Throwback Ten: Week 15

Each week throughout the 2015 NFL Season, ProFootballHOF.com will preserve some history by taking a look back at a matchup from the weekend’s schedule.

The Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers face off this weekend in a classic Week 15 AFC showdown. Sunday’s matchup will feature one of the NFL’s top offense (Pittsburgh) versus the league’s top defense (Denver). The Steelers look to keep pace in the AFC Wild Card race, while the Broncos will try to clinch the AFC West division for the fifth consecutive season.

To help put this Sunday’s matchup into perspective, here are ten quick historical notes about the Broncos-Steelers series.

1.

This week’s game marks the 23rd time the Steelers and Broncos will meet in the regular season. The Broncos hold the series lead 14-7-1.

2.

These two franchises have met seven times in the postseason once in the AFC Wild Card round, four times in the AFC Divisional round and twice in the AFC Championship game. The Broncos hold a slight edge in the postseason series with a 4-3 record.

3.

The last time the two franchises played was Kickoff Weekend 2012. Broncos’ CB Tracy Porter intercepted QB Ben Roethlisberger and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining to seal the victory 31-19.

4.

The first meeting between the two franchises was played Sept. 27, 1970 at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos turned a third quarter safety and a 38-yard TD pass from Billy Van Heusen into a 16-13 victory.

5.

The Broncos 29-23 overtime victory in the 2011 AFC Wild Card Game was an instant classic. Broncos QB Tim Tebow connected with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime and the 11 seconds it took for Thomas to run 80 yards for the score was the quickest ending to any overtime, regular season or playoffs, in NFL history.

6.

Their first playoff meeting took place on Dec. 24, 1977 and two interceptions late in the game by Denver LB Tom Jackson lead to 10 Broncos points that put the game away. The Broncos won 34-21.

7.

The 1984 AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Mile High Stadium was supposed to be an easy win for the Broncos. However, with just 2:45 left to play and the game tied 17-17, Steelers’ safety Eric Williams intercepted Gold Jacket John Elway and returned it to the 2-yard line, setting up Frank Pollard's winning TD run for Pittsburgh.

8.

The Steelers went into Denver and put up 24 first half point on their way to a 34-17 win in the 2005 AFC Championship Game. The game finished off an unprecedented three-straight road playoff victories on Pittsburgh’s way to Super Bowl XL.

9.

Terrell Davis led the way for the Broncos during the 1997 AFC Championship Game with 26 carries for 139 yards and a score. The Broncos held off a late charge by the Steelers and won the game 24-21 on their way to a second Super Bowl victory in as many years.

10.

Only five stadiums have hosted a game during this series. The Stadiums include Mile High Stadium, Three Rivers Stadium, Sports Authority Field at Mile High and Heinz Field.