Coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers salutes the fans after a win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 13, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Steelers won 24-17. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin sang the praises of Pittsburgh Steelers fans Wednesday — particularly their ability to travel.

“It’s not something that you get used to. I’m continually surprised and awed by that, particularly when we’re out west. We’ve got world-championship-caliber fans, and that’s why we work so hard to produce results on the field for them.” — Tomlin

“It’s awesome. I think it kind of blows most people away. When you’re on the road and you have guys on other teams that aren’t used to seeing that.” — Roethlisberger

If you see or hear about Denver Broncos fans pawning their tickets to Steelers fans, give them hell for selling out. Serious. Hell. The only team that should be “blown away” by the crowd at Sports Authority Field at Mile High this weekend is the visiting one.

Tomlin, Roethlisberger: Steelers fans are amazing [First and Orange]

NFL News & Notes

• House finally acknowledges it!  [With Leather]
• Charger lineman Jon Runyan will retire after this season and run for congress in New Jersey.  [ESPN]

Lets rewind, the situation I speak of was during Pittsburgh’s last drive with 6:30 left in the 4th quarter.  Yeah, that one.  Where the Bronco defense allowed Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore to run roughshod over them for 72 yards on the ground eating the clock like a giant gold and black monster.  The Steelers reach 1st and goal at Denver’s 3.  Mendenhall gets the call for a dive play up the middle and is stripped by Mario Haggan on the way down.  The officials say the runner was down.  The play is challenged and upheld.  I thought the ball was coming out before he was down, but it was probably too close to overturn by replay and really could’ve went either way.  Teams regroup and Mendenhall gets the call once again to take it up the middle and is held to a 1 yard gain by Kenny Peterson.

At this point Denver uses its last timeout with 1:27 left in the game.  The Steelers are up by 11 points with no way for Denver to stop the clock after the upcoming play is snapped.  What are your thoughts if you’re head coaching a team in this situation?  Something seem amiss?  What happens next?  I know what happens, you know what happens, we all saw it.  Mike Tomlin’s offense calls a swing pass into the right flat for Hines Ward.  He makes the catch, does a half turn, and pulls one hell of an athletic play to hurdle Champ Bailey diving for the wrapup tackle.  He clears the corner, and does a little jaunt over the goal line.

One has to question whether or not this was a good call.  Was it smart, it hardly seems so.  It would require Denver a touchdown, two point conversion, and a field goal to pull even in the game.  It’s third down, you run a dive play, QB sneak, or even take a knee.  That burns another 40 seconds off the game clock.  If you run the ball, maybe you score, probably not with a stacked goal line defense.  But you would leave the Broncos with roughly 30 seconds and 99 yards of field to get two scores.

Hines Ward celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter of the Steelers' 28-10 victory in an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Why did Tomlin call something as risky as a pass into the flat.  Worst case scenario for Pittsburgh?  Bailey sniffs out the play, jumps the flat and takes it for a pick 6 with roughly a minute left.  2 point conversion, try and execute an onside kick, make a 20-30 yard play and kick a field goal to send it in to overtime.  I’m not sure why they took a gamble there.  Is there some kind of vendetta Mike Tomlin has against Denver?  I’m not aware of it and I like to think of myself as a good student when it comes to Bronco history.  This isn’t the BCS, you don’t have to put up ridiculous points to prove your place to the computers.  The more I think about it, this maneuver just came off as a little classless.  Now I like Mike Tomlin, always have since he received the nod to take over for Cowher, but this one still baffles me.  This doesn’t even come close to Bill Belichick running up the score on the Dolphins and the Joe Gibbs Redskins.  Billy got his when the Dolphins unleashed that Wildcat beat down on the Patriots last season.

But it still begs the question as to why?  Review the press conference, the play calling wasn’t even brought up.  Maybe he just wanted to cap off that very strong drive, if so, clever call.  A call that came off as rubbing it in the face of the Broncos organization and fans.

If you’re in the midst of class, work, or just plain bored inside this article is a checklist of things for you to do to pass the time.

Yes, I know, it’s not mid-week anymore. However, it’s Friday and you’re waiting to leave whatever you’re doing, I hope you enjoy.

The Checklist Begins

1. It’s Not All That Bad

One loss and the Broncos are yet again the foot stool of the MSM. Some “analysts” go as far to say the end is nigh for the Orange and Blue. I’ve heard that Brian Dawkins is out of gas, the defense is losing the point of attack, and Kyle Orton’s neckbeard is silly. Well at least one of those things is true.

Is it really true that after one loss the wheels are falling off the bus? Denver fans I say nay, the wheels are the bus go round and round.

Six and one still is the second best record in the AFC. Denver is perfect in the division and still has the advantage is common opponents. The Mile High Cameleons have only been favorites against the Raiders and Browns this season. I enjoy it when the Broncos are the underdogs with no respect, Dawkins needs to play with a Tostitos bag on his shoulder.

2. Reflecting on Baltimore

Today during my beloved coffee run I bumped into a rare Bronco fan in my area. As we were both wearing an article of Denver Broncos memorabilia we both set out to high five in jubilation that our team is reigning supreme in the AFC West. This jubilant high five turned into a bro hug. I think I have a new friend and several people creeped by me.

Offense: Speaking of coffee, Kyle Orton could have used a ‘Dunkaccino’ (which are fabulous by the way) after a Jeremy Johnson flattening. The protection the whole game was atrocious, and it was obvious that Orton couldn’t adapt to it. This game better be a wake up call for Mr. Boilermaker, the protection isn’t always going to be consistent or solid, just ask Ben Roethlisberger.

