Throughout the entire 2018-19 season, BSN Denver will be giving you game grades from every Denver Broncos contest. Evaluating all the starters and beyond to give you a better look at the team’s strengths and weaknesses on a game-to-game basis.

Incredibly, the Broncos won their second game in a row with a massive 24-17 ‘W’ over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In an extremely odd contest in which the defense allowed tons of yards and the offense couldn’t get anything going for long stretches, but the Broncos found a way to pull through.

Standouts from the game

Phillip Lindsay: A+

• Lindsay was a big-play machine, regularly churning out chunk plays and averaging 7.2 yards per carry.
• Even when you take away his longest run of 32 yards, he still averaged over 6.0 YPC, becoming the first runner to go over 100 yards on the Steelers all season.
• Consistently found daylight off one-cut runs, exploding into the open field with mesmerizing skill.
• His impact was felt all over, even when he didn’t touch the ball, as he was used as a decoy on Matt LaCosse’s TD, running a flat route which opened up room for the TE underneath. 
• Was a catalyst for the offense all day long despite only touching the ball 14 times.

Shelby Harris: A+

• Amazingly, Harris seemed to be involved in every big play of the game.
• He hauled in the game-sealing interception.
• Mustered a big-time bull rush on OC Maurkice Pouncey, knocking him on his back and almost creating a safety on the Steelers 97-yard TD.
• Bulled over the QB on Chris Harris’ interception.
• Helped finish Von’s sack late in the fourth quarter, ended the day with three QB hits and added a run stuff.

Emmanuel Sanders: A-

• Sanders was the only Broncos receiver who got open regularly, getting loose on a couple different deep routes and hauling in one outstretched 38-yard grab that led to his TD on the very next play.
• Worked inside routes well, including his TD catch after chipping a defender and getting open towards the sideline.
• Dropped a catchable pass on a slant early but made up for it with a strong performance after that.

Chris Harris Jr.: A

• Harris was severely tested with no safety help over the top and did a great job flying downhill and closing tackles, allowing only one of the seven receptions he conceded to go for more than seven yards.
• Found the ball on a big interception as his instincts were on point with two other pass deflections, one when jumping a slant to Ryan Switzer in the fourth quarter.
• The one big reception he allowed was a 24-yard catch by Switzer up the seam with Harris playing perfect coverage.
• Allowed seven receptions for 55 yards on 10 targets in a masterful performance.

Defense

Domata Peko: N/A

• Appearing in only 33 percent of the defensive snaps, Peko was overshadowed by Harris and Zach Kerr, who were more consistently dominant against the run and added much more pass rushing prowess.
• Missed an arm tackle on a run up the middle in the first half and did little else, good or bad.

Derek Wolfe: C

• Wolfe surprisingly played a decent amount—61.5 percent of the snaps—with a limited impact, though he wasn’t guilty of many negative plays, either.
• Had some flashes stuffing gaps against the run and a monster play in pursuit, running down James Conner on a screen.
• Hurried Roethlisberger enough that he just barely missed a wide open receiver streaking down the sideline.

Adam Gotsis: C+

• Gotsis made his presence felt as he was consistently in the mix on run stuffs, playing with good leverage as he clogged gaps.
• Did a nice job pressuring the QB in pursuit but couldn’t get to Ben in time to take him down or prevent a completion.
• Kept coming on a trick-play pass by Antonio Brown, hitting the receiver as he had to step into his throw and preventing what would’ve been a wide-open TD.

Bradley Chubb: D

• Chubb had the quietest game of his young career, only showing up in coverage on two occasions despite appearing in 77 percent of the snaps.
• He lost RB Jaylen Samuels on Brown’s trick play pass and was lucky the throw was off.
• In coverage towards the flats on Brown, he allowed the first-down completion on 2nd-and-4, as he had no chance covering the all-world wideout.

Josey Jewell: C

• Jewell appeared in the least amount of snaps he’s seen since being thrust into the starting lineup—41 percent—and didn’t really see the field much at all in the second half, as safeties took most of his snaps with the Steelers insistent on passing the ball.
• Did a pretty good job in coverage, only being targeted once and allowing a 16-yard reception.
• Was erased on a Conner screen, getting blocked out the picture, and didn’t react quickly enough in underneath coverage on a quick completion to Switzer that converted 3rd-and-4.
• Had a couple strong tackles against the run even if away from the line of scrimmage.

