16 seconds ago 2009-12-09T02:30:02-08:00
DENVER, Colorado (Reuters) – Ben Roethlisberger's three second-half touchdown passes and a stingy defense helped the Pittsburgh Steelers ease to a 28-10 victory over the Denver Broncos on Monday.
The Steelers returned to action after a bye week and limited the Broncos to just 27 rushing yards in winning a fifth consecutive game, as the Super Bowl champions continue to look more like the team that powered to the NFL title in February.
"Anyone who watches us play knows that we don't blink no matter what happens. There is always more football to be played," Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall told reporters after his team continued its resurgence from a 1-2 start to the year.
The victory moved Pittsburgh (6-2) into a tie with the Cincinnati Bengals at the top of the AFC North and in position to challenge for a third straight division title.
Roethlisberger hooked up with Hines Ward for a three-yard touchdown pass with 9:09 left in the third quarter to give his team a 14-10 lead and finished off the Broncos with a 25-yard effort to Mike Wallace with seven minutes remaining.
Mendenhall helped the Steelers control the game with 155 yards rushing on 22 carries as Roethlisberger put a seal on the victory with a second three-yard scoring pass to Ward with a little over a minute left in the fourth quarter.
Denver (6-2) lost for the second time in a row after starting the season with six successive wins.
The Broncos moved the ball well in the first half but trailed 7-3 at halftime after Tyrone Carter intercepted quarterback Kyle Orton and ran it 48 yards for a score two minutes into the second quarter.
Carter started in place of Ryan Clark who was held out of the game due to a blood disorder that is aggravated by playing in high altitudes.
His big play on Orton was one of three interceptions for the Denver QB who also threw for 221 yards. With 11:16 left in the third, Denver went ahead 10-7 when Robert Ayers recovered a fumble and scampered 54 yards for a TD.
But after being outgained by Denver 183-54 in the first half, the Steelers quickly got their offense on track with an explosive 80-yard drive that required just four plays for the go-ahead score.
"We went no-huddle, picked up the tempo and we did a good job of picking things up. The play-makers made plays," Roethlisberger said. "We don't care what the critics say. We get it done." (Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Julian Linden)
