great WR who just talk to much. lol If Pitt didn’t play them dirty like they did us. When they hit Palmer low. That yr Cincy wins the SB.
don’t get me wrong……….talent wise he had it………but he just couldn’t focus on football alone and I think that was his downfall.
he was more like a clown at the circus than an elite pro receiver.
just my opinion……..
come on……….how can you really take someone seriously who changes their name to a number………in spanish!!!! LMAO
http://www.denverpost.com/krieger/ci_19702607?source=pkg
# Krieger: Brilliant call, execution leave fans jubilant, Steelers stunned
# Krieger: Bullish on the Buffs: Boyle has Colorado’s stock on the rise
# Krieger: In the end, Broncos’ offensive problems come down to execution
# Krieger: In playoffs at 8-8, Broncos in some bad company
# Dave Krieger: Have NFL defenses figured out Tim Tebow?
# Hard to make sense of Broncos releasing Orton
# Krieger: Ending skid is chief among Denver’s goals
# Krieger: Only fair to give Rockies some props in Hall voting
# Krieger: Nuggets’ piecemeal approach could be real deal
# Krieger: Belichick, Patriots were ready for Tebow Time
# Krieger: Broncos’ offense with Tim Tebow more versatile than given credit for
# Krieger: Broncos coach John Fox would just as soon avoid overtime drama
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dave krieger
Krieger: Brilliant call, execution leave fans jubilant, Steelers stunned
Posted: 01/09/2012 01:00:00 AM MST
By Dave Krieger
Denver Post Columnist
Related
* Jan 9:
* Kiszla: Broncos just keep on making miracles happen
* Dime works out fine in Broncos’ win over Steelers
* Injured safety Brian Dawkins inspires his Broncos teammates
* Decker’s injury to keep him out of Patriots game
* Bedard: Broncos smarter for rematch with Patriots
* Broncos fans bask in glow of dramatic AFC wild-card win over Steelers
* Jan 8:
* Woody Paige: Like Elway said, Tebow pulled the trigger vs. Steelers
From the southwest corner of the field at Mile High, where reporters congregate near the end of games, you could see Demaryius Thomas catch the ball in the distance and start rolling toward you.
You knew the play had started 80 yards from the goal line. You knew the Steelers had the No. 1-rated defense in the NFL. So you waited for someone in a white jersey to make the tackle.
And then he was turning upfield at the west sideline and coming right for you. Two defenders were charging toward the corner on steep angles. The closer they all got, the more obvious it became that Thom as was going to outrun them.
Overtime in the playoffs, even with the new rules, was going to consist of a single play. Was it even possible?
When Thomas crossed the goal line, the full house at Sports Authority Field exploded in paroxysms of joy, the Broncos’ stunning 29-23 overtime playoff victory over Pittsburgh in hand. In all these years of standing on football fields, I’ve never seen or heard or felt anything quite like it: Broncos players and staff grabbing one another and hugging like long-lost brothers. Champ Bailey walking around in a daze, as if he didn’t quite believe it. Players jumping into the stands. Face-painted fans screaming in ecstasy.
And Thomas unsure of what had just happened.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t know why everybody was running over here, because I thought they got a chance to score,” Thom as said on the field a couple of minutes later. “But I seen everybody on the field, and I was like, ‘Oh, game over.’ I know the rules now.”
But how did it feel to be on the receiving end of a play that became instantly immortal?
“I feel amazing, man,” the young receiver said with a smile that seemed to stretch from sideline to sideline. “I feel amazing!”
It was not merely the culmination of a terrific performance from quarterback Tim Tebow, who saved his best for the biggest game of the season, against one of the toughest opponents.
It was not merely a story of redemption for the vastly talented Thomas, beset and beleaguered by injuries ever since Josh McDaniels made him and Tebow twin first-round draft picks 20 months ago.
It was also vindication of an inspired plan, the validation that only victory can provide for a coaching staff that lulled to sleep the best defense in football and then plunged home the dagger in the final scene.
