PREMIUM
Schule's SUNDAY NIGHT B-L-I-T-Z (PIT@DEN)
(NFL) Pittsburgh vs. Denver,
01/17/2016 11:40 AM, Score: 16 - 23
Point Spread: -7.50 | -105.00 Denver (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -7.50 | -105.00 Denver (Home)
Result: Loss
This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos.
Pittsburgh only qualified for the playoffs because the New York Jets failed to win their final game of the season on the road against a Buffalo team that was already eliminated. The Steelers only won last week's game at Cincinnati after a controversial penalty put them in field goal range, but they lost Antonio Brown on that play. They come into Denver without their leading receiver, and a banged up Ben Roethlisberger. In addition, they will have to rely on fourth and fifth string running backs Jordan Todman and Fitzgerald Tousaint.
Roethlisberger is dealing with a sprained AC joint, and torn ligaments in his throwing shoulder. He's going to try to play, but there's a very good chance that Landry Jones will be forced into action at some point. Jones threw for 209 yards with a TD and two INTs on 16-of-29 passing in his only full game, a 23-13 loss to the Chiefs. Even if Roethlisberger is healthy enough to play the whole game, he's facing the league's best defense on the road. He hasn't exactly thrived on the road this season, throwing just five TDs and nine interceptions while losing three of six.
Peyton Manning is back under center for the Broncos, but he's likely not going to be asked to do too much here. He came in and threw for 69 yards on 5-of-9 passing in the win over San Diego in the final game of the regular season. It was Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson that carried the load, combining for 212 yards and a pair of TDs.
The Broncos defense had a league leading 52 quarterback sacks this year, and I expect them to completely shut down the Steelers passing game here on Sunday.
Take Denver.
GL,
Jesse Schule
Pittsburgh only qualified for the playoffs because the New York Jets failed to win their final game of the season on the road against a Buffalo team that was already eliminated. The Steelers only won last week's game at Cincinnati after a controversial penalty put them in field goal range, but they lost Antonio Brown on that play. They come into Denver without their leading receiver, and a banged up Ben Roethlisberger. In addition, they will have to rely on fourth and fifth string running backs Jordan Todman and Fitzgerald Tousaint.
Roethlisberger is dealing with a sprained AC joint, and torn ligaments in his throwing shoulder. He's going to try to play, but there's a very good chance that Landry Jones will be forced into action at some point. Jones threw for 209 yards with a TD and two INTs on 16-of-29 passing in his only full game, a 23-13 loss to the Chiefs. Even if Roethlisberger is healthy enough to play the whole game, he's facing the league's best defense on the road. He hasn't exactly thrived on the road this season, throwing just five TDs and nine interceptions while losing three of six.
Peyton Manning is back under center for the Broncos, but he's likely not going to be asked to do too much here. He came in and threw for 69 yards on 5-of-9 passing in the win over San Diego in the final game of the regular season. It was Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson that carried the load, combining for 212 yards and a pair of TDs.
The Broncos defense had a league leading 52 quarterback sacks this year, and I expect them to completely shut down the Steelers passing game here on Sunday.
Take Denver.
GL,
Jesse Schule
