How Steelers match up with Denver at home in October
The Steelers host the Denver Broncos this coming Sunday, so it seemed like a good time to see how the Steelers and Broncos match up in October.
In team history, Pittsburgh has hosted the Broncos at home three times. This game will be their first October meeting in Pittsburgh since 10/23/1988. In their three home wins, the Steelers have outscored Denver 101-37
The home matchups also favor the black and gold as the Steelers are 3-0 when playing Denver at home in October, going back to 1975. Now, if they were playing in Denver, Pittsburgh’s record in October is not as crisp as they are 1-2 when traveling to the Mile High city.
Oddly enough, all October meetings against Denver when the Steelers went on the road have all been since 1990. This makes it the first home appearance after three straight October road trips to Denver.
Even Odder Stat
In the three October victories over Denver at home, Pittsburgh has made the playoffs in two of the three seasons and consequently won 2 NFL championships as well. So perhaps if they continue their home win streak against the Broncos in October, it could help kickstart Pittsburgh’s 2021 season.
Also, in two of the three road trips to Denver, the Steelers lost only by three points in two of the games. Plus, it is only the first 1:00 pm start time for any October meeting since 1988.
Running amok
In October of the last three home games against Denver, their running backs ran for 137 yards in 1975, 236 yards in 1979, and 256 yards in 1988. The top three rushers in those games? Franco Harris rushed for 190 yards in two of the three home games. The running back with the second most yards was Rodney Carter in 1988.
A backup running back rushed for 105 yards on 11 carries. He only rushed for 363 yards in all of 1988, and it accounted for 28.9% of all of his rushing yards that season. Merril Hoge, in the same game, had 21 attempts and only posted 94 yards.
If the pattern holds, increasing their rushing yards each game, the Steelers would be in line to rush for 260 plus yards. Potentially this means Najee Harris could see his first hundred-yard rushing game.
Steelers Lower the Steel Curtain
In the three home matchups, the Steelers’ defense had the better of Denver in all three games. The Steelers sacked Denver’s quarterback seven times in the three games to the Bronco’s four sacks. Also, the Broncos have thrown eight interceptions over those three games, and the black and gold have only thrown two.
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As history shows in October at home, Pittsburgh has done very well both offensively and defensively against the Broncos. Hopefully, the Steelers break out of their slumber and keep up the tradition of pounding Denver when they visit. It would certainly give fans their own little Octoberfest as they cheer, play the Pennsylvania Polka, and guzzle Iron City Beer.