Had the Broncos lost, you can bet the critics of coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy would have spent much of the offseason pointing out that of 23 first-down plays in regulation, the Broncos ran the ball 22 times. True, they passed twice on first downs that were nullified by penalties, but the pattern was more than clear:
The Broncos, as everyone had alleged, were soporifically predictable on first down. They were putting Tebow, their young quarterback, in the unenviable position of passing only when it was necessary, when the defense knew it was coming.
And here they were with a first down at their 20-yard line to begin overtime, and was there any doubt, any doubt at all, what they would do?
“I was all upset from the fumble I did,” said running back Willis McGahee, who seemed certain to get the ball. “If I wouldn’t have fumbled, we probably wouldn’t have been in that situation.
“It was play action. I was in there and did a good fake. The linebackers ran up and came into the line. (Steelers safety) Troy Polamalu came into the line too, so our job was done. But we still needed to execute the play, and we did that.”
“It’s a great call, first of all,” Tebow said. “Just off some of our zone-read stuff, (they were) bringing the safeties. … It was a great call by coach McCoy.”
“We called underneath coverage,” said Ryan Mundy, the Steelers’ other safety, who played in place of Ryan Clark, whose health prevents him from playing at high altitude. “I was underneath; (cornerback) Ike (Taylor) was over top.”
Actually, no, he wasn’t. Nobody was over the top. Nobody was guarding against the Broncos’ biggest play of the 21st century to date because nobody expected it. Everybody knows the Broncos never pass on first down.
“I was just saying, ‘Man, trust your speed, trust your speed. Don’t cut back, don’t cut back,’ ” McGahee recounted. “And he (Thomas) kept it straight and he outran the guy.”
When the last player had disappeared into the tunnel beneath the south stands, the delirious fans in the front rows, the fans painted orange, still stood there, looking at one another, as if to confirm they had seen what they had just seen, that it had actually happened, that they had just witnessed something so unbelievable they could not have imagined it.
They had, too.
How would we all feel if John Elway had decided to change his same to John Ciete????? hahahaha
hmm, copy/pasted a little more than I meant to.
lol. Tim Quince
an answer to your question cod: you cant!
Von Cincuentayocho
Elvis Noventaydos
To motivate the team for this week the staff need only post a picture on the board of mini hoodie with a sign saying remember him?
you’re a tebow hater LBF! LMAO!
turtle was giving it to you pretty hard last night……..hahaha A little too over the top for my liking………..apparently he was inebriated……….but I still don’t think it’s an excuse.
I guess he’d call me a tebow hater too………I guess that’s what you’re labled when you’re not ALL IN ON TEBOW the way some of the bloggers here are. I know I’m still not sold based on one great performance.
I don’t need to be sold. Only time will tell how good he can be. One thing you can’t deny that Tebow should get credit for is, he’s probably the biggest reason why every single person on the team is playing harder, better, and with more passion. Team shows absolutely no quit. Team showed a lot of quit under the leadership or Orton.
after beating the #1 defense in the NFL and everybody coming through in a pressure situation i really like Denvers chances next week… the 41-23 beating we got last time was a fluke since we basically gave them 17 Points by fumbling 3 times deep in our own territory… Our whole denver team is playing with emotion and their being aggressive… i like it… New Englands defense is not all that great and we all know they can score 30+ on ANYONE BUT, i see us winning and advancing to the AFC championship beating Brady Belicheck and the Pats by something like 34-30… and in the AFC championship wether its Baltimore or Houston i again like our chances both teams are built like the steelers and Tebow is a better QB/Winner than Yates or Flacco… Flacco is just horrible lol….
All I know is that if alcohol does that to Turtle, he needs to get off the sauce. A lot of that last night was uncalled for.
And for that reason alone, he is the QB of the Denver Broncos. We keep solidifying the defense through future drafts and picking up solid FA’s, we should be fine. This season is one for the ages, really fun to watch. I’ll tell you this much, Bronco Football is back and we should get a ton of prime time games next year.
