Pittsburgh – Darrent Williams was struggling to get dressed after emerging from an extended stay in the standing-room-only visiting training room Sunday afternoon. The ice pressed between his skin and smart yellow shirt was making the process difficult.
“The Steelers gave us their best shot,” Williams said between winces. “For real.”
There is no doubt about that. Denver got some good hits on Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and forced him into three interceptions on the way to a 31-20 victory at Heinz Field. But this victory came with a price, as the team battled through injuries and the extensive use of backups to improve to 6-2.
Eight Denver defensive players departed with various injuries, many likely to cause them to miss practice time but not the next game at Oakland on Sunday. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, however, said key reserve safety Sam Brandon will likely be lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Other potential significant injuries include a hamstring injury to linebacker Ian Gold and Williams’ banged-up shoulder, but neither player appears to be lost for the long term. All injured players will be evaluated today.
“I’ve never seen so many players go down,” Shanahan said.
Despite the injuries and the need for younger players to be inserted into the lineup, the Broncos’ defense came up big again.
This defense no longer is playing at a record pace, nor is it stifling opponents, but it forced five turnovers and Denver’s special teams forced one more. Roethlisberger, who tore apart Denver in the AFC championship game in January, continued his sloppy 2006 as he was intercepted three times near Denver’s goal line.
The turnover story for Denver wasn’t about turning the Steelers’ miscues into points, but denying the Steelers the end zone.
Much of this occurred with backups on the field. Special-teams linebackers Louis Green and Keith Burns played extensively for Gold. Backup safety Curome Cox recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass after starter Nick Ferguson left with a concussion and Brandon went down. Late in the game, cornerback Domonique Foxworth was playing safety.
“Grit, that’s all it was,” Denver defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said. “The guys fought their guts out. It was all about dealing with the adversity that came on us, and there was a lot. But the guys just fought and fought. These are the type of wins that are so special because of the way the guys fought.”
Dealing with the injuries and forcing the onslaught of turnovers overshadowed a second consecutive performance in which the defense gave up considerable yardage. Last week, Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning ripped through Denver’s defense in a 34-31 Colts victory at Invesco Field at Mile High. Until that game, Denver’s defense had allowed two touchdowns in 65 series. The Colts scored three touchdowns in the second half.
Sunday, the Steelers gained plenty of yards. Roethlisberger threw for 433 yards as he completed 38-of-54 passes. Pittsburgh added 96 yards rushing on 19 carries. Pittsburgh had the ball for 34 minutes, 33 seconds compared to Denver’s possession time of 25:27.
“We buckled down when we had to,” said Broncos safety John Lynch, who collided with linebacker Al Wilson on a fumble by Hines Ward, leaving both defenders with mild concussions.
The Broncos benefited from Roethlisberger’s poor decision-making. He’s thrown 14 interceptions this year.
“He sometimes kind of throws it up there,” Williams said. “We knew we could benefit from that….We worked for it, but it was a big win.”
Bumbling Steelers
Six Steelers turnovers were key plays in the Broncos’ 31-20 victory at Pittsburgh:
1. First quarter: Darrent Williams takes Santonio Holmes’ fumbled kick return to the Steelers 10. Denver converts it into a touchdown pass from Jake Plummer to Javon Walker for a 14-0 lead.
2. First quarter: Williams recovers a fumble by Cedrick Wilson at the Denver 6. The Steelers’ scoring threat ends, but Denver punts to end its possession.
3. Second quarter: Champ Bailey intercepts a Ben Roethlisberger pass and Denver gets the ball at its 8-yard line, ending a Steelers scoring threat. Denver punts to end its possession.
4. Third quarter: Bailey intercepts Roethlisberger at the Denver 3 to stop a Steelers threat. Denver punts to end its possession.
5. Fourth quarter: Hines Ward fumbles at the goal line, and it is recovered by Curome Cox and returned to the 9. Denver punts to end its possession.
6. Fourth quarter: Cox intercepts Roethlisberger at the Denver 12-yard line. Denver runs out the clock.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
