DENVER - Simply put, the last time the Denver Broncos faced an AFC North team coming off a Bye Week, it didn't go particularly well.
Ravens 30, Broncos 7.
So, fresh off of that debacle a week ago, the Broncos now face, you guessed it...an AFC North team coming off a Bye Week.
Though, this isn't just any team, it's the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
The game has taken on even more meaning considering what happened in other NFL action on Sunday. The Pittsburgh Steelers need a win to avoid falling further behing the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North. (As an aside, I can't believe, I just typed "Falling further behind the Bengals in the AFC North").
A loss by Denver and a seemingly comfortable lead over the Chargers would be down to just one game.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was hired at the age of 34. He is only the third coach in team history. All three----Chuck Knoll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin have won a Super Bowl. Tomlin is just 37 and Broncos fans would be thrilled if their young head coach could mirror the success of his counterpart on Monday night.
Josh McDaniels turned 33 earlier this year and even though, he is in his first year as a head coach, you can't blame McDaniels if he feels as though he has aged considerably more in his first year in Denver. The Jay Cutler soap opera, the Brandon Marshall saga, and general fan discontent all seemingly would take a toll and put severe duress on even the most thicked skin men----though McDaniels endured----and so did his team.
The Broncos started the season 6-0 but that aforementioned 23-point loss for the Ravens may have given the rest of the NFL a blueprint to figure out a previously unassailable Broncos gameplan.
If any team can do it, it's one that has has had 14 days to prepare----and has won as many Super Bowls as the Brroncos have games this season.
Kick off is set for 6:30 P.M. Monday night ast Invesco Field at Mile High.
Ravens 30, Broncos 7.
So, fresh off of that debacle a week ago, the Broncos now face, you guessed it...an AFC North team coming off a Bye Week.
Though, this isn't just any team, it's the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
The game has taken on even more meaning considering what happened in other NFL action on Sunday. The Pittsburgh Steelers need a win to avoid falling further behing the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North. (As an aside, I can't believe, I just typed "Falling further behind the Bengals in the AFC North").
A loss by Denver and a seemingly comfortable lead over the Chargers would be down to just one game.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was hired at the age of 34. He is only the third coach in team history. All three----Chuck Knoll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin have won a Super Bowl. Tomlin is just 37 and Broncos fans would be thrilled if their young head coach could mirror the success of his counterpart on Monday night.
Josh McDaniels turned 33 earlier this year and even though, he is in his first year as a head coach, you can't blame McDaniels if he feels as though he has aged considerably more in his first year in Denver. The Jay Cutler soap opera, the Brandon Marshall saga, and general fan discontent all seemingly would take a toll and put severe duress on even the most thicked skin men----though McDaniels endured----and so did his team.
The Broncos started the season 6-0 but that aforementioned 23-point loss for the Ravens may have given the rest of the NFL a blueprint to figure out a previously unassailable Broncos gameplan.
If any team can do it, it's one that has has had 14 days to prepare----and has won as many Super Bowls as the Brroncos have games this season.
Kick off is set for 6:30 P.M. Monday night ast Invesco Field at Mile High.
