Peyton Manning: Broncos QB Will Be on Receiving End of Steelers' Vengeance

The Pittsburgh Steelers have one mission in Week 1 of the 2012 NFL season: Defeat the Denver Broncos on the road and avenge their gut-wrenching, 29-23 overtime playoff defeat at Mile High last January.

Unfortunately for first-year Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, he will be the primary focus of Pittsburgh's game plan to shut down Denver on Sunday night. 

Manning is by the far the biggest offseason addition Denver made this past summer, and the Steelers know that they will have to stop No. 18 first and foremost in order to win.

Everything Pittsburgh does starts with defense. 

Boasting the NFL's No. 1-ranked pass defense a season ago, Pittsburgh is always tough to throw against, it seems. With Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, who has 19 interceptions total in the past four seasons, lurking in the secondary, Manning will have tons of trouble finding open passing lanes on Sunday night.

The Steelers allowed less than 172 passing yards per game last regular season. 

In addition to Pittsburgh's mighty secondary, the Steelers will bring multiple looks at Manning and no doubt pressure the veteran into a few mistakes. 

Manning threw three interceptions in his first two preseason appearances this past August, and there is certainly a bit of rust left on the 36-year-old's right arm as the regular season gets underway after missing the entire 2011 season because of neck surgery.

The Broncos were -12 in turnover differential a season ago, and that number will important to watch this fall as well, considering that Manning has tossed a combined 33 interceptions in his past two full NFL seasons. 

The Steelers clearly have more motivation to win on Sunday night as the road team who saw their season end on Sports Authority Field at Mile High last winter. 

With so much attention being paid to Manning and the new-look Denver Broncos, it's not hard to see Ben Roethlisberger and Co. spoiling the future Hall of Famer's debut this weekend. 

In the end, it will be the vengeful Pittsburgh Steelers having the last laugh in Denver; avenging their difficult playoff loss and making Manning's life miserable in the process.

Steelers 24, Broncos 20

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