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Broncos' WR Emmanuel Sanders runs for a touchdown against the Steelers in the first quarter of a game last month at Heinz Field.
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Steelers harsh critics of film vs. Broncos

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Steelers harsh critics of film vs. Broncos

When the Steelers sat down last week to study game tape from their 34-27 win Dec. 20 against the Denver Broncos, their AFC divisional-round opponent, one might expect they would fast-forward to halftime. Or, perhaps, they would find a scorched pile of cinders and soot where once was the first-half film.

But the tape was intact, so the Steelers defense, in anguish, watched and rewatched the first half, all 30 minutes, 27 points and 295 total yards, including four Brock Osweiler touchdowns.

"You don't burn that tape," cornerback William Gay said later. "Your tape is your walking, talking resume."

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At halftime, the Steelers' resume wasn't worth the paper on which it was printed, nor the price of admission at Heinz Field. After going 24 consecutive possessions without an offensive touchdown, the Broncos reached the end zone on four drives in a row and led, 27-13.

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"In the first half, we were playing with our heads cut off," defensive end Cam Heyward said.

What changed? Maybe Joey Porter put a charge in the defense with his impassioned halftime speech in an otherwise silent locker room. Maybe the secondary rewired its communication and the line dialed up the pressure. Or maybe, as coach Mike Tomlin suggested, "We stopped kicking our own butt."

Whatever the spark, the Steelers controlled play from the first snap of the second half. They forced punts on the first six Broncos drives, and the remaining drives ended in an interception and two turnovers on downs.

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In the second-half shutout, the Broncos managed just 90 yards and no possession longer than 2:18. Linebacker Ryan Shazier's fourth-quarter interception led to the go-ahead score, Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown, with 3:24 on the clock.

"In the end, you feel good about the win," cornerback Antwon Blake said, "but you also have to remember what happened in the first half. Kind of puts a nasty taste in your mouth. You've got to look back, feel that and make sure it doesn't happen again."

It's a good win to add to the resume, too, a tale of two halves in which the Steelers adjusted on the fly.

"That's football, man," Blake said. "Lot of ups, lot of downs. Lot of crazy things happen. With the loss to the [Baltimore] Ravens, a lot of people counted us out. By the grace of God, we made it to the playoffs. And we're a team a lot of people don't want to see."

As the 13-year veteran linebacker James Harrison pointed out, the Steelers defense will see a "totally different group" of Broncos this time, beginning with quarterback Peyton Manning, who has attempted just nine passes in the past two months.

The Steelers aren't certain of what Manning is capable of physically, but they expect he'll be as sharp and calculating as ever. They haven't faced him since he won his Broncos debut in 2012, throwing for two scores in his return after 611 days away from football because of neck surgeries.

"His mental game is going to be top of the line -- it doesn't get any better," linebacker Arthur Moats said. "As far as pre-snap disguises, we're not really going to have that luxury. He's seen every look. But he's just like every quarterback in that when you hit him, you can cause trouble."

Asked whether he'd prefer to face a quick, young quarterback rather than an old, wise one, Heyward shrugged and replied, "It's hard to play against any quarterback in this league. You don't get chosen in this league just for giggles.

"As a [defensive] line, we rely on creating pressure, creating havoc. We can't really worry about what Peyton's going to do. It comes down to us playing our game and trying to get after him. The best way to stop a quarterback is to sack him."

Stephen J. Nesbitt: snesbitt@post-gazette.com and on Twitter @stephenjnesbitt.

First Published: January 17, 2016, 5:00 a.m.

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