Todd Davis: B-

• Davis did a good job reacting quickly in underneath coverage, even if he allowed the initial reception. The best example of this was his tackle down on the goal line before the half, holding the TE short of the end zone with a stout tackle.
• Smothered Switzer in great coverage on a flat route, holding the receiver to a one-yard gain as he was draped all over him.
• Closed quickly on screens and made great stops in space.
• Ended the day conceding six receptions for 55 yards on seven targets.
• Was strong against the run, flying through gaps for two different run stuffs.
• Flagged for illegal contact in coverage.
• Got lucky on a couple occasions as he left TE Vance McDonald too much of a cushion down on the goal line and was lucky to have the TD pass dropped.
• Was also burned on a Conner screen that went for 23-yards before Bradley Roby forced the fumble.

Von Miller: C+

• The Steelers made a conscious effort to take Miller out of the game with tons of quick throws underneath and lots of extra attention to No. 58’s side.
• Von still got his with a highlight sack in the fourth quarter, fighting his way through a double team and bringing down Roethlisberger.
• Produced a great stop on 3rd-and-goal on a shovel pass, reading the play nicely for no gain.
• Pressured Big Ben out the pocket on a scramble as Miller came screaming off the edge—and looked like he was held.

Darian Stewart: D

• Stewart was targeted five times—mostly underneath—allowing four grabs for 53 yards.
• His biggest mistake was losing TE Xavier Grimble, allowing what seemed to a be a wide open 23-yard TD if not for Parks saving the day with a forced fumble.
• Missed a huge tackle out in the flats on Samuels when he had the RB dead to rights on 3rd-and-3.
• Was stiff-armed by JuJu Smith-Schuster on his way to the end zone.
• Played strong in the red zone, had a fumble recovery, and played tough, tackling well in space.

Justin Simmons: C

• Simmons was asked to cover the slot a lot early on, getting picked on a bit and giving up two receptions for 27 yards. 
• Allowed four receptions total on the day for 38 yards.
• Produced one of the plays of the game with his blocked field goal, jumping over the line and altering the kick.
• Got better in coverage as the game wore on, tackled well in space, and did a good job against the run.
• Was blocked out the picture by a pulling guard, conceding a 15-yard screen.

Bradley Roby: D+

• Roby had a tough assignment against the Steelers talented receiving corps and struggled despite getting a beautiful PBU by jumping an out route.
• Got burned right off the line in pitiful press coverage by JuJu on his devastating 97-yard TD.
• Tackled well and reacted quickly on receptions in off coverage, limiting big plays.
• Was picked on a bunch on 12 targets for eight receptions and 167 yards.
• Forced a huge fumble on a Conner screen run.
• If Shelby Harris hadn’t picked the ball in the end zone, No. 29 would’ve as he had Brown locked down.

Other noteworthy defensive performances:

Tremaine Brock: B-

• Brock tackled well coming downhill when in off coverage, reacting quickly and allowing three receptions for 13 yards on five targets.
• He was also lucky to have a few passes overthrown when he was beaten deep.

Will Parks: A

• Parks had a game-changing forced fumble in the end zone, nullifying a surefire TD with an amazing hit.
• Played well in coverage, reacting quickly and forcing an incompletion on 3rd-and-10 as he blanketed the talented McDonald.
• Did a good job playing up close to the line and contributing against the run, too.

Shaquil Barrett: B

• Barrett was effective rushing the passer in only 28-percent of the snaps, getting a sack and a QB hurry on an early 3rd-and-10 stop.

Isaac Yiadom: C+

• Yiadom looked shaky at times and got a bit lucky on at least one missed throw after James Washington undressed him on a double move, but he managed to hold his own.
• Played great coverage on Brown down the sideline on a crucial third-down incompletion.
• Allowed two big receptions for 32 yards, playing too soft in the closing moments of the game but showed lots of fight.

Zach Kerr: B

• Kerr played great against the run with multiple run stuffs, clogging interior gaps consistently.

Offense

Garett Bolles: A

• Bolles handled himself well in pass pro against Bud Dupree, erasing him from the game, staying balanced and playing a sound controlled game.
• Allowed pressure off the edge on 3rd-and-8, forcing an incompletion, but was flawless otherwise.
• Didn’t have many runs to his side but opened up a big hole for Lindsay in the fourth quarter.

Billy Turner: C-

• Turner allowed several pressures up the middle as he struggled with oncoming blitzes and was overpowered by down linemen, giving up some key third-down pressures in pass protection.
• Had some big one-on-one blocks for the ground game on some of Lindsay’s best chunk runs, creating push for the RB to follow behind.
• Allowed a run stop but was able to prevent any other big plays.