My father always told me, “When life gives you lemons, you need to scramble and create a few seconds to hit the open receiver instead of dumping the ball to your checkdown against an elite 3-4 linebacking corp.” Life is full of old adages like that.

Defense: The 30 points Denver gave up is highly deceiving. I wouldn’t call the Ravens game a “blow-out” persay, but more of a “meltdown.” When the offense is consistently going three-and-out the defense will eventually become gassed and the morale will plummet every time the take field in three minute increments. It was clearly evident that during the fourth quarter defense just didn’t have it in them. Thankfully the team gets an extra day to gear up for Monday Night Football, and hey Josh McDaniels has more Monday win(s) than San Diego has Super Bowl championships.

3. Gearing up for Pittsburgh

If there is one team the MSM believes in it’s the Steelers. Go read CBS Sports game preview it’s full of quotes and stats and predictions represented by images.

Harmon	Prisco	Judge	Urbano	Madden	Richard

Denver fans do you feel the love!? This isn’t really different from any other week though. I remember people taking the Browns in week two.

The responsibility for this game solely falls on Josh McDaniels.

If Denver has any sliver of a chance against Pittsburgh it dwells within his game plan. Mike Tomlin is a phenomenal coach who has the luxury of relying on some of the best talent the league has to offer.

McDaniels is a great coach who patrols the sidelines with a roll of duct tape, patching up the problems he sees. Last week Stevie Wonder could have showed more awareness than McDaniels did all day. Simple screens will not work against an elite 3-4 linebacking corp (I hear an echo).

This stout Steelers defense will be brutally similar to what the Ravens presented.

If the offensive line can’t protect (you will be missed Ryan Harris), and if the ground game can’t get going (the Steelers are 1st against the run) it will be a long day for the Broncos… not a good smell is it?

4. The Solution For Pittsburgh

Offense: Where does this remedy lie? Well if you were watching Sports Soup the other day you’d find the answer… Brandon Marshall.

If there was any game for the beast to prove he needs a fatter paycheck it would be this one. McDaniels needs to extend the field and if he doesn’t trust Kyle Orton to throw it deep, it will be Marshall’s responsibility to make lemonade out short passes.

The stressed coverage on Brandon Marshall will allow players such as Brandon Stokley to do his third down magic, or for Tony Scheffler to be mismatched by a corner.

Special Teams: Eddie Royal needs to have another Monday Night return frenzy. A major chink in Pittsburgh armor lies in their special teams. The Steelers have given up three touchdowns on special teams in the last four weeks.

Defense: Pittsburgh doesn’t have the greatest offensive line but they’re holding strong this year. Elvis Dumervil should be able to get around a tackle or two but taking down Big Ben is where the challenge lies.

This will be a big day for the secondary. Hines Ward is having a career year, Heath Miller is always a threat, and rookie Mike Wallace is already having a huge impact. Fire up Brian Dawkins, get those hands ready Champ Bailey, and I hope Andre Goodman is able to be the guy opposite of Champ come Monday.

It will be vital for Andra Davis to bring consistent pressure up the middle. This should stop Rashard Mendenhall and disrupt Big Ben’s rhythm.

5. Things I Find Funny

1. Will Ferrell Health Insurance PSA – I’m not imposing politics, this video is just funny.

2. Ronald Fields – What other 300 pound professional nose tackle do you know tweets about Manbearpig? Fields also responds quite requently to his followers, he replies to me all the time, so get on Twitter and follow BroncoTalk and Broncos players and me… and Josh Temple… and Chad Ochocinco… you get the point.

PRESSURE91 Hmmmm…I think I just saw manbearpig!!!!!……

@Mr_East_BT lmao….dats ignorant….I’m super serial!

3. Duke Players Should Not Make YouTube Videos – Wait for the Titanic clip.

4. Just be thankful you don’t have this job

5. The Half-Donut Bandit

Well I hope you’re quenched. Feel free to leave any funny links you find in the comments or just to comment as well. Happy Friday Broncos Fans!

I thought the new character of this team was the type that never gets on that high horse to begin with.  Hopefully the Broncos never get blown out again.

• One writer insists that the 6-0 start was no fluke.  [NFL.com]
• Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says the Broncos ran into a buzzsaw. [Examiner.com]
• On defense, the Broncos need to prepare for Big Ben‘s no huddle.  [Denver Post]
• The offense needs to get ready for Dick LeBeau‘s zone blitzing D.  [DPO]
• The Chargers are rising and the Broncos falling in the latest Stock Watch.  [ESPN]
• A powerful opinion piece on Tom Cable‘s allegations in Oakland.  [Sports Illustrated]
• A player strike, two months away? [ProFootballTalk]
• Drew Litton lands in Chicago.  [DrewLitton.com]

As a coach Frazier was the first ever Head Coach for Trinity College (now Trinity International University) in Illinois, for nine seasons. His first break as a coach in the NFL came under Andy Reid with the Eagles, as a defensive backs coach (1999-2002), this is also when he met Minnesota’s head coach Brad Childress.

He joined the Vikings in 2007, hired as the defensive coordinator when Mike Tomlin accepted the Pittsburgh Steelers head coaching position.

It was reported that the Broncos would interview Frazier this week, however, should the Vikings beat the Eagles that would be impossible. So stay tuned for any updates. Glazer must have known something the rest of us didn’t, Frazier’s available to meet this week.

In other coaching news, the NFL Network’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris‘ interview with the team has been pushed forward– from Wednesday to Monday. Keep it here and we will keep you up to date on everything we know.