Steelers Jump On Broncos Early, Hold On Late Despite Turnover Fest
Both teams were celebrating in the endzone throughout the contest as the teams combined for 7 total turnovers in the contest.
ScoringSummary
| Team | Q | Time | Play | Denver | Pittsburgh |
 | 1st | 6:19 | Zachariah Branch, 2 Yd Pass From Anthony Richardson | 0 | 7 |
| 1st | 3:56 | DK Metcalf, 3 Yd Pass From Anthony Richardson | 0 | 14 |
| 1st | 0:44 | Quinshon Judkins, 16 Yd Run | 0 | 21 |
 | 2nd | 8:03 | RJ Harvey, 2 Yd Run | 7 | 21 |
| 2nd | 5:06 | Keaton Mitchell, 1 Yd Pass From Anthony Richardson | 7 | 28 |
| 2nd | 0:27 | Bo Nix, 7 Yd Run | 14 | 28 |
| 3rd | 0:07 | Brandon Aubrey, 56 Yd FG | 14 | 31 |
| 4th | 5:38 | DK Metcalf, 49 Yd Pass From Anthony Richardson | 14 | 38 |
| 4th | 2:17 | RJ Harvey, 11 Yd Pass From Bo Nix (2PT) | 22 | 38 |
Pittsburgh, PA. - After two overtime games in the last two weeks, including a 21-point comeback in the Wild Card round against the Bills, the Steelers would not need such heroics in the Divisional Round. Pittsburgh jumped out to a 28-7 lead early, then survived multiple turnovers to hold on in the second half for the victory.
Pittsburgh scored on its opening two drives while the Broncos managed a quick three-and-out on their first possession, with Bo Nix narrowly avoiding a sack on third down. He would not be so lucky on Denver's second drive. Patrick Queen dragged the quarterback to the ground and forced a fumble, which T.J. Watt pounced on. Three plays later, Quinshon Judkins slashed into the end zone to give the Steelers an early 21-0 lead.
Denver answered with JK Dobbins churning out 64 yards on the scoring drive before RJ Harvey plunged in from a two-yards out to finally get the Broncos on the board. Anthony Richardson responded immediately with another touchdown drive that included his third touchdown pass of the first half, pushing the lead to 28-7.
Then things got weird.
Denver punted again, but as Richardson drove the Steelers into the red zone looking to put the Broncos away, he was instead sacked by Jonathan Cooper and lost the ball in the process.
Nix took advantage, taking the ball in himself on a 7-yard run with 30 seconds remaining in the first half to cut the deficit to 28-14 at the break.
From there, the game devolved into a turnover fest. The two teams combined for six turnovers in the second half as both offenses struggled to maintain any momentum.
Richardson tossed an interception in the end zone, while Judkins fumbled on another red-zone trip for the Steelers. Denver could not capitalize, as Nix airmailed a deep shot that was intercepted by Alohi Gilman, and Dobbins fumbled at midfield.
Following Dobbins' fumble, the Steelers finally struck back and put the game away with a 49-yard bomb to DK Metcalf that erased any hope of a Broncos comeback.
"We love not having to cobble together a desperate comeback attempt, so that's a plus," Richardson said after the game. "But we need to eliminate the turnovers. We let them hang around too long in the second half because of it."
The win sends the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game for the second straight season as they look to defend their 2026 Super Bowl title.
Anthony Richardson | 19/30, 232 Yds, 4 TD, INT
Bo Nix | 15/36, 198 Yds, TD, INT
Quinshon Judkins | 10 Att, 39 Yds, TD
JK Dobbins | 13 Att, 105 Yds
DK Metcalf | 5 Rec, 120 Yds, TD
Dorian Fleming (R) 7 Rec, 68 Yds
MLB Patrick Queen | 8 Tkl, 2 TFL, 2 Sacks, FF
FS Alohia Gilman | 10 Tkl, INT, FF
EDGE Alex Highsmith | 5 Tkl, 2 TFL
CB Patrick Surtain II | 5 Tkl, TFL
EDGE Jonathon Cooper | 6 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack, FF, FR
MLB Drew Sanders | 4 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack, FF
Divisional Round Results
6 Kansas City Chiefs @
Houston Texans 28
24 Arizona Cardinals @
Los Angeles Rams 32
27 Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys 17
no Allen cheese this time![[img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51066730087_8f014a0403_o.gif[/img]](./images/smilies/51066730087_8f014a0403_o.gif "Jonesy")
