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Predictions: Broncos host Steelers in Divisional Round

Ryan Koenigsberg

January 17, 2016

With the playoffs in the air in Denver, we gathered up four of our staff members to give their predictions for what they see is going to happen at Mile High this afternoon.

Here are our predictions, playoff style:

Adam Kinney

Broncos 31, Steelers 17

Time for the Broncos to exorcise some first round playoff demons and no better way to do so than to beat up on the undermanned steelers. Ben Roethlisberger is the x-factor. If he can get the most out of his shoulder he is still one of the elite QBs in the NFL and has a playoff pedigree. Speaking of playoff pedigrees, yes we know that Peyton Manning is 11-13 in the playoffs, but if he can get out of that tricky first round, he is an impressive 9-4 including two super bowl losses. Manning turns back the clock today against the Steelers porous secondary to lead the Broncos to the AFC Championship game and set up “Brady-Manning XVII” for one final showdown with Tom and the Patriots.

Ryan Koenigsberg

Broncos 24, Steelers 17

I’d love to be the contrarian who picks a Broncos loss but I simply don’t see it. No DeAngelo Williams against the league’s best run defense, no Antonio Brown against the league’s best pass defense, a banged up Ben Roethlisberger to boot, it just seems like too much for the Steel City crew to overcome.

That being said, it won’t be easy for the Broncos, I don’t see Peyton Manning coming out and being magically back to his young self. Denver runs the ball and controls the game for the most part with Manning making some of his clutch third down throws to break through on a few drives. The Steelers catch a couple of breaks to keep it close in the playoff spirit, a long pass here, a special teams play there but, in the end, the Broncos prevail behind a stout performance by C.J. Anderson on offense and some havoc wreaked by the vaunted pass rush on the other side.

The Manning redemption tour gets off on the right foot.

Ken Pomponio

Broncos 22, Steelers 13

The Broncos have suffered four home upset losses in the divisional round in the last 32 seasons, including two in the past three years. Peyton Manning has had nine one-and-done playoff stays in 17 seasons. That has many national prognosticators picking the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday’s Mile High City matchup, despite all-world WR Antonio Brown, leading rusher DeAngelo Williams already being declared out and Ben Roethlisberger promising to be at something less than 100 percent with a hurting shoulder. But we’re not going in that direction. The Orange & Blue are more seasoned than they were in their loss to the Ravens three years ago and more focused and motivated than they were a year ago against the Colts. The Denver ‘D’ will be out from the opening kick to avenge their worst showing of the season (34 points and 380 Big Ben passing yards in Week 15), and they will, recording a safety and holding the banged-up Steelers to only one TD. Manning, meanwhile, will pilot the offense on four scoring drives and set up another post-season showdown with Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Dennis Best

Broncos 35, Steelers 21

The final game of the divisional round will be one of the most physical games in recent memory and one where Denver will prevail 35-21. With the injury bug plaguing the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Mile High crew should shine bright and prove that the last time these two teams squared off; the end result was a fluke. If the offensive line of the good guys can keep quarterback legend Peyton Manning upright and the orange and blue limit their turnovers, Denver will take the victory and look on to hosting New England in the AFC Championship.