Author: Jarrett Bailey

Odds, predictions, and more for Steelers-Broncos

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos will square off at Empower Field at Mile High in a battle of AFC teams that seem to be on two separate paths.

The Steelers are 1-0 after an 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The defense had three takeaways and looked like their dominant selves. Justin Fields played respectable, accounting for 213 total yards of offense and made multiple throws downfield to George Pickens that put Pittsburgh in scoring position. For the Steelers, it’s just about converting the field goals into touchdowns.

The Broncos are coming off a weird game against the Seattle Seahawks that featured scores of 5-3 and 9-8. Bo Nix had a miserable game, averaging 3.3 yards per attempt and throwing two ugly interceptions. A garbage time touchdown made the 26-20 game look much closer than it really was. Seattle’s self-inflicted wounds kept Denver in the game early before they pulled away.

Steelers vs. Broncos predictions

Point spread: PIT -2.5
O/U: 36.5
Moneyline: Steelers -115, Broncos -105

Pick against the spread: PIT -2.5

I have zero confidence in this. I’ve seen too many Steelers games in my life against opponents just like this where they should win handedly and either win by the skin of their teeth or just lose outright. I’d like to they won’t have one of those this season, but they don’t have the star-power on offense that gives me that assurance. Even when they did, they’d still lose games to the Mike Glennon Bears or the Ryan Mallet Ravens. I’ll pick them just because Bo Nix is a bad quarterback, and they should be able to torment him, but I won’t be shocked if I’m angrily writing about how the Steelers blew an easy win over a team they are better than.

Point total pick: Under 36.5

Regardless if the Steelers win or not, this isn’t going to be a high-scoring game. The Broncos have no weapons that scare you outside of Courtland Sutton, and Pittsburgh will play the clock control game. Even if their offense looks solid, I don’t expect an explosion in terms of points.

Same Game Parlay

• Alternate Total Points: Under 40.5 (-210)
• Najee Harris Alternate Rushing Yards: 70+ (+134)
• George Pickens Alternate Receiving Yards: 60+ (+120)
• Pat Freiermuth Anytime Touchdown (+440)

Total odds: $10 to win $547.07

Final Prediction: Steelers 23, Broncos 13

How the Steelers can start 2-0

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a golden opportunity to start 2-0 for the first time since 2020, and only the second time since 2017. They’ll take on a Denver Broncos team that looks less than optimal, and could be competing for a top five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Regardless, the Steelers have no right to take anyone lightly – here is this week’s game plan.

Send constant heat at Bo Nix

The Seahawks sent five or more rushers at the Broncos’ rookie on 11 of his dropbacks, which was tied for fifth in the NFL, where he went 6-of-10 and only averaged 2.7 yards per attempt and just over four yards per completion while being sacked once and pressured five times. Garett Bolles may or may not play, and even if he does he isn’t 100 percent. Send heat all game. Continue to have sets where three pass rushers are on the field at the same time and make life a living hell for Nix.

Feed Najee Harris

Harris didn’t have a massive stat line in Week 1, but he was productive with his touches, racking up 79 yards on 21 touches. The Seahawks were able to run all over the Broncos, with Kenneth Walker rushing for 103 yards on 20 carries, and the Seahawks as a team ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Get the run game going early, and continue establishing long, balanced drives.

Another WR needs to step up

Two catches for eight yards from receivers not named George Pickens just isn’t going to cut it. Someone needs to step up. Calvin Austin, Van Jefferson, a potentially debuting Roman Wilson – someone. The passing game can’t be George Pickens and prayers.

Avoid the trap

The Steelers are better than the Broncos, but how many times over the years have we gone into a game with supreme confidence only to be disappointed? Losing to the Mike Glennon Bears in 2017, tying the Browns in 2018, two consecutive losses to two-win teams last season – I’m sure there are several other examples you can name. Don’t make Sunday a game we can add to that list. Take care of business and beat a team that you are better than.

Are the Steelers ready to move forward with Fields?

Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to start 2-0 as they travel to Denver to take on the Broncos. Fields went 17-of-23 for 156 yards with an additional 57 yards on the ground to help the Steelers start 1-0, and is all but certainly starting on Sunday against Denver. However, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers may already be planning to start Fields in Week 3 for Pittsburgh’s home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers.

“According to sources, the Steelers plan to have Justin Fields start the next two games – Sunday in Denver against the Broncos and the home opener Sept. 22 against the Los Angeles Chargers – while Russell Wilson continues to rest his injured calf so it doesn’t morph into something worse,” Dulac wrote. “By that time, especially if the Steelers are 3-0 with Fields as their quarterback, the gossip, conjecture and narrative will increase to royal-tabloid measures.”

Should Fields play well and Pittsburgh win in Week 2, there would be no reason to pull him. Sunday is a big chance for Fields to take hold of the starting job for good.