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The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense, directed by veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, operated at a high rate against the Denver Broncos on Sunday but the game still ended in a 24-17 loss at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. The Steelers gained a season-high 527 yards while Roethlisberger topped his previous performances this season with 462 passing yards. Kicker Chris Boswell even had a touchdown pass from a trick play.
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Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had career-highs with 13 catches and 189 receiving yards and came up with another touchdown of more than 90 yards.
Despite that production, the Steelers managed only 17 points, their second-lowest output of the season.
The Steelers' 11-game unbeaten streak on the road was snapped, as was their six-game winning streak dating to September.
Two Roethlisberger interceptions in the second half, including from the Denver 2-yard line with 1:03 remaining, and a James Conner fumble at the Broncos 21 on the last play of the third quarter were turnovers that were too tough to overcome.
"If we get beat tremendously, I'll take that," Smith-Schuster said. "I'll take that to heart that we lost. But, for myself, I felt like we beat ourselves.
"It's very frustrating. We're a high-powered offense. For us to go up and down the field and not put points on the board, that hurts us -- as you see the result tonight. They got us."
Pittsburgh could not build on its 17-10 lead in the third quarter after Smith-Schuster's 97-yard touchdown reception. It was Smith-Schuster's third touchdown of more than 90 yards in less than two seasons and tied the team record for the longest touchdown pass, which he set last year in Detroit.
Smith-Schuster's 189 receiving yards were third-highest in the NFL this season and moved him over 1,000 yards receiving for the year (1,055) -- the seventh player in the league to do so.
"He is reliable, dependable and trustworthy," Roethlisberger said. "I know he is going to be in the right spot. I saw JuJu went inside and I just let it go. You never really think it is going to be a touchdown."
Another miscue for the Steelers occurred in the second quarter when tight end Xavier Grimble fumbled at the goal line as he was hit by safety Will Parks after a 23-yard reception. The fumble went through the end zone, resulting in a touchback.
"I could have cut back and scored, but I wanted to run right through him," Grimble said.
The Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers, two of the top teams in the AFC, have lost to the Broncos in consecutive weeks despite both teams combining for 1,006 yards of total offense, including 846 yards passing and 51 first downs.
"It sucks we have nothing to show for it," said Steelers guard David DeCastro.
NOTES:
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T.J. Watt left in the first quarter against Denver with a wrist injury, but returned after halftime.
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TE Vance McDonald left in the third quarter with a hip injury, but returned in the fourth.
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WR JuJu Smith-Schuster had career-highs with 13 catches and 189 yards and came up with his third career touchdown of more than 90 yards. His 97-yard touchdown reception tied a franchise record.
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WR Antonio Brown, who burned Denver for 189 yards in his previous matchup against the Broncos, finished with just 67 yards on nine catches on Sunday.
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LT Alejandro Villanueva became the first Steelers offensive lineman to catch a touchdown pass since Ray Pinney did it against the Browns in 1983. Kicker Chris Boswell took the direct snap and threw a 2-yard pass to a wide-open Villanueva, who was a receiver and tight end at Army.
