Steelers Might Have Salvaged Season With Victory Over Broncos

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Steelers remain mired in last place in the AFC North with a 2-3 record following Sunday's 27-19 win Sunday over the Denver Broncos. But they are only a game behind Cleveland and Cincinnati and could just a game behind Baltimore by the end of the day depending on how the Ravens perform tonight against the Indianapolis Colts.

A loss to Denver would have dropped the Steelers to 1-4 and likely doomed any chance of making the playoffs. So it's not hyperbole to suggest that the win was a season-salvaging performance, depending on whether or not the Steelers can build on yesterday's performance.

Here's what football writers across the country thought about the game:

• Nick Shook, NFL.com: "The Steelers' offense is alive! After trudging through the first month of the season with a maximum offensive output of 17 points in a game, Pittsburgh matched that total by halftime Sunday... For the first time this season, the Steelers were a legitimate threat

  offensively. That's great news to fans in the Steel City."

• Gary Gramling, Sports Illustrated: The Steelers had "the best performance they’ve had from the offensive line in two years, and while Ben Roethlisberger will still spark his share of nervous moments—he’s a bottom-10 starting quarterback but still a starting-caliber quarterback—a day like Sunday will more than do."

• Brooke Pryor, ESPN: Roethlisberger "had at least two near interceptions that were either dropped or broken up by Steelers players. But even if Roethlisberger still makes some errors, Sunday's version of the quarterback can win games, and that's the most important thing."

• Bryan DeArdo, CBS Sports: "The Steelers vastly outplayed the Broncos for the game's first 45 minutes, then made just enough plays to preserve the win. Pittsburgh's offensive line had its best collective game of the season. Roethlisberger was sacked just once and went 15 of 25 passing with 253 yards."

• Nate Davis, USA Today: "The Steelers (2-3) remain in last place in the AFC North but got a neededwin over the Denver Broncos that suggested reports of QB Ben Roethlisberger's demise might have been slightly premature. Big Ben had multiple TD passes for the first time this season in Pittsburgh's 27-19 victory."

Up next: The Steelers play the Seattle Seahawks (2-3) Sunday night at Heinz Field.

Be the first to know what’s happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you’ll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.