Connor McGovern: D

• McGovern wasn’t getting to the second level with any consistency early and struggled as Cam Heyward and Pittsburgh’s three-man front stood him up regularly, leading to two run stops on the OC.
• Flagged for illegal block in the back, nullifying a screen pass down in the red zone on 3rd-and-8 that was almost to the sticks.
• Bull rushed by Heyward, allowed pressure up the middle on 3rd-and-10 flushing Keenum out the pocket who made an impressive throw on the run.
• With time winding down in the fourth quarter, he was pushed into Keenum allowing a sack for a third-down stop.

Elijah Wilkinson: C-

• Wilkinson had a hard time with quicker rushers on blitzes, conceding multiple pressures and a QB hit on 3rd-and-5.
• Gave up a sack off his outside shoulder from a blitzing linebacker and then was pushed into Keenum with McGovern on the 3rd-and-4 sack.
• Pancaked a second-level defender, opening up a hole for Lindsay on a strong nine-yard run.
• Struggled too much in pass pro and wasn’t consistent at all as a run blocker.

Jared Veldheer: C+

• Veldheer had a great goal-line play, blocking the edge defender out of the picture and allowing Lindsay to walk into the end zone for his 24-17 TD run.
• Was shaky at times, getting flagged for holding and allowing a run stop on the move as he couldn’t seal an outside lane on a toss run.
• Battled as a run blocker and held his own in pass pro even if he didn’t always look super smooth.

Courtland Sutton: D-

• Sutton had a dreadfully quiet game with a 3rd-and-8 drop on a slant that gave him an opportunity to run it to the sticks.
• Only had one catch on a tough contested play on 3rd-and-10 with coverage all over him.
• Struggled to create separation at all.

Jeff Heuerman: C-

• In pass pro on 2nd-and-10, Heuerman allowed a QB hit.
• Did a good job getting open on a wheel route lined up as a fullback for a big 29-yard gain.
• Couldn’t haul in a 3rd-and-4 pass over the middle on a comeback, as he, too, struggled to create separation.
• Was solid as a blocker despite allowing a run stop.

Case Keenum: B+

• Keenum played well in the red zone, completing 5-of-6 passes and throwing two touchdowns.
• Threw it well on the run and made some clutch plays when the offense needed him.
• Showed better zip and nailed a deep ball with perfect timing to Sanders, squeezing the throw between a cover-2 safety and lagging cornerback. 
• Scrambled to find No. 10 with a throw across his body for a TD on the very next play in a huge series.
• Took what the defense gave him and made plays above the X’s and O’s, avoiding pressure up the middle as he navigated the pocket confidently. 
• Only converted 3-of-8 third-down opportunities in part due to some drops and poor protection. 
• A strong, poised game even if his stats were underwhelming. 

Other noteworthy offensive performances:

Matt LaCosse: C+

• Playing in a season-high 47-percent of the snaps with lots of two-tight end looks, LaCosse freed himself on two important plays; getting open down the sideline for 17 yards after selling a screen to perfection, and then sitting down on his shallow TD route.
• In flashes, he looked really good as a receiver.

Royce Freeman: D

• Freeman didn’t look quick or sudden in his cuts in a disappointing outing where he couldn’t evade defenders.

DaeSean Hamilton: C

• Hamilton had one catch, getting open underneath, an area where he has the skills to excel.
• Was devastating on a crack block for a Lindsay 14-yard run outside, sealing the edge defender and opening up a huge hole.

Special Teams: B-

Special teams broke even on the big-play front, with a huge blocked field goal while also allowing a touchdown at the end of the half with only 10 men on the field.

The kicking game took care of business, and punter Colby Wadman was impressive with a highlight-worthy punt pinning the Steelers in their own five on a day where he regularly flipped the field for the Broncos.

Coaching: C+

Bill Musgrave implemented lots of two and even three-TE formations, forcing the Steelers to defend the run and often beating them with short throws while running a lot out of three-receiver sets, keeping the defense off balance. It remains unclear why Lindsay hasn’t seen the ball more, though. 

Joe Woods implemented a bend-don’t-break strategy, and it worked in part thanks to a great red zone defense and especially some timely turnovers. He might’ve been a bit lucky but found a way to limit the Steelers offense.

Vance Joseph had some debatable game management tactics, like not calling a timeout with the Steelers down on the goal line at the end of the first half, and not challenging LaCosse’s toe-tap sideline grab that looked good.

Give him credit for having his team motivated in an inspired performance that had very few big mistakes.