Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Matchup Preview (10/10/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)
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Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Matchup Preview (10/10/21)
The Denver Broncos are a tough team to get a read on. The squad started off 3-0 with dominant wins over the lowly Giants, Jaguars, and Jets. But it all came crashing down in Week 4. The Broncos looked lifeless in a 23-7 loss against the Baltimore Ravens that saw injuries to numerous starters. They needed a big win against the Ravens to be considered one of the AFC’s contenders. In just one game, they’re back to looking like the same old Broncos of the past few years. The quarterback issues are mounting, and it’s feeling like this house of cards could fall if coach Vic Fangio doesn’t make the right adjustments.
The Pittsburgh Steelers came into the season wanting a major comeback after being beaten handily by the Cleveland Browns in the playoffs. Some were skeptical about bringing QB Ben Roethlisberger back after he steadily declined last year, especially without much of a contingency plan behind him. Since the team’s win in Week 1 of the season, the Steelers are in an 0-3 freefall. In a crowded division, it’s going to be difficult to place bets on the team the rest of the season. On Sunday, the team fell to the surging Green Bay Packers 27-17, and it’s beginning to look as though the Steelers will need to make some major moves this offseason.
These two teams coming off of double-digit losses are facing each other this upcoming Sunday. Let’s take a look at what to expect when the Denver Broncos head to Heinz Field to face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Betting Odds
I’m not particularly excited about either team after last Sunday. Injuries to the Denver Broncos are starting to pile up, and they looked consistently outmatched on Sunday. The Steelers haven’t shown much in nearly a month, and their roster doesn’t look built to withstand the many tough games on the schedule. However, I’ve got to go with the Broncos here.
There are two major advantages that Denver has in this game: their running game and their pass rush. No matter who starts under center, the Broncos can wear down Pittsburgh if they split carries between Gordon and Williams. Plus, the Denver defenders are in the double digits in sack total, and can easily improve that number against a leaky Steelers offensive line.
I regret going with the Broncos last week, overvaluing the team’s success against low-quality competition. However, I don’t want to let one bad loss completely reshape what I think about the team. They’ve got pieces in place and could be a serious contender with a few roster tweaks. Maybe next year. Meanwhile, the issues with the Steelers have been on display for weeks now, and I don’t feel comfortable betting on them until I see a bit more.
My predictions: Broncos win 21-14, Broncos moneyline, under 40
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TV Schedule
Date: Sunday, October 10
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: Heinz Field – Pittsburgh, PA
TV Coverage: FOX
Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Live Stream
Where can you watch Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Free Online Now.
Injuries
Denver Broncos: WR Diontae Spencer (chest) Q, QB Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) Q, G Dalton Risner (ankle) O, LB Andre Mintze (hamstring) Q, G Graham Glasgow (knee) O, LB Baron Browning (back) O, CB Pat Surtain II (chest) Q, RB Mike Boone (quadriceps) IR
Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Chukwuma Okorafor (concussion) O, WR Chase Claypool (hamstring) O, OT Rashaad Coward (ankle) O, DT Carlos Davis (knee) O, G Kevin Dotson (hip) Q, CB Cameron Sutton (groin) Q
Denver Broncos Analysis
It was finally looking like the Broncos had found their quarterback with Teddy Bridgewater playing at a high level this season. However, he struggled in the first half against the Ravens and is now possibly knocked out with a concussion. Drew Lock came in and didn’t light the world on fire, completing 57.1% of his passes with a late interception. It hasn’t been officially announced who will play quarterback against the Steelers, but it won’t make a difference if the offense continues to sputter.
Outside of the QB situation, the offense has potential. Tight end Noah Fant has been picking up some slack with numerous receivers sidelined due to injury. He’ll need to keep playing at a high level if Drew Lock continues to struggle. Meanwhile, I’m still a fan of the running game. RBs Melvin Gordon III and Javonte Williams both averaged over 6 yards per carry on Sunday, which just makes me wonder why the team didn’t commit to the run game when it was obvious they couldn’t pass on Baltimore.
Like the offense, the Broncos defense was looking great heading into Sunday, coming off a shutout win against the New York Jets. But Lamar Jackson absolutely shredded the team, passing for over 300 yards for just the third time in his career. On the plus side, the Broncos added three more sacks in the game, pushing their team total to 11. An injury to rookie corner Patrick Surtain II is a concern, but Von Miller has been looking good so far, recording at least half a sack each week with a 4.5 total.
Denver Broncos Depth Chart
QB: Teddy Bridgewater
RB1: Melvin Gordon III
RB2: Javonte Williams
WR1: Tim Patrick
WR2: Cortland Sutton
WR3: Diontae Spencer
TE1: Noah Fant
Pittsburgh Steelers Analysis
Is it an overreaction to say that Big Ben is done? The quarterback is not looking like himself this year, tossing four touchdowns and four interceptions in four games. He had those same totals in a single playoff game against the Browns last season. He tossed 33 TDs last year, and one has to wonder if he’ll even get to half that total this season. Of course, the offensive line plays a part in this, and Rothlisberger has been dropped 10 times this year. However, it won’t be too surprising if the aging passer gets benched in the next few games.
Despite the offense stalling, rookie RB Najee Harris could be something special. The former Alabama running back is a multi-faceted threat, averaging 90 total yards per game. It makes me ponder what Harris’ numbers would look like with a younger Rothlisberger at the helm. Losing WR Chase Claypool is not going to help this offense, which is ranking 27th in the league and averaging 301.8 yards per game.
The Pittsburgh defense needs to start stepping up. The team that held a powerful Buffalo Bills offense to 16 points in Week 1 had no answer for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The Packers running backs tore up the Steelers defense on Sunday, with AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones combining for 129 yards on the ground. Linebacker TJ Watt remains a huge threat, already totaling multiple sacks in two games this year despite missing Week 3.
Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart
QB: Ben Rothelisberger
RB1: Najee Harris
RB2: Benny Snell Jr.
WR1: Juju Smith-Schuster
WR2: Diontae Johnson
WR3: James Washington
TE1: Pat Freiermuth
Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Daily Fantasy Picks
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris might be a bit pricey for me at $6,900 on DraftKings. I believe he’s full of potential, but I would wait for a better deal. For $2,000 cheaper, I like Javonte Williams as one of my running backs. With QB issues and facing a defense that can struggle against the run, I like the rookie RB to have a breakout game this Sunday.
- Bills @ Rams
- Saints @ Falcons
- Browns @ Panthers
- 49ers @ Bears
- Steelers @ Bengals
- Eagles @ Lions
- Colts @ Texans
- Patriots @ Dolphins
- Ravens @ Jets
- Jaguars @ Commanders
- Giants @ Titans
- Chiefs @ Cardinals
- Raiders @ Chargers
- Packers @ Vikings
- Buccaneers @ Cowboys
- Broncos @ Seahawks
