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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Getting the decision about their starting quarterback out of the way last week helped the Denver Broncos' focus this week on how to exact vengeance on the Pittsburgh Steelers, who dealt them their most recent loss. And that is what they did upon returning to practice Monday.
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Coach Gary Kubiak already decided to start veteran Peyton Manning in Sunday's playoff game against Pittsburgh.
Brock Osweiler, who returns to backup duty, practiced Monday. It was his first on-field work since he was pulled for Manning in the regular-season finale. Osweiler has dealt with shoulder, elbow, ribcage and knee injuries in the past four weeks, but is expected to be available as a backup for this game.
That settled, the Broncos are able to focus intensely on the Steelers.
Pittsburgh was the only opponent to score more than 24 points at the expense of Denver's top-ranked defense.
"We feel like we let them get back in the game," said cornerback Aqib Talib as he reflected on the Broncos' 34-27 loss in Pittsburgh on Dec. 20. "They came back on us, so we're all looking forward to seeing them again."
Denver led 27-10 in the second quarter and 27-13 at halftime before collapsing in the second half, enduring a fade that was due as much to the offense being shut out as the defense being shredded.
Ben Roethlisberger would become the first - and only - quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards at Denver's expense in the 2015 season, and Antonio Brown would score the only two touchdowns allowed by two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris Jr. since Nov. 24, 2013.
It was an uncharacteristic half for the Broncos' defense. And while Roethlisberger and Brown emerged from the Steelers' wild-card win at Cincinnati injured, the Broncos believe they will see both, and once again have to deal with the best quarterback-receiver combination in the NFL the last two seasons.
"You have to," said safety Darian Stewart, who missed last month's game because of a hamstring injury. "Regardless of what happened last game, we expect them to play. We're definitely expecting to see them."
The Broncos insist they don't need the motivation that comes from facing an offense that diced them up - and a player, Pittsburgh's Cody Wallace, who dealt team captain David Bruton Jr. a senseless after-the-play, helmet-to-helmet shot but escaped suspension for it.
However, Stewart admits the Broncos are still "mad" about the hit.
"Some B.S., 72, yeah, we already know. We've got his number," Stewart said.
And given their recent playoff failures, a little extra juice wouldn't help.
"Last year, we looked past the Colts," defensive end Malik Jackson said. "I think this year, we're not doing that. We're really taking this off-week to look at ourselves and I know nobody's looking past the Pittsburgh Steelers."
But some also insist that just being where they are is sufficient motivation.
"It's a playoff game and whoever loses goes home, so I think that's enough," cornerback Bradley Roby said.
"It's the divisional round of the playoffs. You don't need too much motivation," added Talib. "If that ring isn't enough motivation for you, then you're in the wrong business."
