|
 2015 AFC Playoffs Steelers 16 at Broncos 23
 The Steelers control the game for over 50 minutes despite missing several key players, including Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell. Pittsburgh faces consistently bad field position, largely due to Markus Wheaton, who mishandles several punts while filling in for Brown. Ben Roethlisberger plays through a shoulder injury sustained the week before when Vontaze Burfict slammed him to the ground in Cinci, receiving a pre-game pain-killing shot to help him manage the discomfort. Despite the pain, Roethlisberger delivers strong passes, including a 60-yard throw on the game's opening play. However, the injury impacts Ben's overall effectiveness, especially in the later stages, as he is forced to make quicker decisions and rely more on short, quick passes rather than taking deep shots down the field. With Bell and DeAngelo Williams out, 3rd-string RB Fitzgerald Toussaint steps in to score the Steelers' only TD. Unfortunately, with Pittsburgh leading 13-12 in the 4th and driving at the Denver 35, Toussaint suffers a devastating fumble. Peyton Manning, who struggles for most of the game, capitalizes with a 13-play drive, including a 31-yd pass on 3rd-and-12, setting up C.J. Anderson's go-ahead TD from the 1. The Steelers fail to answer, turning the ball over on downs on a 4th down sack by DeMarcus Ware, and Denver adds a back-breaking FG to seal Pittsburgh's fate. |
Brought to you by mcmillenandwife.com
