Monday, January 23, 2006
Denver turned the ball over four times in the AFC title game with Pittsburgh.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DENVER -- Trailing for all but the first 10 minutes, 49 seconds, the second-seeded Denver Broncos had several opportunities to rally.
But four turnovers -- two fumbles by quarterback Jake Plummer and two interceptions -- were too much to keep the Orange from being crushed.
"We're hurting," Plummer said. "Obviously we had a good season, but in the end only one team is happy. We're not that team and until we're that team, you're never going to have a completely happy season."
Plummer completed 18 of 30 passes for 223 yards and was sacked three times.
Game-breaking play
The game-breaking play came late in the second quarter when Plummer tried to hit wide receiver Stephen Alexander on a sideline pattern and cornerback Ike Taylor intercepted.
"That one at halftime was [the result of a mistake]," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "He thought [Taylor] was going to go into the post route, and he came off and made the play.
"You're going to have some plays like that, but you still have to work through it," Shanahan said. "Anytime you have four turnovers, it's hard to win football games.
"But I give them credit -- we haven't been turning the ball over many times this year."
While the Steelers were scoring on their first four possessions, the Broncos were limited to Jason Elam's 23-yard field goal in the second quarter.
On the game-opening series, the Broncos picked up two first downs before Todd Sauerbrun's punt that was caught by Antwaan Randle El at the 9.
The Steelers moved the ball to the Denver 29 where Jeff Reed's 47-yard field goal gave the Steelers the lead.
Plummer had the Broncos moving on their second chance after he completed a pass to wide receiver Rod Smith for a 13-yard gain.
Fumble snuffs drive
But linebacker Joey Porter slammed into Plummer two plays later and defensive tackle Casey Hampton recovered the ensuing fumble to set up Pittsburgh's second score.
Trailing by 21 points, the Broncos produced scoring drives of 80 and 85 yards to reduce the Steelers' lead to 27-17 halfway through the fourth quarter.
Plummer hit wide receiver Ashley Lelie for a 30-yard touchdown and running back Mike Anderson scored on a 3-yard run to rally Denver's hopes.
But trailing by 10 and needing a big play, safety John Lynch dropped a potential interception on one of the few bad throws Roethlisberger made.
"We've been thriving off turnovers all year and we just couldn't get anything today," said Lynch, who won the 2003 Super Bowl with the Buccaneers. "[Roethlisberger] showed he's a great talent, not only at throwing the football, but he ran around and made plays as an athlete."
On Denver's next possession, another Plummer fumble after being hit by defensive end Brett Keisel spelled doom for the Broncos, who suffered their first home loss.
Plummer takes blame
"Even without the turnovers, if we lose, I'm taking the blame," Plummer said. "That's my job. As quarterback, I have to lead this team to a win and I didn't get that job done.
"I had a couple of poor decisions and in a game like this you can't do that."
Lelie said Plummer "had a great year and helped us get where we are. A lot of media are going to point the finger at him, but this was not Jake's fault."
williams@vindy.com