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Steelers face Broncos in rematch of AFC championship game

Oct 31, 2006 - 11:57 PM Denver (5-2) at Pittsburgh (2-5) Sunday 4:15 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to win their remaining nine regular-season games just to match last season's 11-5 record. The first test will be against the Denver Broncos in a rematch of January's AFC championship game.

The Steelers were 7-5 in 2005 when they reeled off an eight-game winning streak, which included a 34-17 victory at Denver in the AFC championship game and a 21-10 triumph over Seattle in Super Bowl XL.

But for just the second time in the Bill Cowher era, the Steelers are off to a 2-5 start. In 2003, they were 2-6 en route to a 6-10 finish.

"I'm interested in just doing what it takes to turn this around," Cowher said. "We're not here to make excuses. We obviously have to play better."

The Steelers are three games behind first-place Baltimore and two games behind Cincinnati in the AFC North.

"Two wins for the year - that's not the way you expect the Super Bowl champs would start the year off," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said.

Ben Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, has shouldered most of the blame. Entering the season with a 27-4 career record, Roethlisberger is 1-5 after backup Charlie Batch beat Miami in the season opener.

A week after he suffered a concussion in a 41-38 overtime loss at Atlanta, Roethlisberger was intercepted four times, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and sacked five times in a stunning 20-13 loss at Oakland last week.

"I'm letting the whole team down," said Roethlisberger, who has six touchdown passes with 11 interceptions this season. "I'm pointing the thumb at me for our record."

It's hard to believe that this is the quarterback who led the Steelers to three straight road playoff wins at Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Denver before the Super Bowl triumph.

Roethlisberger completed 21-of-29 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns and also scored on a four-yard run in the postseason win over the Broncos.

Denver had won all nine of its home games before falling to the Steelers.

Last week, the Broncos were beaten at home by Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, 34-31.

Denver had allowed just two touchdowns in its first six games - the fewest by an NFL team at that point of the season since the 1934 Detroit Lions. But Manning picked the Broncos apart, completing 32-of-39 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns - all to Reggie Wayne.

The Broncos were unable to put any pressure on Manning, who was rarely touched in the pocket. Second-year cornerback Darrent Williams had an especially rough day. While Pro Bowler Champ Bailey blanketed Marvin Harrison, Williams had to contend with Wayne, who finished with 10 catches for 138 yards.

On Sunday, Bailey will likely match up with Ward, the MVP of Super Bowl XL. Williams will draw a combination of receivers Santonio Holmes, Cedrick Wilson and Nate Washington.

Jake Plummer committed four turnovers - two interceptions and two fumbles - in the Broncos' loss to Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game.

The Steelers were also successful in containing Denver's vaunted running game. After leading the AFC with 158.7 yards per game on the ground, the Broncos were held to 97 yards by Pittsburgh and 30 of those came from Plummer.

Rookie free agent Mike Bell replaced Tatum Bell and rushed for 136 yards on 15 carries in the loss to Indianapolis. Plummer threw for 174 yards and a touchdown.

Pittsburgh held the Raiders to 98 yards and recorded six sacks in last week's loss. Joey Porter returned after missing two games with an injury and had two sacks and an interception. Fellow linebacker Clark Haggans had seven tackles and two sacks.