Denver vs. Pittsburgh 1st half notes.

...Pittsburgh kicked to start and the offensive line got off to a great start (unlike last week) by providing plenty of time for Orton to make a 13 yard pass completion. That is an encouraging sign already.

... Note that local product Tyler Polumbus gets the start on the offensive line.

... Another 1st down reception with plenty of protection for Orton. It's nice to see the offense off to a good start for a change.

... Wild Horses formation to Buckhalter goes for 5 yards.

... Steelers are already gasping for air on the sideline.

... 20 yard completion to ROyal Orton starts 3/3 with three long completions.

...Buckhalter stopped in the backfield for a loss.

... Ryan Clark, Steelers safety, is at the game but not playing. He has a sickle cell blood condition which nearly cost him his life the last time they played in Denver in 2007.

... Denver settles for field goal after a near interception on a deflected pass. Orton is charmed on interceptions this season. THe opposition just keeps dropping them! I think there have been at least 5 dropped INTs this season.

...Pittsburgh now gets their first possession. As mentioned in the preview, Roethlisberger is off to a great start this season. Usually the Steelers are a running team, but that may be different this year.

... 2nd and 4 at the 37 and Rothlisberger misses a wide open Hines Ward. 3rd and 4 and Denver will have a good chance to make an early statement.

...Big Ben in the shotgun. Great pressure for Denver and Reid/Dumervil combine for the sack. Big Ben had plenty of time but the secondary had the Steelers receivers locked down. Ty Law makes his Broncos' debut on the play.

... Bad punt but they get a great roll. Denver will start at the 18.


...Denver had to punt so Pittsburgh will have its second possession at the 20.

...2.5 yard gain on 1st down.

...The orange jerseys look fantastic. Definitely our best jersey look. Too bad the Steelers are not wearing their black jerseys. That would be a great jersey matchup.

... Roethlisberger incomplete on 2nd down. 3rd and 7.

... the crowd is very loud and Pittsburgh barely gets the play off but Big Ben makes a 16 yard completion for 1st down.

...Sack on 1st down. Denver is getting the pressure that we didn't last week! That has been a big key to success in our 6 wins.

... 2nd and 18. Nearly another sack but they get an 8 yard completion. 3rd and 10.

...Incomplete on 3rd down. Nearly an interception. Denver will get the ball back.

...The defense looks great tonight.

... Denver will start at the 25.

... End of the first quarter, which was a quick one, and Denver leads 3-0.

... Buckhalter starts the second quarter with a 5 yard run.

...89 passing yards for Denver in the first quarter.

...3rd and 3. Orton completes the first down pass to Royal. 4 receptions for Royal tonight.

...Orton looks sharp tonight. Denver goes to wild horses and Orton motions back to the shotgun. Pick 6. Pittsburgh leads 6-3.

... Tyrone Carter with the pick. Orton simply missed that play. There was no way that one was going to be dropped. That is Orton's first real interception of the year.

...The offense needs to come back immediately and score. That play could alter the momentum of the entire game.

...Denver will start at the 21 after a 17 yard kick return.

... Great run by Marshall after the catch on 3rd and 10 to avoid the three and out. 6 Receptions for Marshall tonight.

...Moreno loses a yard on 1st and 10.

... 3 yard gain to Gaffney on 2nd down. Another long 3rd down coming up .

.. 18 yard completion to Daniel Graham. Great pass by Kyle Orton. Despite the interception, he really is playing well tonight (i hope i didn't just jinx him again)

... False start on Denver.

...Marshall drops a high pass on 1st and 15. Would have been a tough catch but it caroms off his hands and harmlessly into the secondary.

...10 yard gain on screen pass to Marshall. Marshall is an absolute beast to tackle when he gets some running room. Fun to watch.


... 3rd and 5 at the Steelers 39. Incomplete pass to Gaffney. He has it in his hands but he steelers DB knocked it away. Replay looks like he may have caught it and then a fumble was caused. McDaniels challenges it. I think the ruling will stand.

... Ruling is confirmed but Denver is going for it. I like this call with the sucess of our passing game tonight. Orton hits Stokely for a first down but its coming back on a holding call - Ben Hamilton. We'll have to punt now.

... Here comes Berger for the Punt. Out of bounds at the 22 for a net 27 yard punt. Denver has some bad punting problems.

... 2nd and 7 for Pittsburgh (after already getting a first down). Offsides on Pittsburgh. 2nd and 12.

...Here comes the blitz! Roethlisberger hits Ward on a screenpass for 3 yards.

... 3rd and 9. Denver is crowding the line. Huge pressure on Big Ben. He evades a sack and completes a pass but Woodyard is there for the stop.

... Denver will get the ball back. Royal fair catches at the 15.

...Buckhalter goes for 6 on first down.

... This is an important possession. Denver has kept the Steelers' defense on the field for most of the first half and it would be nice to see more than 3 points out of it. However, this type of first half sets us up for the second half where our opponent is worn out and we can grind them down.

...Moreno goes for 3. 3rd and 1. Denver will let it run to the 2 minute warning.

...play action pass to Marshall! Steelers were playing the run all the way. 8th catch for Marshall. Great open field tackle by Pittsburgh.

...Orton sacked for a loss of 3. Screen on 2nd and 12 for a loss of a yard. 37 seconds to go. Denver not calling a timeout.

...3rd and 13 and Denver runs it. I don't like that play call. Despite that sack, Denver's passing game has been great and we should have tried to score. Pretty conservative. Pittsburgh calls their second timeout with 18 seconds to go. Denver will be punting.

... The first half will be completed in a little over 80 minutes. The Steelers ran about 18 plays in the half.

... Berger kicks it and goes down. This will be a 5 or 15 yard penalty. I think 15 yards. If so, Denver will have a chance to take a few deep shots. But, still there is only 11 seconds left. Two penalties on the play. A 5 yard running into the kicker penalty and a 10 yard holding penalty. The holding penalty will be applied after the possession change.

...Pittsburgh will probably just kneel it and go into the half up 7-3.