The Steelers are looking again like one of the best teams in the NFL while the Broncos are looking like a team with a severe oil leak.  The Broncos have lost their last three games including 2 home games in which they were outscored 64-17!  The Broncos better bring their “A-Game” as the Steelers will try to punish them in front of a National Audience.

The Steelers have been licking their chops all week long watching game film of the Broncos soft run defense which is allowing an astounding 187.6 yards rushing per game and 5.2 yards per carry.  With that in mind, Willie Parker (507 yards rushing) and Najeh Davenport (7.5 ypc) should have big games as the Steelers are averaging 167.0 yards rushing per game and 4.8 ypc so far this year.  Look for Ben Roethlisberger to attack the Broncos defense down the field with long play action passes to Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and TE Heath Miller.

The Broncos prefer to run the ball (138.8 yards rushing per game) but yards will be hard to come by on the ground for the Broncos as the Steelers only allow 72.6 yards rushing per game and 3.7 ypc.  The offensive line will have to give Jay Cutler time to throw the ball (Steelers have 17 sacks this season) or this game could get really ugly quick.  Especially seeing how Javon Walker will be unavailable due to knee surgery.

PREDICTION:  The Steelers will dominated time of possession and the scoreboard in this game.  STEELERS 31, BRONCOS 14.

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The Steelers will use the bye week to get themselves healthy before their trip to Denver on October 21st.  The Steelers shut out the Seahawks without Troy Polamalu, Casey Hampton, Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes and that’s pretty darn impressive.  Rookie Coach Mike Tomlin has the Steelers getting back to the basics by playing great defense and running the football.  The Steelers have also re-established Heinz Field as a very tough place to play.  They are 3-0 at home having outscored their opponents 84-19!  Teams better watch out to because QB Ben Roethlisberger has rebounded from a tough 2006 season.  He has completed 81 of 131 passes (61.8%) for 1,013 yards with 9 TD passes and 3 INTs (99.2 QB Rating) so far this season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers totally dominated the Seahawks in every facet of the game yesterday.  The Steelers had possession of the football for 40:45 of the game yesterday!  Ben Roethlisberger did a good job of managing the game as he completed 18 of 22 passes for 206 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 interceptions.  Willie Parker was very busy as he carried the ball 28 times for 102 yards (3.6 ypc).  Najeh Davenport had an outstanding game too as he carried the ball 7 times for 58 yards (8.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs and he also caught 4 passes for 38 yards (9.5 avg).  Cedric Wilson stepped up due to the injuries the Steelers have suffered in the WR corps and he caught 5 passes for 69 yards (13.8 avg).  TE Heath Miller also had a solid game with 4 receptions for 44 yards (11.0 avg) and a TD.  The Steelers rushed for 163 yards on 41 carries (4.0 ypc) and they completed 18 of 22 passes for 179 yards.

The defense was outstanding for the Steelers against the Seahawks.  Reserve safety Tyrone Carter was tough as he had 6 tackles and 1/2 a sack.  Linebacker James Farrior also had a solid game with 5 tackles and 2 sacks.  The Steelers held the Seahawks to 38 yards rushing on 13 carries (2.9 ypc) and they completed 14 of 30 passes for 106 yards.

This was an amazing display of power football considering all of the injuries the Steelers have suffered the last couple of weeks. 

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=271007023

Allen Rossum has been outstanding on kickoff returns so far this season.  He has returned 8 kickoffs for 266 yards (33.3 avg) so far this season including a 98-yard TD return.  The Steelers would like to see Rossum do a little better job on punt returns as he only has 21 yards on 7 returns (3.0 avg).  Overall though, the Steelers are very pleased with Allen Rossum.

It appears as though NT Casey Hampton and SS Troy Polamalu will both miss this week’s game with the Seahawks.  Hampton (hamstring) and his backup Chris Hoke (neck strain) will both miss this game which means Nick Eason is likely going to start at NT and that’s not good news for MLBs Larry Foote and James Farrior as they likely will have to deal with the Seahawks guards because Eason doesn’t demand a double team.  Polamalu will be replaced by Anthony Smith who has 14 tackles this season.

Nickel cornerback Bryant McFadden is doubtful for Sunday’s game with the Seahawks with a high ankle sprain.  He could miss up to 1 month with this injury.  McFadden has made 12 tackles this season and he also has recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass this season that he returned 50 yards for a TD.  The Steelers will miss McFadden’s playmaking ability in the nickel and dime packages.

It appeared as if the Cardinals knew every play the Steelers were going to run yesterday!  That should be no surprise against Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm.  Ben Roethlisberger completed 17 of 32 passes for 244 yards with 2 TD passes and 2 interceptions (one was in the Cards’ end zone!).  He also carried the ball 4 times for 26 yards (6.5 ypc).  Willie Parker didn’t do a thing against the Cards’ defense.  He carried the ball 19 times for 37 yards (1.9 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 29 yards.  Santonio Holmes was the one Steeler that really played a great football game as he caught 6 passes for 128 yards (21.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Heath Miller also pitched in with 3 grabs for 46 yards (15.3 avg).  The Steelers finished up with 77 yards rushing on  26 carries (3.0 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 32 passes for 205 yards.

The Steelers didn’t play that bad on defense.  They allowed 86 yards rushing on 25 carries (3.4 ypc) and the Cardinals completed 21 of 35 passes for 215 yards.  The difference in the football game was Cards rookie Steve Breaston running a punt back 73 yards for a TD.