Do you remember the last time the Denver Broncos hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC playoff game? It was January 8, 2012, and the 8-8 Broncos upset the 12-4 Steelers at home when Tim Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas on an 80-yard touchdown in overtime. Denver won that game by a final of 29-23.
That was the first of a five-year run in which the Broncos made the postseason, including the 2015 season, in which the Broncos captured the top seed in the AFC. Peyton Manning made his return to the lineup in the regular season finale following several weeks off with a foot injury, giving an unorthodox twist to an otherwise excellent regular season for the Broncos.
Pittsburgh is also in the postseason for a second straight season, and ended a three-game playoff losing streak in an ugly win over Cincinnati last weekend. But that game took a toll, as wideout Antonio Brown was lost for today's game with a late-game concussion. Brown was unstoppable during Pittsburgh's 34-27 win over Denver in the regular season, catching 16 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
Things are different this time around; the game's in Denver, Manning's in, and Brown's out. Can the banged-up Steelers pull the upset this time around? Time will tell. Enjoy the game, Bills fans.