Scouting the Broncos: Steelers have struggled recently at home of Week 2 opponent

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS

Last meeting

Steelers beat Broncos, 27-19, on Oct. 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh

Key matchup

Steelers WR George Pickens vs. Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II

Pickens is by far the Steelers’ WR1, and Surtain is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. In his first game since the Steelers traded veteran receiver Diontae Johnson, Pickens had six catches for 85 yards during last week’s season-opening victory at the Atlanta Falcons — and he had another sizable gain wiped out because of an offensive interference penalty. Surtain, meanwhile, shut down the Seahawks’ top wideout, DK Metcalf, during Denver’s Week 1 game in Seattle. With Surtain following him around the field, Metcalf managed just three catches for 29 yards. Except Surtain to shadow Pickens this week.

Key injuries

The Steelers are without starters at quarterback (Russell Wilson) and left guard (Isaac Seumalo). … Broncos rookie WR Devaughn Vele (ribs), who caught a team-high eight passes last week, is out. Several other players, including left tackle Garett Bolles (calf) and WR Josh Reynolds (achilles), missed time this week but practiced in full Friday.

Series record

Broncos lead 20-13-1

Series notes

Though the Steelers have won four of seven regular-season meetings against Denver since Mike Tomlin became coach in 2007, over that time period Tomlin lost two playoff games to the Broncos. … The franchises have met eight times in the postseason, with Denver prevailing five times. … The Steelers have won just five of 19 all-time games in Denver. The Broncos have won eight of the past 10 at home against the Steelers. … Broncos coach Sean Payton is 3-1 against Tomlin, with all their meetings coming when Payton was coach of the New Orleans Saints.

Notable

Including last week, the Steelers are opening a season with consecutive away games for the first time since 1999. … With a win against Denver and Bo Nix — who is making his second career start — Tomlin would tie Bill Belichick for the most career coaching victories against a team starting a rookie quarterback (25). At 24-6 in his career when facing a rookie QB, Tomlin’s .800 win percentage ranks second in NFL history behind Hall of Famer Don Shula. The Steelers, though, lost two of three against rookie starters last season. … Among active head coaches, Tomlin ranks second and Payton tied for fourth in regular-season wins with 174 and 160, respectively.

Fantasy tip

Though Najee Harris dominated the Steelers’ run-game usage during Week 1, expect Jaylen Warren to garner a greater share of the touches now that he is a week further removed from a hamstring injury that had him out of practice for more than a week. Warren had only two carries against the Falcons; Harris had 20.