Steelers ready to invade Denver

They played a near-perfect game against the Broncos their last trip there.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers last visit to Denver for the AFC championship game less than two years ago changed a lot of people’s perceptions about the team.

Their 34-17 rout of the Broncos was the easiest of their four away-from-home wins that swept them to their only Super Bowl victory since the 1979 season, a journey that was surprising only because it followed multiple home-field playoff letdowns under coach Bill Cowher.

The game didn’t make Ben Roethlisberger’s career, but it proved that a 23-year-old quarterback in only his second season wasn’t overmatched against one of the NFL’s premier teams in a big game.

For Cowher, it was evidence he and his staff could devise a game day plan superior to that of one of the league’s premier coaches, Mike Shanahan. Previously, Cowher had been 0-3 in AFC championship games against teams coached by Shanahan and New England’s Bill Belichick.

“We had a great game plan,” wide receiver Hines Ward said Wednesday. “We executed better than they executed. Our defense played solid, gave us good field position and every time we had the ball early we went down and put up some points.”

The Steelers, only a week removed from their 21-18 upset win against AFC favorite Indianapolis, opened a 24-3 halftime lead as Roethlisberger threw TD passes to Cedrick Wilson and Ward.

Roethlisberger (21-of-29, 275 yards, no interceptions) later ran for a touchdown, then went on to lead Pittsburgh past Seattle 21-10 in the Super Bowl two weeks later.

“I think we were pretty prepared for what was coming in the championship game,” guard Alan Faneca said.

“We did a good job of executing. Ben did a good job of making some great passes in that game and making things happen.”

Or exactly what the Steelers (4-1) probably won’t try to do Sunday night when they visit Denver (2-3) for the first time since their only victory in their last four trips to the AFC championship game.