STEELERS-BRONCOS SERIES HISTORY
Series History: Series began in 1970
Overall Regular Season: Broncos lead, 14-8-1
In Pittsburgh: Broncos lead, 6-5
At Denver: Broncos lead, 8-3-1
Neutral Sites: n/a
Streak: Steelers won previous meeting
Last Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 20, 2015 in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh 34, Denver 27
Postseason Series: Broncos lead, 3-4
Last Postseason Meeting: Jan. 8, 2012 at Denver - Wild Card
Denver 29, Pittsburgh 23 OT
(preseason and postseason record not included in overall series record)
Pittsburgh owns a 8-14-1 all-time regular-season record against the Denver Broncos...the Steelers defeated the Broncos in their most recent matchup on Dec. 20, 2015 in Pittsburgh, 34-27...the two teams will meet for the eighth time in the postseason in series history...Pittsburgh defeated Denver in three of their previous seven games:
| SEASON | ROUND | RESULTS | SITE |
| 1977 | Divisional | L,34-21 | Denver |
| 1978 | Divisional | W,33-10 | Pittsburgh |
| 1984 | Divisional | W,24-17 | Denver |
| 1989 | Divisional | L,24-23 | Denver |
| 1997 | AFC Championship | L, 24-21 | Pittsburgh |
| 2005 | AFC Championship | W,34-17 | Denver |
| 2011 | Wild Card | L, 29-23 OT | Denver |
THE LAST TIME VS. DENVER
Pittsburgh 34, Denver 27
Dec. 20, 2015 Heinz Field (67,234)
**
Photos from the last matchup vs the Broncos at Heinz Field on December 20th, 2015.
PITTSBURGH** - The Steelers overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the Broncos 34-27 in front of a record-setting crowd in the regular-season finale at Heinz Field. The 17-point comeback marked the largest comeback since October 5, 1997, when the Steelers trailed the Baltimore Ravens by 21 points and came back to win 42-34.
Pittsburgh's defense came up with a turnover on the Broncos' first drive, as S Robert Golden forced a fumble that was recovered by S Mike Mitchell. Two plays later, RB Le'Veon Bell scored on a two-yard run to give Pittsburgh the early 7-0 lead. But it would be all Broncos for the remainder of the half.
QB Brock Osweiler threw three touchdowns and rushed for another as he led the team to 27 first-half points. Osweiler connected with WR Demaryius Thomas for an 18-yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7. Osweiler then threw a 61- yard touchdown to WR Emmanuel Sanders to make it 14-7. Osweiler scored on a seven yard run to make it 20-7.
K Chris Boswell made a 24-yard field goal midway through the second quarter to cut the lead to 20-10, but Osweiler threw a six-yard touchdown on Denver's ensuing drive to give the team a 27-10 lead. Boswell's 41-yard field goal late in the second quarter made it 27-13 at halftime.
The Steelers' defense shut down the Broncos in the second half, and QB Ben Roethlisberger threw three second- half touchdowns, two to WR Antonio Brown and one to WR Markus Wheaton to give Pittsburgh the 34-27 victory.
GAME SUMMARY
| Broncos (10-4) | 14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| STEELERS(9-5) | 7 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 34 |
| TEAM | Q | TIME | PLAY | DRIVE | SCORE |
| PIT | 1 | 10:16 | D. Williams 2 yd. run (Boswell kick) | 2-21; 0:53 | 7-0 |
| DEN | 1 | 4:4 | 1Thomas 18 yd. pass from Osweiler (McManus kick) | 12-85; 5:35 | 7-7 |
| DEN | 1 | 3:08 | Sanders 61 yd. pass from Osweiler (McManus kick) | 1-61; 0:08 | 7-14 |
| DEN | 2 | 11:30 | Osweiler 7 yd. run (Kick failed) | 10-50; 4:52 | 7-20 |
| PIT | 2 | 7:33 | Boswell 24 yd. FG | 12-73; 3:57 | 10-20 |
| DEN | 2 | 1:56 | Thomas 6 yd. pass from Osweiler (McManus kick) | 10-80; 5:37 | 10-27 |
| PIT | 2 | 0:04 | Boswell 41 yd. FG | 10-51; 1:52 | 13-27 |
| PIT | 3 | 7:16 | Brown 9 yd. pass from Roethlisberger (Boswell kick) | 7-58; 3:17 | 20-27 |
| PIT | 4 | 12:34 | Wheaton 9 yd. pass from Roethlisberger (Boswell kick) | 5-60; 2:17 | 27-27 |
| PIT | 4 | 3:24 | Brown 23 yd. pass from Roethlisberger (Boswell kick) | 3-37; 0:56 | 34-27 |
PIT-DEN SERIES HIGHS
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Here is a look at the statistical leaders for the both the Steelers and Broncos heading into the AFC Divisional round.
