The return of Ben Roethlisberger was a huge success for the Pittsburgh Steelers, at least in Week 1. Will the Steelers keep on rolling this coming Sunday against the visiting Denver Broncos? Or will Drew Lock and company get their first win of the season at the expense of the hosts? Check out our preview of this game below.
The Broncos lost their season opener last Sunday, 16-14, at the hands of the Tennessee Titans. Drew Lock, making his first Week 1 start, threw for 216 yards (22/33) and a touchdown with zero interceptions, while Melvin Gordon debuted for Denver with 78 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Denver’s came up with 323 total yards but struggled to convert on third downs (3/9) against the Titans. The Broncos would have lost by a bigger margin had Titans kicker Stephen Gostkowski drilled all his field goal attempts, so they can consider themselves lucky to be spared of at least a further score discrepancy embarrassment. Moving the chains will be a tougher task for Denver in Week 2 against the Steelers’ defense, but it would be a tremendous help for Lock if wide receiver Courtland Sutton manages to play. Sutton missed the Titans game with a shoulder injury. Rookie receiver Jerry Jeudy showed glimpses of his immense potential, though, by grabbing four of eight targets for 56 yards in the loss to Tennessee.
The Broncos are 4-2 against the spread in their last six road games.
The Steelers are expected to be better this season with the return of Ben Roethlisberger to the fold. If Week 1 was any indication, it appears that Pittsburgh is truly in for a great season. Big Ben passed for 229 yards (21/32) and tossed three touchdowns without an interception in Week 1’s 26-16 road win over the New York Giants. JuJu Smith-Schuster clearly loved having Roethlisberger back, as he hauled in two touchdown grabs to go with 69 receiving yards on six catches. Running back James Conner exited the Giants game in the second quarter in the second half, but it didn’t matter much to the Steelers, as Benny Snell led them with 113 rushing yards on 19 carries. Even if Conner sits Sunday’s game against the Broncos, Snell seems to be very capable of taking over most of the work out of the backfield. Plus, there’s Pittsburgh’s defense that totally shut down the Giants, particularly on the ground. Saquon Barkley rushed for just six yards on 15 carries. As a team, the Giants only had 29 rushing yards on 20 rushing attempts.
The Steelers are 3-1 against the spread in their last four home games.
