NFL Playoffs: Eight Steelers - Broncos Early Storylines

When: Sunday, January 8, 2012 | TV: CBS

1. Experienced Steelers: Pittsburgh the defending AFC Champions have reached the Super Bowl in two of the last three seasons, while Denver is in the playoffs for the first time in six years and backed into the playoffs, losing three straight and being outscored 88-40 during that span.

2. Turnover Tebow: The Tim Tebow magic has been gone of late and the Broncos on defense have regressed in the past couple weeks.

Tebow and the Broncos hosts the defending AFC Champions who boast the No. 1 ranked overall defense and No. 1 pass defense in the NFL. Tebow has posted a quarterback rating under 40.0 in his last two games and finished 6 of 22 for 60 yards, averaging 2.73 yards per pass with 1 interception and a 20.6 QB rating in a 7-3 loss to Kansas City this afternoon. Tebow added 16 yards on six carries in loss. Tebow known for his 4th quarter comebacks, went 2 of 8 for 17 yards with 1 interception and a 0 passer rating in the 4th quarter against the Chiefs.

Teams have begun to figure Tebow out but the big issue with the Tebow has been the turnovers. He has now committed nine turnovers in the Broncos’ last four games — five interceptions and four fumbles. The Broncos are 1-3 during that span.

3. Steelers struggles to score points on the road: Pittsburgh is a team that's proved in the past that they can win in the playoffs on the road. The Broncos organization knows all about that after Pittsburgh defeated the Broncos in the 2006 AFC Championship played in Denver, advancing to Super Bowl XL. However, that was six years ago and this season the Steelers have not had a swagger about them on the road.

The big concern for the Steelers is their inability to score points on the road. Pittsburgh has scored 10 pts or less in three road games this season and overall scored 13 pts or less in five of eight road games.

4. Ben Roethlisberger: Quarterback play is so important in the playoffs and the Steelers offensively are entering the playoffs far from being at the top of their game with Roethlisberger under center. In the last three games Roethlisberger has played in, a span of 12 quarters, Pittsburgh has produced just 3 touchdowns, (2 passing touchdowns). Roethlisberger in the win against Cleveland moved around much better than he did against San Francisco on Dec 19, but he continues to struggle with his accuracy as he still can't get on his toes and plant.