Steeler vs. Broncos Review

If I had written a Preview for this game, I would have predicted Steelers 23-20.

I would also have been very glad that Ryan Clark wasn't starting and very adamant that he not start.

I also would have said that there was no way that Tyrone Carter could fill his shoes. Thank God I didn't say something dumb like that, right?

As painful as the first half was to watch, you could actually see that we were adjusting and starting to get close to where we needed to be. We took the next step in the second half and the Broncos did not. And so therefore the Steelers crushed the Broncos in the second half.

They gained 321 yards and scored 21 points in the second half. Mendenhall had 130 yards rushing in the second half. Hines Ward had two touchdowns in the second half. We just steamrolled them.

We came out on defense expecting Denver to do what they had done thus far in the season -- throw a lot of short slants, outs, and hitches -- and we set up our defense to stop that in the same manner that the hated Ravens set up their defense to stop the Broncos in Week 8.

But, the Broncos came out throwing intermediate range passes and mostly targeting the sidelines instead of the middle of the field. William Gay, for one, was very surprised by this development. After the first couple of drives, the Steelers adjusted, started playing more straight-up defense, and the Broncos didn't adjust, still running the same patterns against a defense that was now geared to stop those patterns.

They ran the ball 14 times for 27 yards total, with a long run of seven yards. They had 11 rushing attempts in the first half, which means that they attempted only three rushes in the second half. They were leading at one point in the second half and were not out of the game -- at least not to the point where they would need to abandon the running game -- until about midway through the fourth quarter.

They ran a six minute version of a two minute offense at the end of the first half and wasted a pretty easy opportunity for a score (even if that score would only have been a field goal). I'm not saying Josh McDaniels and his staff got outcoached, but they did get outadjusted. And in-game and halftime adjustments were supposed to be two of the things Denver did better than anyone else.

This is the second straight week that we played well on offense and defense and the second straight week that we faced a quality opponent and not only showed up, but showed up with authority.

The Vikings are a great offensive team. They probably scored 24 points during their bye week. We held them to ten offensive points in Week 7. The Broncos are a great defensive team. We scored 21 offensive points on them. We also reclaimed some of our swagger on defense, holding them to three offensive points. On the road. And those three points came on their first drive before we had a chance to adjust to their new game plan.

All in all, a very solid performance. This team is starting to come together. They're starting to look like the 2008 version of themselves. Only better.

We'll know more next week in a BIG divisional matchup against the Bengals (did I just type that?), but things are definitely looking up after a rough start.

A few other thoughts...

1. I felt very confident that the Steelers would win the game when they jumped out to a 14-10 lead. Even though they've had their fair share of issues in the second half. Even though the Broncos are a fantastic second half team. When the Steelers lead 21-10, I was 100% confident they were going to win. I almost went to bed. That's how confident I was. Given how badly the Steelers performed in the fourth quarter thus far this season and how much they had already jerked me around, that's a pretty bold statement. And a very good sign that things are returning to normal.
2. The offensive line is starting to look very, very good. Like, they might be a strength instead of just not being a glaring weakness. They got off to a rough start in pass protection last night, but settled down and ended up shutting down a solid Denver pass rush in the second half (for the most part). Also, Mendenhall rushed for 130 yards in the second half. And 155 yards overall. On 22 carries. That's an average of seven yards per carry. Even last year, when we were destroying Cleveland and Cincinnati, we didn't have that kind of average. We didn't shut down a pass rush that well. And, when we were trying to salt the game away and everyone in the stadium knew we were going to run the ball, the Broncos still couldn't stop it. That's what we used to have to the Cowher days. The 1,191-1-1 when leading by ten or more points days. Couple that with the fact that we now have a quarterback that can throw the ball 40 times a game and be effective and can also run a two minute offense and that's a pretty potent combination.
3. Speaking of Mendenhall, he looks awfully good. He needs to improve his vision, but his power, pad level, and decisiveness are right on target. I think it may be about time to write the eulogy for Fast Willie Parker's career as a Steeler. I doubt we're going to sign him after the season is over. When Mendenhall needed a breather, Mewelde Moore came in, not FWP, even though FWP was active and not at all injured. So Mendenhall is not a bust and Fast Willie will not be a Steeler next year. That will take an adjustment on my part, but I think I can handle it. Especially since he's been hurt most of this season and will not be involved in the second half of the season, which means I'll be used to not seeing him in uniform. Like Kimo, Joey Porter, Nate Washington, and Randle-El, I wish him all the best. I hope he makes a ton of money elsewhere, because he can't make it here.
4. Watching Vulva go head-to-head (leg-to-leg?) with Bitch Merger was awesome. I'd have to say Vulva won out on that one.
5. The more I see of Mike Wallace, the more I think that we will never, ever hear from Limas Sweed again.

After the Bengals, we have, basically, a month off. We've got one game against the hated Ravens, sandwiched between games against Oakland, Kansas City, and Cleveland. So, it's pretty much a bye month.

We passed the first two tests. One big, final test awaits us next week. If we fail that test, we could very well be boned in the division. Much like we were in 2005 (even though I guess that turned out OK because the Steelers won Super Bowl XL).