***SWAMPY DIVISIONAL ROUND 4 - PITT @ DEN***

***PITTSBURGH STEELERS @ DENVER BRONCOS***

Interesting finale here as the severely banged up Steelers head into Denver to take on a well rested Peyton Manning and the Broncos. The Broncos have had a very interesting year thus far, boasting arguably the top defense in the league, and having a bit of a QB controversy with a legend like Peyton Manning growing weaker with age and injuries and a young buck like Brock Osweiler who has filled in nicely to keep the team afloat as Manning rests. Coach Kubiak has decided to hand the keys over to the Sheriff as he rode in on a white Bronco to save the day and the number one seed during the last game of the season as he helped fend off a Chargers team looking to end their season on an upset. Manning played the second half and looked decent. The time off most definitely served him well, however I am not sure he will still be his old self today, or ever again for that matter. It is sad, and I would like to see the guy ride off into the sunset with a Super Bowl ring as much as the next guy, but this is reality and I think that he will struggle to find success, even against the Steelers secondary. Pitt has been a young defense who has gotten better as the season grew older. They rise to the occasion and make plays, and I think their LBs will get to Manning tonight. Brock was beat up during his time behind that offensive line and I think it is possible Peyton takes a shot or two early and might not even finish the game. That all being said I know the Steelers offense is EXTREMELY limited now with top WR Antonio Brown out with a concussion after a vicious hit to end the game last week while my man took "taking one for the team" to a whole new level! Pitt still has Big Ben Rothlisberger, and speedy WRS like Bryant, Wheaton, Heyward-Bey, and now Sammy Coates. Who? Hahah, I agree that while besides Martavias Bryant, the names do not strike fear in Bronco Nation but these guys are all capable of beating a defense deep with their speed. The backup RBs got a taste of playoff football last weekend in Cincy and faired very well. I think Big Ben is injured, but when is he NOT injured? This guy is an absolute BEAST and I will never doubt him as long as he is in the game. As I mentioned Denver has arguably the best defense in the game, but as the season went on I feel as if they got softer. It seems like to the Swamp at least, teams started to figure out how to scheme agaisnt them a bit. So while they are obviously a great unit and will be AMPED up today at home, smelling blood in the water facing a wounded and limited Steelers offense, I think that Tomlin and Ben are resourceful enough and have enough talent on offense that they will come with a gameplan to keep this thing close, if not pull off an outright win! As crazy as it sounds, no Antonio Brown could almost work as an advantage in throwing the Broncos defense off a bit! Not knowing where to focus your attention on and what the offense wants to do for a week provides a mystery factor that could be the difference here, at least enough to keep it close the Swamp is thinking. So in a nutshell, I like the Steelers defense to play very tough today, and Manning to struggle and maybe set up Big Ben with great field position once or twice which will keep this puppy close. In Rothlisberger the Swamp trusts. STEELERS +7