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Even after four consecutive losses seemed to derail their season, the Broncos continued to say the right things. More importantly, they continued to believe the good things.
They would start winning tight games. Takeaway came at critical moments. Their running would serve as an offensive base. And they would not want to lose hope even though everyone around them was wondering who should replace coach Vance Joseph and which player should be targeted in the first round of the next round.
All their optimism, confidence and determination were rewarded Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Broncos' fourth delivery, an interception of the end zone by defensive tackle Shelby Harris with 1:03 left, sealed an upset 24-17 win, giving them their first straight streak of wins since Week 1-2. .
"Most teams would lose their heads (during hard times) and would not play hard and would not work every day, but it's a reward for their collaboration and their excellent chemistry," said Joseph.
The victory brought the Broncos to 5-6. As hard to understand as it was just a few weeks ago, Denver will be playing real football in December.
"We are driving now," said Domata Peko. "(Beating) two of the best teams in the AFC (Pittsburgh and Chargers) just shows what kind of team we have."
What kind of team the Broncos continue to crystallize.
It's an offense that can rely on unprepared rookie Phillip Lindsay to carry the current game (110 yards), integrating players like tight player Matt LaCosse (first touchdown of the quarry), in giving priority to receiver Emmanuel Sanders (seven catches) and getting more usable offensive line play.
But if this team is going to be hot, it will follow the formula that has barely worked against Pittsburgh.
Give up a ton of yards … but get some turnovers. They have 12 takeaways in the last five games and four on Sunday.
Give up a ton of yards … but stop now and then. Pittsburgh has failed to convert his last six chances in the round of 32.
Give up a ton of yards … but not on the ground. The Broncos held a fourth consecutive opponent below the 100-meter mark.
Did we mention getting takeaway?
The four turnovers allowed the Broncos to exceed the allotted 524 yards (the most important in franchise history in a win) and a 97-yard touchdown (the longest completed in history by the team).
None was greater than the unlikely interception of Harris.
The Steelers headed for the Broncos 3-meter line after two minutes. In the first attempt, cornerback Chris Harris had solid coverage against receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on an incomplete pass at the corner. At the second drop, James Conner was held to a gain of 1 meter.
In the third run, the shooting was low and wide, like quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who recovered and then briefly collided with running back James Conner. Harris was repulsed by the Maurkice Pouncey center, which proved to be beneficial. Antonio Brown followed a quick gap, but Roethlisberger's pass went straight to Harris, who managed to catch when he fell to the ground.
"I would never have thought, in a million years, that a defensive lineman would find himself stuck as far in order to intercept," Roethlisberger said. "Good game by him."
Before Harris's good play, the Broncos got the better of safety Will Parks (forced a fumble leading to a withdrawal), Chris Harris (interception leading to a touchdown of the Broncos) and safety Bradley Roby (forced from a fumble recovered by security Darian Stewart).
"We need to improve all the yards (they have won)," said Justin Simmons safety. "That being said, if we get business numbers, we'll be in good shape."
The Broncos looked bad after Smith-Schuster's 97-yard score – he beat Roby, caught the pass at age 30, and Stewart, the arm, at 20 Broncos for a 17-10 lead. The Broncos. went to three and out and Pittsburgh passed the midfielder.
But cornerback Chris Harris has changed the call for coverage before slamming from man to zone. He withdrew and was on the spot when Roethlisberger knocked Brown over to get the interception. Two games later, Case Keenum threw a five-yard touchdown to Sanders to tie at 17.
Lindsay's two-yard touchdown with 9:17 left the difference and was put in place when Roby forced Conner to fumble after a 23-yard gain on the Broncos' 23 goals.
Having survived the part of their anti-personnel mines calendar, things are becoming interesting.
The Broncos still have a long climb to qualify for the playoffs. They came out on Sunday 11th AFC, but had only played one game behind Baltimore / Indianapolis (6-5). They can not afford to lose in the Bengals in free fall on Sunday. They can not afford any breakaway against San Francisco, Cleveland and Oakland.
But there is at least one legitimate opportunity for a month of December to remember though the Broncos locker room has adopted Joseph's "Let's Go 1-0" slogan this week.
"These are just two straight wins," Sanders said. "We have Cincinnati next week. That's where my mind is. I just want to win three times in a row. "
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