Here is a look at the statistical leaders for the both the Steelers and Broncos heading into the AFC Divisional round.
QB Ben Roethlisberger completed 319 of 469 passes (68.0%) during the regular season for 3,938 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 94.5. In the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati, Roethlisberger was 18 for 31 (58.1%) for 229 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions. A quarterback rating of 92.0.
During the regular season QB Landry Jones completed 32 of 55 passes (58.2%) for 513 yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 77.3.
Broncos QB Peyton Manning completed 198 of 331 passes (59.8%) in the regular season for 2,249 yards, 9 touchdowns and 17 interception for a quarterback rating of 67.9.
Broncos QB Brock Osweiler completed 170 of 275 passes (61.8%) in the regular season for 1,967 yards, 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 86.4.
RB DeAngelo Williams led the Steelers rushing attack during the regular season with 907 yards on 200 carries (4.5 avg.) and had a team high 11 touchdowns. Williams was inactive for the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati.
Heading into the playoffs, RB Fitzgerald Toussaint has only carried the ball 18 times for 42 yards this season. In the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati Toussaint rushed for 58 yards on 17 carries and had an additional 60 yards receiving on 4 catches.
RB Ronnie Hillman led the Broncos rushing game int he regular season with 863 yards on 207 carried (4.2 avg.) and 7 touchdowns.
Broncos RB C.J. Anderson carried the ball 152 times int he regular season for 720 yards (4.7 avg.) and 5 touchdowns.
WR Antonio Brown ended the regular season with a team-high 136 receptions for a team-high 1,834 yards. Brown also hauled in 10 receiving touchdowns this season. In the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati Brown had 7 receptions for 119 yards.
WR Martavis Bryant caught 50 passes for 765 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns in the regular season. In the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati Bryant had 5 receptions for 29 yards and 1 touchdown. Bryant also had 1 rush for 44 yards vs. the Bengals.
WR Markus Wheaton ended the regular season averaging 17.0 yards per receptions (44 rec. for 749 yards) and recorded 5 receiving touchdowns. In the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati Wheaton recorded 2 catches for 23 yards.
WR Demaryius Thomas led all Broncos pass catchers in receptions (105), receiving yards (1,304) and is tied in touchdown receptions (6) with WR Emmanuel Sanders during the regular season.
Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders recorded 76 receptions in the regular season for 1,135 yards and tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (6) with WR Demaryius Thomas.
LB Lawrence Timmons lead the Steelers defense with 119 total tackles (77 solo and 42 assists) during regular season. Timmons also had 5 sack and one interception in 2015.
The Steelers defense was led by LB Ryan Shazier in the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati. Shazier recorded 13 tackles (9 solo and 4 assists) to go along with 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Shazier recorded 87 tackles (55 solo and 32 assists) during the regular season.
The Broncos defense was led in the regular season by ILB Danny Trevathan who has recorded 110 total tackles (74 solo and 36 assists). Trevathan also recorded 2 interceptions and defended 6 passes in 2015.
OLB Von Miller led all Broncos defenders in the regular season with 11 quarterback sacks. Miller also recorded 32 quarterback hurries and 4 forced fumble in 2015.
DE Cam Hayward's 7 quarterback sacks in the regular season led the 2015 Steelers defense. Heyward also accounted for 54 tackles and 13 quarterback hurries this season. Heyward recorded 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries in the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati.
Broncos OLB DeMarcus Ware recorded 35 tackles, 11 sacks and 32 quarterback hurries during the 2015 regular season.
S Mike Mitchell led the Steelers secondary during the regular season with 3 interceptions. Mitchell has also accounted for 80 tackles and 9 passes defended.
CB Antwon Blake recorded the only Steelers interception in the AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati. Blake recorded 2 interceptions during the regular season including one is San Diego which he returned 70 yards for a touchdown.
Broncos CB Aqib Talib led the team in interceptions during the regular season with 3. Talib also defended 13 passes and recorded 45 tackles this season.
What to keep an eye on in the AFC Divisional Round Game against the Broncos:
PRESSURE AND PROTECTION: The Broncos led the NFL in sacks in the regular season with 52 and the Steelers finished third with 48. Protecting the quarterback on both sides will need to be an all-day proposition.
ENCORE PERFORMANCE: Broncos OLBs Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware combined for 18.5 sacks this season (11 for Miller, 7.5 for Ware) but had zero tackles, zero sacks and one quarterback hit between them in the Steelers' 34-27 victory on Dec. 20 at Heinz Field (Miller had the QB hit, Ware wasn't listed on the stat sheet despite playing 31 snaps). Can the Steelers handle them as well this time as they did last time for as long as it takes?
BIG BOY PADS: The Broncos like to establish the run and will try to do so against a Steelers' defense that finished fifth in the NFL in run defense (91.2 yards per game). The Steelers also finished No.2 in rushing TDs allowed (six) and tied for No. 2 with the Seahawks in rushing first downs allowed (71). Denver had 13 rushing touchdowns and 19 passing TDs in 2015.
The Steelers, likewise, value the running game and will be tasked with establishing one against the NFL's No. 3 run defense (83.4 yards per game).
START FAST, FINISH STRONG: The first meeting between the teams featured the Broncos sprinting to a 27-10 lead and the Steelers rallying for 24 unanswered points. Can the Steelers do better at the outset and avoid a halftime deficit similar to the 27-13 hole they found themselves in at the break the last time? And can the Broncos produce a stronger finish? Denver was shutout in the second half on Dec. 6 at San Diego, on Dec. 13 against Oakland and on Dec. 20 at Pittsburgh.
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THE TURNOVER EFFECT:** The Broncos' minus 4 showing in takeaway/giveaway included an NFL-high 23 interceptions and 31 giveaways (tied for the third-most behind Dallas and Tennessee's 33 each). Can the Steelers induce turnovers and take advantage? Or, can the Broncos work around giveaways as well as they did in their regular-season finale against the Chargers, when Denver turned it over five times and won, 27-20?
TIMELY TURNOVERS: The Steelers tied for the NFL lead in red zone takeaways by collecting seven of their 30 inside the 20-yard line (six interceptions, one fumble recovery; the Jets and Saints also had seven). Turnovers have a way of becoming more impactful in such situations.
NEXT MAN UP: The Steelers have gone 8-3 without All-Pro RB Le'Veon Bell and All-Pro C Maurkice Pouncey in the lineup this season (7-3 in the regular season). Can they also replace All-Pro WR Antonio Brown and keep the ball rolling?
