GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: PITTSBURGH (4-1) at DENVER (2-3)

NFL: PITTSBURGH (4-1) at DENVER (2-3)

<h3>Steelers bring league-leading defense to Denver</h3>







Pittsburgh (4-1) at Denver (2-3) Sunday 8:15 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) - The Pittsburgh Steelers hope to pick up wherethey left off before their bye week.


The Steelers bring their league-leading defense to the "MileHigh City" for a Sunday night clash against the strugglingDenver Broncos.


Pittsburgh is evoking memories of the great "Steel Curtain"teams of the 1970s, leading the NFL in fewest points per game(9.4) and fewest yards per game (235.6).


The Steelers have yielded just 47 points - with one touchdowncoming on a punt return. It is the fewest points Pittsburgh hasallowed after five games since 1937.


By comparison, the 1976 team, which shut out five of its finalnine opponents, surrendered 110 points in its first five games.

But the Steelers do not live on defense alone. Willie Parkerranks sixth in the NFL in rushing, having run for 507 yards.Parker has been a workhorse for Pittsburgh, averaging aleague-best 24 carries per game.


That is bad news for the Broncos, who have been awful againstthe run. Denver ranks last in rushing defense, yielding 187yards per game.


During their three-game losing streak, the Broncos have yieldeda combined 536 yards, including 214 in a 41-3 drubbing to theSan Diego Chargers before last week's bye.


Parker will be looking to join Indianapolis' Joseph Addai andSan Diego's Michael Turner as the third straight running back tosurpass 100 yards against the Broncos.


Denver has dropped three in a row for the fifth time during MikeShanahan's tenure as coach and the second time in as manyyears.


Since Shanahan replaced Wade Phillips in 1995, the Broncos havehad only two four-game losing streaks. The first came in 1999and the second happened last season, when Denver dropped fourstraight after a 7-2 start and missed the playoffs.

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 0
DENVER 0 15:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 40 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL PITTSBURGH 0
DENVER 0 14:48 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL PITTSBURGH 0
DENVER 0 11:06 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL TD PIT
HEATH MILLER 1 YD PASS FROM BEN ROETHLISBERGER
(JEFF REED KICK)

PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 0 11:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 0 10:34 LEFT, 1ST QTR

DEN BALL ON DEN 31 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL TD DEN
BRANDON STOKLEY 15 YD PASS FROM JAY CUTLER
(JASON ELAM KICK)

PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 6:17 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 6:12 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 22 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 5:18 LEFT, 1ST QTR

DEN BALL ON DEN 26 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 3:09 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 2:44 LEFT, 1ST QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 12 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 1:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR

DEN BALL ON DEN 37 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PITTSBURGH 7 7
DENVER 7 7 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: PIT - TD, HEATH MILLER 1 YD PASS FROM BEN
ROETHLISBERGER (JEFF REED KICK),
4:00. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards in
4:00. Key plays: Roethlisberger
40-yard pass to Washington on
3rd-and-7 to Denver 17;
Roethlisberger 7-yard pass to
Miller on 3rd-and-4 to Denver 4.
PITTSBURGH 7-0
DEN - TD, BRANDON STOKLEY 15 YD PASS FROM JAY
CUTLER (JASON ELAM KICK), 8:43.
Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards in 4:43.
Key plays: Cutler 26-yard pass to
Scheffler to Pittsburgh 43; Cutler
12-yard pass to Stokley to
Pittsburgh 27. PITTSBURGH 7-7</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 14:52 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 11:47 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 11:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR

DEN BALL ON DEN 14 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 10:08 LEFT, 2ND QTR

PIT BALL ON PIT 32 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 8:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL
PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 7:16 LEFT, 2ND QTR

DEN BALL ON DEN 39 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: PITTSBURGH at DENVER

<div class="pre">NFL PITTSBURGH 7
DENVER 7 4:52 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>