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Steelers bring league-leading defense to Denver

Oct 21, 2007 - 10:30 AM Pittsburgh (4-1) at Denver (2-3) Sunday 8:15 pm EDT

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

The Steelers bring their league-leading defense to the "Mile High City" for a Sunday night clash against the struggling Denver 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 touchdown coming on a punt return. It is the fewest points Pittsburgh has allowed after five games since 1937.

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

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

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

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

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

Denver has dropped three in a row for the fifth time during Mike Shanahan's tenure as coach and the second time in as many years.

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