Touchdown Dance: Game of the Week (Week 9)

This week's vote marks the first time this season my vote wasn't in the majority. No biggie that's why I put it up to be chosen so the readers and visitors get what they want. This week's game is an AFC battle of North vs West, a game pitting two of the conferences top teams that could go along way to pushing the winner in the right direction for the rest of the season. The game is the Monday Night tilt, Pittsburgh @ Denver.



The Broncos suffered their first defeat last week while they visited the Ravens in Baltimore. The game was close early, but the Ravens defense came to play and their offense finally exposed some chinks in the armour of the Broncos defense. Nobody expected the Broncos to go undefeated, but then again no one ever expected them to be (6-0) either. Now they get a chance to go back home and prove whether they have what it takes to stay with the other AFC big wigs for the remainder of the season.



The Steelers are coming off the bye with a win streak and an absolute need to keep pace with the other top two teams in their division. After this weekend's game the Steelers could leap to have 1st place all to themselves with a Mile High win or remain in second place behind the resurgent Bengals. The team was already a bit beat up on defense with the loss of Aaron Smith for the season. Linebacker Lawrence Timmons still nursing a sore ankle and finally the realization of playing without starting safety Ryan Clark due to health risk of playing in the thin air. Clark has sickle cell anemia which is a dangerous disease to have when playing at high altitude. After playing his last game in Denver he had to have his spleen and gall bladder removed as part of complications of the sickle cell. The Steelers are defending champs and can't afford to fall any further back of the AFC playoff leaders, because having at least one home game during the playoffs is critical to them defending their title.



The game looks to be a good defensive battle which I feel will have some scores coming from that phase on both sides. I look for the game to be a little more high scoring for a defensive minded game, with plenty of excitement, passion and very hard hitting. Here is the position breakdowns and our prediction for the game.

• Quarterback (Steelers)

1. Ben Roethlisberger- Big Ben is having one of the best statistical season's of his career and is being protected a bit better than last season where he was constantly hit. He propensity to prolong plays could get him in trouble with an attacking Broncos defense who has one of the best shutdown corners in the league, but of the two starting quarterbacks Roethlisberger is the only one who can win a game by himself.

• Running Backs (Push)

1. Both teams have a decent combo of backs, but the Broncos are a tad more proficient at moving the ball on the ground. The emergence of Rashard Mendenhall has given a huge boost to the Steelers running attack and Broncos rookie Knowshon Moreno is showing why the organization selected him in the 1st round in a surprise move. This phase of the game could come down to each sides back-ups where the Steelers Willie Parker has fell off in production the past few years and the Broncos Correll Buckhalter has had trouble staying healthy.

• Wide Receivers (Broncos)

1. Gaffney, Marshall, Royal, Stokley- When he isn't running his mouth or getting into trouble the Broncos Brandon Marshall is one of the league's best pass catchers. With his size speed combo along with his ability to run after the catch makes him an absolute marvelous talent. It took Eddie Royal a bit to get going this season, but the past few games he has been very productive both in the passing game and as a return man. The veteran Stokley is a calming force in the trio who still has a fair amount of life in his legs. Jabar Gaffney is the guy who knows everything in Josh McDaniels offense that need to be done at all times. A very important cog to a complex scheme.

• Tight Ends (Steelers)

1. Heath Miller- It's no surprise with Ben Roethlisberger enjoying a very good statistical year that some of his receivers may also do the same. Such is the case for Miller who has become much more of a threat this season than a third or fourth option in the passing game. Already with 40 receptions Miller looks well on his way to setting a career mark for catches (previous best is 48 in 2008). He also has already caught 4 touchdowns.

• Offensive Line (Broncos)

1. Harris, Kuper, Wiegmann, Hamilton, Clady- This group leads the 11th best rushing attack in the league and has only given up 11 sacks thus far this season. Veteran center Caey Wiegmann is the leader of this squad, but young (LT) Ryan Clady is already one of the best in the league.

• Defensive Line (Steelers)

1. Hampton, Hood, Keisel, Kirschke- Like most 3-4 schemes the defensive line isn't the glamour position, but this group does their job very well which leads the Steelers to be consistently one of the best in the league. Hampton is and 3-4 defenses perfect nose tackle who takes on double teams and eats up spaced in the middle against the run. Rookie Ziggy Hood has been thrust into duty with the season ending injury to (DE) Aaron Smith, but I expect like most Steelers draft picks that he'll be able to fit right in without missing a beat. The combo of Keisel and Kirschke give the Steelers to high motor guys who never quit on a play.

• Linebackers (Push)

1. Hard to imagine that I would be giving this opinion at the beginning of the season, but the Broncos linebacker corps have taken to Mike Nolan's 3-4 scheme like a duck to water. Elvis Dumervil has had a career resurgence as a rush linebacker along with DJ Williams working very well on the inside. Reigning Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison got off to a slow start, but has kicked it into overdrive as of late. The battle of the linebacker groups should be a very good watch on Monday night.

• Cornerbacks (Broncos)

1. Bailey, Goodman, Smith, Williams- Easy choice here when you have one of the best shut-down corners in the league. In the 3-4 scheme corners aren't asked to do much complete lockdown on receivers, but with Bailey roaming the secondary it gives the Broncos a lot more lee-way in the coverage packages.

• Safeties (Broncos)

1. Dawkins, Hill- These two veteran centerfield free agent pick-ups have brought great stability to the middle of the Broncos defense. Both have played solidly all season and Dawkins is by far one of the best leaders football has ever seen.

• Final Score

Denver- 23 Pittsburgh- 21