Denver, CO. The NFL season is now officially underway, and a full slate of week one games is now just hours away. Although there are several juicy matchups this coming Sunday and Monday, the cream of the crop and the most eagerly anticipated game would undoubtedly be the Denver Broncos versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. We don’t really have to go into why this matchup will have all of America watching, as any NFL fan should know by now. The bottom line is, anyone who follows the National Football League will have to tune in to see how this one shakes out, with storylines aplenty. With both the Broncos and the Steelers wanting to obviously get off to a 1-0 start in 2012, both teams have some question marks heading into this year. Sunday night will answer a lot of these questions, but several factors point to the Denver Broncos coming out on top in the season opener. Here are the 7 reasons why Peyton Manning will start his stay in Denver with a victory…..
1 – Mile High Emotion - Think the crowd at Sports Authority Field will be rockin slightly come Sunday night? Yep, pretty sure it’s gonna be extra loud. It may even make long-time fans remember the old Mile High Stadium and how insanely loud it used to get there. Broncos fans will have all day to get juiced up and tailgate for this one, as Ben Roethlisberger should have plenty of trouble running the offense due to 75,000+ fans letting him have it.
2 – No Ryan Clark - The outstanding safety will again not make the trip to Denver because of his altitude sensitivity. Clark carries the sickle-cell trait, so playing in Denver is simply not an option. This is a huge loss for the Steelers defense, and one that obviously had an impact last January as well. Facing Peyton Manning without a key defensive starter spells some trouble for the Steelers pass defense.
3 – A Limited Mike Wallace - The speedy wide receiver just recently reported to camp after holding out, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has stated that Wallace will only be in the game for select plays. He has the ability to really stretch a defense, so the fact that he won’t be in there all of the time helps the Broncos immensely.
4 – Pittsburgh Offensive Line Issues - Pittsburgh thought it had some serious help on the O-line this year from rookie David DeCastro, but in their preseason game a few weeks ago at Buffalo, he unfortunately tore up his knee. His loss is a big one, as the Steelers struggled all year in 2011 protecting Ben Roethlisberger. Ben could have a long night dealing with Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.
5 – Steelers Questionable Running Game - Although it is pretty amazing that Rashard Mendenhall may actually play in this game just nine months after tearing his ACL, counting on him to be productive at all is another story entirely. Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer should get most of the work, but neither have the talent or speed that Mendenhall does. The way to beat the Broncos in recent years has been to beat them on the ground, but Pittsburgh doesn’t appear to be able to do that right now.
6 – Denver Broncos Confidence - Denver knows they can beat Pittsburgh. They just did it in a playoff game 8 months ago, and that was without #18 under center dissecting the Steelers D. The Broncos will be overflowing with confidence, and not just hoping to win, but expecting to win this one. With a brutal first half of the year schedule, Denver knows it needs to get off to a strong start and begin the year 1-0.
7 – Peyton Manning - It’s been 20 months since Manning played a meaningful NFL game, and all of his work to get back begins to mean something this Sunday. He has to be motivated to not only prove that he is all the way back from several neck surgeries, but to prove to John Elway and Broncos fans that they didn’t make a mistake by signing him. Peyton is one of the most driven athletes in the history of the NFL, and he will undoubtedly be ready to carve up the Pittsburgh defense on national TV.
- There should be plenty of action in this one, as Pittsburgh won’t go down without a fight. In the end though, too much Peyton and too much Orange Crush D pressuring Big Ben……Denver Broncos 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 21……
Denver Sports by J Simp
8 comments
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Bronk-since 1976
September 11, 2012 at 3:34 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I don’t believe “sting” is the word…..then we would have at least heard an ouch….I hear nothing….HMmmmmmm..!
J Simp
September 10, 2012 at 9:16 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Apologies to all Steelers fans……I was wrong in my prediction of the Broncos defeating your Steelers, 27-21……Denver didn’t win by 6, they instead won by 12…..Last night proved I actually gave Pittsburgh TOO MUCH credit heading into the Sunday Night matchup…….and to “ken orr”, the Broncos have no receivers? Interesting theory…….and to “you’re wrong”, Home Ec class is already over and Glee Club isn’t til later, so I will be here all morning awaiting your analysis of your Steelers losing to the Broncos yet again…….I have a hunch I won’t be hearing from any Pittsburgh fans today……that loss had to sting
DTodd
September 9, 2012 at 12:54 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Bronco Country lets get FIREDUP… PFM!! My Broncos are now Super Bowl contenders PFM!! Thats all I need to say. PFM!! PFM!! PFM!! Peyton Freaken’ Manning….Denver 44 – (the arm pitt of the nation) pitt-sburg 17
you're wrong
September 8, 2012 at 9:17 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Actually J Limp…..you probable have a Home Economics class you need to go to Monday morning….and Glee club practice after school…..so we won’t see you here Monday till after you’ve gone home, ate your after school snack, done your homework, and had your bedtime story read to you.
ken orr
September 7, 2012 at 7:22 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
we are gonna wash u guys up … u have no receivers .,.. no red jersey for p. manning wait til we put a nice solid hit on him … and den has 3 maybe four people who could start on on pitt … what a homer … no tebow … so gods got nothing to do with it …
J Simp
September 7, 2012 at 5:13 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Such angry Steelers fans…..guess there is some pent up aggression out in Western Pennsylvania…..could it have something to do with a certain loss you endured last January…..like a 29-23 loss in OT? It’s gotta be that which is causing “payback” and “you’re wrong” to lash out…..I expect you and other Steelers fans to come back and comment on Monday, cuz I will definitely be here
…Thanks for the comments, fellas!
you're wrong
September 7, 2012 at 3:27 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Is this author a high school cheerleader? I thought he was going to say he dates the Broncos QB!
The Broncos may win but if “J Simp” ever has to make a living as a sports writer it will be the day peewee football goes pro.
payback
September 7, 2012 at 3:05 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Ok,whos this jackass,well let me enlighten you fool, ,the sissy Denver team will not play in Pittsburgh,why you ask,the N.F.L will see to that,they would be destoryed,whens the last time they played in Pittsburgh,you think the noise is loud in that field,well come to Pittsburgh and we will show you loud. Next did I read that Denvers center is back and was not playing in the play offs,is that right.well dumb a- -,half our team was out,and if not for that fool back up Ryan Munday,your 1 and out, if Ryan. Clark could play, Denver would never cross the 50.Now you fool,do you really think the Steelers with almost everyone playing{no James Harrison} is going to lay down,and not forget who knocked them out . Now on to the running backs fool,we do not want Mendenhall back he cant gain 2 yards but Redmen ran all over you in the playoffs,and he and Jonathan Drwyer will bull over anyone he runs into.look a fool is a fool and dumb is dumb you cover all of this,oh did you forget about Manning ,what is he now almost 40,one hit and the party is over, no worries the O-line always have trouble and they find a way to pull together in the end ,you will see.,so now you see the other side of the story,nowIi see why you did not want to talk about the STEELERS,pay back is HELL ,and HELL for Denver is less than two days away, PITTSBURGH 28___DENVER 17 GO STEELERS,AND ALL THE STEELERS FANS GOING TO DENVER RAISE HELL AND BE AS LOUD AS YOU CAN,PROUD TO BE PART OF THE BIGGEST FAN CLUB IN THE WORLD,AND THATS A FACT< !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!