Dec 16, 2015 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – The Steelers are likely to fall short of their preseason goal of averaging 30 points per game. That can be attributed to playing a chunk of the season without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

With Roethlisberger in the lineup the past six weeks, the Steelers have been humming along, averaging 32.5 points per game. They have scored 30 or more points in a team-record five consecutive games.

“They’re hot because they haven’t played us yet,” Denver safety T.J. Ward told the Denver Post. “A lot of teams were hot before they played us.”

The Steelers (8-5) host the Broncos (10-3) Sunday at Heinz Field. Kickoff is 4:25 p.m.

Ward’s bravado might sound like trash talk, but it’s based in reality.

The Broncos lead the NFL in sacks, passing and total defense. They’re second in rushing yards allowed per game and give just 3.3 yards per attempt, the fewest in the league.

The Steelers not only have been one of the best offenses in the NFL, featuring a deep passing game. Despite missing four full games and portions of four others, Roethlisberger leads the NFL with 15 completions of 40 or more yards.

But playing the Broncos, who have dubbed their defense the “No Fly Zone,” will be a challenge for Pittsburgh.

“That’s the world we live in. Everybody’s got names, hashtags,” said Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, who leads the AFC in catches and receiving yards. “It’s super competitive. It’s just a challenge.”

The Steelers are the league’s second-ranked offense, and Roethlisberger’s 332 passing yards per game is easily tops in the NFL.

“Nobody throws the deep ball better than him,” admitted Denver head coach Gary Kubiak.

The Steelers’ offense doesn’t have a fancy nickname, but it has been rolling.

“It’s good on good – the No. 1 defense, a great offense,” said Brown. “It should be a great matchup.”

Denver’s pass rush, led by linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller, pressures opposing quarterbacks while the secondary, led by cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris, a pair of Pro Bowl players, is excellent. Talib is a shutdown corner and Harris has not allowed a receiver to catch a touchdown pass against him since the 2013 season.

Denver has not allowed a 300-yard passing game and held Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers to a career-low 77 passing yards last month. Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Jay Cutler couldn’t hit the 300-yard mark against the Broncos, who typically line up in press man-to-man pass coverage.

The Steelers believe they have the receivers and quarterback to solve the Broncos’ defensive puzzle.

“We’ve got to take it personal,” said Brown. “If a team is going to come out and play us one-on-one, we know we’ve got to win those matchups. That’s why we get paid as receivers, to win those matchups.”

More often than not, Brown wins in those situations. And if the Broncos attempt to play man-to-man press coverage against the Steelers’ receivers, then Roethlisberger is OK with that.

“Sometimes it works, sometimes you fail miserably at it,” Roethlisberger said. “(Brown is) one of the best in the world for a reason. He can get open against press.”

What makes the Steelers difficult to defend is their multitude of playmakers. The combination of Brown, Markus Wheaton, Martavis Bryant and No. 4 receiver Darius Heyward-Bey averages more than 15 yards per catch.

“We’re all fast enough to run by anybody, so press or not, we’re ready to go,” said Heyward-Bey.

Linebacker Bud Dupree (back), tight end Heath Miller (ribs), safety Mike Mitchell (shoulder) and tight end Matt Spaeth (knee) did not practice Wednesday because of injuries. … Roethlisberger has passed for 1,077 yards and nine touchdowns in his last three home games. … Brown said he was fined by the NFL for something that occurred Sunday against Cincinnati but refused to say what it was. … Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict was not fined for hitting Roethlisberger below the knee.