The Student of the GameGoing Beyond the Stats

QB Ben Roethlisberger, SS Troy Polamalu, newly acquired CB Ty Law, and CB Champ Bailey . . . all big names that would have been prewritten into the opening paragraphs of writers all over the country, but it’s a man who wasn’t talked about leading up to this game, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ FS Tyrone Carter, that had the big numbers in silencing the Denver Broncos in the biggest match-up for Week 9, 28-10.
After a solid stent standing in for Polamalu after his Week 1 knee sprain, Carter was called upon to back up starting FS Ryan Clark who was sat for the game at Invesco field in ‘mile high’ Denver due to his sickle-cell anemia. The condition directly effects the body’s ability to take in oxygen and was nearly fatal last time Clark attempted to play at Mile High where needed life saving surgery where doctors were forced to take his spleen and gall bladder.
Carter’s stand out performance warranted 2 interceptions; one of which was a 48 return for a TD and the only points in the first half for the Steelers who didn’t make it into Broncos territory on offense in that time. The longest offensive play for both teams during that half on offense was 20 yards as the Steelers went into the second half on top 7-3.
It would seem the Steelers ‘D’, however would continue rule supreme despite the 54 yard fumble return for a TD by Denver DE Robert Ayers early in the 3rd Quarter. Bronco QB Kyle Orton struggled with 23/38 (61%) for 221 yards and 3 INTs. The run support wasn’t much better as RBs Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno combined for 27 yards on 14 carries. Brandon Marshall made some solid plays going for 11 receptions and 112 yards while Eddie Royal’s 5 catches for 74 yards was certain worthy of honorable mention.
But Big Ben Roethlisberger returned to the field after the fumble he lost and posted a formidable part of a balanced offense going 21/29 (72%) for 233 yards 3 TDs and an INT. This was made possible by solid O-line play and a good day by RB Rashard Mendenhall as he ran for 22 carries for 155 yards (7.05 yards per carry).
But while WR Santonio Holmes led in receiving yards with 6 catches for 93, it was WRs Mike Wallace (4 catches, 69 yards, and a TD) and Hines Ward (7 catches for 44 yards and 2 TDS) who lit up the scoreboard with touchdowns.
Not only did the Broncos fail to score a TD on offense, but the defense once again was over powered by the efforts of a balanced offense (see the game vs. the Ravens). Still atop the AFC West, the Broncos remain a force while the Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals are deadlocked atop the AFC North with the Bengals having the advantage in tie-breakers.