QB Ben Roethlisberger completed 319 of 469 passes (68.0%) during the regular season for 3,938 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 94.5. In the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati, Roethlisberger was 18 for 31 (58.1%) for 229 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions. A quarterback rating of 92.0.
During the regular season QB Landry Jones completed 32 of 55 passes (58.2%) for 513 yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 77.3.
Broncos QB Peyton Manning completed 198 of 331 passes (59.8%) in the regular season for 2,249 yards, 9 touchdowns and 17 interception for a quarterback rating of 67.9.
Broncos QB Brock Osweiler completed 170 of 275 passes (61.8%) in the regular season for 1,967 yards, 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 86.4.
RB DeAngelo Williams led the Steelers rushing attack during the regular season with 907 yards on 200 carries (4.5 avg.) and had a team high 11 touchdowns. Williams was inactive for the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati.
Heading into the playoffs, RB Fitzgerald Toussaint has only carried the ball 18 times for 42 yards this season. In the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati Toussaint rushed for 58 yards on 17 carries and had an additional 60 yards receiving on 4 catches.
RB Ronnie Hillman led the Broncos rushing game int he regular season with 863 yards on 207 carried (4.2 avg.) and 7 touchdowns.
Broncos RB C.J. Anderson carried the ball 152 times int he regular season for 720 yards (4.7 avg.) and 5 touchdowns.
WR Antonio Brown ended the regular season with a team-high 136 receptions for a team-high 1,834 yards. Brown also hauled in 10 receiving touchdowns this season. In the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati Brown had 7 receptions for 119 yards.
WR Martavis Bryant caught 50 passes for 765 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns in the regular season. In the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati Bryant had 5 receptions for 29 yards and 1 touchdown. Bryant also had 1 rush for 44 yards vs. the Bengals.
WR Markus Wheaton ended the regular season averaging 17.0 yards per receptions (44 rec. for 749 yards) and recorded 5 receiving touchdowns. In the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati Wheaton recorded 2 catches for 23 yards.
WR Demaryius Thomas led all Broncos pass catchers in receptions (105), receiving yards (1,304) and is tied in touchdown receptions (6) with WR Emmanuel Sanders during the regular season.
Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders recorded 76 receptions in the regular season for 1,135 yards and tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (6) with WR Demaryius Thomas.
LB Lawrence Timmons lead the Steelers defense with 119 total tackles (77 solo and 42 assists) during regular season. Timmons also had 5 sack and one interception in 2015.
The Steelers defense was led by LB Ryan Shazier in the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati. Shazier recorded 13 tackles (9 solo and 4 assists) to go along with 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Shazier recorded 87 tackles (55 solo and 32 assists) during the regular season.
The Broncos defense was led in the regular season by ILB Danny Trevathan who has recorded 110 total tackles (74 solo and 36 assists). Trevathan also recorded 2 interceptions and defended 6 passes in 2015.
OLB Von Miller led all Broncos defenders in the regular season with 11 quarterback sacks. Miller also recorded 32 quarterback hurries and 4 forced fumble in 2015.
DE Cam Hayward's 7 quarterback sacks in the regular season led the 2015 Steelers defense. Heyward also accounted for 54 tackles and 13 quarterback hurries this season. Heyward recorded 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries in the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati.
Broncos OLB DeMarcus Ware recorded 35 tackles, 11 sacks and 32 quarterback hurries during the 2015 regular season.
S Mike Mitchell led the Steelers secondary during the regular season with 3 interceptions. Mitchell has also accounted for 80 tackles and 9 passes defended.
CB Antwon Blake recorded the only Steelers interception in the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati. Blake recorded 2 interceptions during the regular season including one is San Diego which he returned 70 yards for a touchdown.
Broncos CB Aqib Talib led the team in interceptions during the regular season with 3. Talib also defended 13 passes and recorded 45 tackles this season.
Passing YardsSteelers:* Ben Roethlisberger, 433 (11/5/2006) Broncos:Tim Tebow, 316 (1/8/2012) *2011 AFC Wild Card
Rushing Yards
Steelers: Rashard Mendenhall, 155 (11/9/2009)
Broncos: Terrell Davis, 139 (11/11/1998)
*1997 AFC Championship*
Receiving Yards
Steelers: Antonio Brown, 189 (12/20/2015)
Broncos: Demaryius Thomas, 204 (1/8/2012)
*2011 AFC Wild Card*
