When the Pittsburgh Steelers head to Denver, Colorado, it often does not end well for them. The last time Pittsburgh went there was 2018, when they lost 24-17. Before that, the last time the Steelers had gone to the Mile High City was when they lost in the 2015 playoffs to the eventual Super Bowl Champions.
But the Steelers’ trip to face the Broncos is difficult early in the season. Since 1990, the Broncos are 34-7 in the first two weeks at home. Part of that is due to the brutal elevation change, but Denver is only 1-4 in their last five home games in the first two weeks of the season since 2019, according to Warren Sharp.
Steelers @ Broncos Week 2
one of the most brutal road games a team will play due to the elevation
the Broncos at home in the first 2 weeks of the season since 1990:
34-7 SU (83%) [best in NFL]
23-14-4 ATS (62%) [#5]that said, Denver is only 1-4 in their last 5 since 2019
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 15, 2024
But it’s interesting. The Steelers had many things go wrong in their last matchup there. Most notably, a game-changing fumble by tight end Xavier Grimble that went out of bounds in the end zone for a touchback. It all deteriorated, and Pittsburgh ended up losing that game.
The last time the Steelers played in Denver….pic.twitter.com/QPBB3YdZdL
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) May 15, 2024
If Arthur Smith and Russell Wilson are ‘somewhat scalded’, as Mike Tomlin so eloquently put it, then they have some chances to make a dent in their previous ires early in the season. Opening up against Atlanta into Denver gives the Steelers a chance to get after the team Smith was fired by and the team that dumped Wilson to the side after the 2023 season.
Going into Denver early in the season, a place that has become dangerous for the Steelers when they have traveled that far, could present a tougher matchup than most think. Even if the rookie, Bo Nix, should be a nice early-season matchup for the Steelers defense, the emotions in the building should be high both weeks and the Steelers can exorcise past demons for their offensive coordinator and quarterback.
For the Steelers, they have not won since 2009 in Denver. So, they must get those historical jitters out of the way. And the history is on Denver’s side since 1990. But this will be an emotional clash for the team’s quarterback in a revenge game early in the season. It should set the tone for what will come throughout the rest of the schedule.