Denver, CO (Sports Network) – Ben Roethlisberger threw for a trio of scores and Pittsburgh’s defense came up with three interceptions of Kyle Orton in a 28-10 triumph over the Denver Broncos.
Tyrone Carter returned one of those interceptions 48 yards for a touchdown and Troy Polamalu’s pick-off set up Roethlisberger’s 25-yard scoring toss to Mike Wallace in the fourth quarter.
Roethlisberger connected on 21-of-29 passes and was picked off once as the Steelers (6-2) won their fifth straight game. Rashard Mendenhall rushed 22 times for 155 yards, while Hines Ward had a pair of TD catches as Pittsburgh controlled the clock in the second half. Santonio Holmes caught six balls for 93 yards in the win.
Orton connected on 23-of-38 passes for 221 yards for the Broncos (6-2), who were coming off a 30-7 blowout loss at Baltimore. Brandon Marshall had 11 receptions for 112 yards, but Denver’s running game was nonexistent as the Broncos combined for 27 yards on the ground.
Orton’s pass sailed over the head of Brandon Marshall into the waiting hands of Polamalu, giving the Steelers the ball at the Denver 25 midway through the fourth quarter. Three plays later, on 3rd-and-10, Roethlisberger scrambled to his right before throwing over the middle to the goal line to a wide open Wallace for a 21-10 lead with 7:03 remaining.
Denver failed to get a first down on the ensuing possession and the Steelers iced the win with an 11-play, 74-yard drive that chewed better than five minutes off the clock. Ward took a bubble screen pass from Roethlisberger on the right side of the field and then leaped over Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey to score with 1:22 left.