Steelers vs. Broncos 2016: Time, TV schedule and team news for NFL playoffs
Peyton Manning will start for the Broncos against the Steelers, who will be without their starting wide receiver and running back.
The Pittsburgh Steelers played their hardest and came out just ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The Steelers beat the Bengals, 18-16, to advance to the Divisional Round, where they will face the tough Denver Broncos, helmed by Peyton Manning.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, they are hurting bad after a very physical and chippy game against the Bengals. Starting wide receiver Antonio Brown, possibly the best receiver in the league today, took a huge hit from Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict and was ruled out for Sunday's game with a concussion.
Brown's value to the Steelers cannot be overstated. This season, he caught 136 passes for 1,834 yards and 10 touchdowns. He led the team by a massive amount, with over 1,000 more receiving yards than Martavis Bryant, who was second with 50 receptions for 765 yards and six touchdowns. Markus Wheaton was right behind him with 44 catches for 749 yards and five touchdowns.
Bryant and Wheaton do combine for a potent and dangerous duo that the Broncos will have trouble defending, but Brown was on another level this season. He was second in the NFL in receiving yards, just behind Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons. Those two had 300 more yards than the next receiver, Houston's DeAndre Hopkins.
Making matters worse, the Steelers are without their top two running backs. Le'Veon Bell was lost earlier in the season, and his replacement DeAngelo Williams filled in nicely. Unfortunately, Williams has been ruled out for Sunday's game as well. He had 200 carries for 907 yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season.
Williams was explosive and a huge part of what the Steelers do offensively. Behind him is Fitzgerald Toussaint, who has just 18 carries for 42 yards. The Pittsburgh offense won't be pretty on Sunday, though they did enough to win late against the Bengals, and that was with Ben Roethlisberger dealing with serious injuries.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, they’re dealing with a very competent Broncos defense. The Broncos rank first in the league against the pass, third in the league against the run, and fourth in the league in points allowed per game with 18.5.
Someone like Brown could really do some damage to that defense, especially given the fact that Pittsburgh ranked third in the league in total yardage in the regular season. The Steelers have been productive, but yardage is going to be tough against the Broncos.
Denver is going with Peyton Manning at quarterback. He was benched earlier in the year after he was well on his way to the worst season of his career, though he also sustained a foot injury that kept him out. Brock Osweiler did not do much in his place and the Broncos elected to go with Manning for the playoffs. He completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 2,249 yards with nine touchdowns and a massive 17 interceptions before he was benched.
Who knows which Manning will show up on Sunday? The veteran quarterback is capable of roasting any defense out there if he’s on his game.
How to Watch
When: 4:40 p.m. ET
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver
TV: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson
Online: CBS Sports
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