Awesome team win!
yep cod, i had not idea how bad a hater i was, but turtle was sure to inform me what i was and how i think! uncalled for to say the least seweatherman. i was trying to keep my cool but man he was striking a few nerves there, not gonna lie.
Turtle spent some time telling us he didn’t drink anymore, hadn’t for a long time other than a really rare beer because he used to get into troubles a lot when he did, like fighting and such, so it’s obvious he has a problem with drinking, he knows it and he went off the wagon last night.
No one should of even addressed him last night, I learned a long time ago that you don’t argue with a drunk, ever, even if it’s a family member, let them sleep it off and get them when they are sobber.
Official prediction:
27-31 broncos
That’s basically why I never hardly ever blog on a night after a game, lots of the comments are completely ebriated and not worth the paper they are printed on.
Like Lou’s score prediction last week, LMAO!!!
Funny, we have only two score predictions so far and both Broncos winning 31-27!
Decker’s injury to keep him out of Patriots game
Posted: 01/09/2012 01:00:00 AM MST
Updated: 01/09/2012 09:40:26 AM MST
By Mike Klis, Tom Kensler, Jeff Legwold and Irv Moss
The Denver Post
The knee injury to Broncos receiver Eric Decker in Denver’s 29-23 victory over the Steelers on Sunday was not as severe as it initially appeared, but he will not play against the Patriots on Saturday night at New England.
Decker made an 18-yard catch on a crossing pattern early in the second quarter, but the play was spoiled by replay and a vicious hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison. Fined repeatedly by the league for hits in the head area on defenseless receivers, Harrison went low this time on Decker.
Decker was helped off the field. He has a sprained medial collateral ligament that will be further examined with a magnetic resonance imaging test today. A tear to the anterior cruciate ligament would have meant a long recovery period.
With Decker out, the Broncos were down to three receivers — Demaryius Thomas, Eddie Royal and Matt Willis — for the rest of the game against the Steelers. Thomas made four catches for 204 yards and a touchdown and Royal made three catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Jump in. In October, Rafael Bush was working away on the Falcons’ practice squad, but Sunday the second-year safety was getting significant playing time as the sixth defensive back in the Broncos’ defense.
Bush played in all of the snaps the team played the dime package — six defensive backs — displacing rookie Rahim Moore.
“It’s that old thing, just work hard and when you get your opportunity, you make the most of it,” Bush said. “It’s my job, just do my job.”
Quick ending to OT. Pittsburgh would have gotten the ball under the NFL’s new overtime rules if the Steelers could have at least limited Denver to a field goal. But with the Broncos scoring a touchdown — in lightning fashion on an 80-yard TD pass from Tim Tebow to Thomas — game over.
“Stunned? Yeah, it’s shocking,” Steelers veteran receiver Hines Ward said afterward. “I never thought that one play all the way down the field for a touchdown — that was more shocking than anything. We look up, and the guy is running down the field. That’s how fast it happens.”
Long time coming. Broncos defensive back Champ Bailey on winning a playoff game for the first time in six years: “It feels good. We know this is a step in the right direction. (But) we know we have a lot more improving to do. We got better this week. We have to get better again because we have an even better (opponent) next week.”
Clark helpless. It was a rough day off the field for veteran Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark.
Clark watched from the sideline, held out of the game because of an ailment that created problems before when he played at Denver’s mile-high elevation.
“It was then worst feeling I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Clark said. “You’re watching and you can’t do anything about it. You can’t put your hand in the pile with the guys you’ve been working with all year.
“It was the best decision for me and for my family. To watch it unfold like it did in the last game of the season was tough.”
Playoff shares. Broncos players and coaches each earned $22,000 for their victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s the playoff bonus for the game. They can each earn another $22,000 with a victory over the Patriots in the second round of the playoffs.
The two teams will meet in a rematch after the Patriots defeated the Broncos on Dec. 18.
Footnotes. The Steelers lost offensive tackle Max Starks (right knee), nose tackle Casey Hampton (left knee) and defensive end Brett Keisel (groin) in the game … Safety Quinton Carter is the first Broncos rookie to have an interception in a playoff game.