Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: What's the Game Plan for Denver?

There's nothing better than seeing a great offense battle a great defense in the NFL, and that's exactly what will happen in Week 15.

The Denver Broncos will head to Heinz Field to face a Pittsburgh Steelers team that is piling up the yardage and the points this season. For quarterback Brock Osweiler, playing the previously undefeated New England Patriots was a big challenge, but this may be a bigger one.

Both teams are looking to position themselves for deep playoff runs, and this game will be critical to those plans.

Denver will bring the league's best overall offense into the game to face Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers' No. 2 offense.

Let's take a look at how Denver may approach this game on each side of the ball.

Offensive Game Plan

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Denver scored just 12 points last week against the Oakland Raiders. Its failure to score touchdowns in the red zone, combined with an inability to protect the quarterback, were the reasons the Broncos lost the game. 

Pittsburgh has 38 sacks on the season. Only four teams have more than that. There is no doubt defensive coordinator Keith Butler is licking his chops, knowing that Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack registered five sacks against the Broncos last week.

Michael Schofield gave up four of those sacks, and as a result, Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak simply can't let him go without help for long in this game. Steelers defenders James Harrison and Bud Dupree could both take advantage of Schofield.

"

Just because your name is Michael Schofield it doesn't mean you have to lead all these prison breaks to the QB. pic.twitter.com/YqlX9tEH7J

— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) December 15, 2015"

Look for the Broncos to use a tight end to help on that side, something they have done in recent years while the offensive line struggled. Virgil Green fits this role perfectly and should see an increase in snaps this week.

But Green doesn't always need to stay in to block. He could run some short routes to give Osweiler a safety valve on passing plays. Green just needs to be more involved on offense.

The Broncos also need to open up the offensive playbook in this one, particularly as it relates to throwing the ball deep.

Pittsburgh is susceptible to the pass, giving up an average of 279 yards per game through the air. That ranks No. 31 in the league. They have also allowed 25 passing touchdowns.

In other words, Osweiler needs to make plays down the field. Despite all of the dropped passes we saw last week, he needs to trust his receivers. Playing against his former team, Emmanuel Sanders could play a big factor on Sunday.

Osweiler needs to attempt a minimum of five passes that travel 30 yards or more down the field.

Defensive Game Plan

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

The Broncos will have their hands full in this one, despite the success they've had on defense this year. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will be tasked with slowing down an offense that is scoring 26.5 points per game. 

In order to stop the Steelers, Denver must do one thing: collapse the pocket around Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger has always been one of the most dangerous quarterbacks outside the pocket and has always been able to make plays with his legs.

Roethlisberger ran for at least 100 yards and one touchdown in five of his first 11 seasons in the league. This year, he has just 34 yards rushing. The main reason for that is the fact that he doesn't need to scramble for yardage when he has the type of players who can stretch the defense like he does now. Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant are both capable of turning in game-changing plays.

If the Broncos can't get the sack, they need to force Roethlisberger to throw the ball to his underneath routes. They need to create pressure that knocks Roethlisberger's protection right back into his face, taking away the deep ball.

"

Broncos need to sack Big Ben to pull off upset https://t.co/mTUTzlzefu via @9News

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) December 18, 2015"

Once he checks the ball down to Heath Miller or DeAngelo Williams, inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall need to be there to make the immediate tackle.

For an example of how this game plan works to perfection, look at what the Seattle Seahawks did to Denver and its high-octane offense back in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Key Matchups and Players to Watch

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

David Bruton:  As Mike Klis of 9News.com reports, T.J. Ward will miss his third consecutive game on Sunday. Free safety Darian Stewart is also questionable for the contest. This will make David Bruton's performance a key factor in this game, as he will need to step up in their absence. Shiloh Keo and Josh Bush could also play integral roles.

Virgil Green: We mentioned the role he could play in this game and though the Broncos have two good pass-catching tight ends in Owen Daniels and Vernon Davis, Green should be given opportunities as well.

DeMarcus Ware: The Broncos have missed his presence as he has all but disappeared since being injured against the Indianapolis Colts back in Week 8. Denver needs to crank up the pass rush in this game, and Von Miller can't do it by himself. 

Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan vs. DeAngelo Williams: Should Denver find success in slowing down Brown and Bryant, Roethlisberger may turn to Williams to catch passes out of the backfield. He has caught 27 passes this year, which is already the third-most he's had in any one season during his career. Marshall and Trevathan can't allow him to break tackles and reach the next level. 

Prediction

This should be one of the more competitive contests of Week 15. Though the game features a great defense against a great offense, the difference could very well be determined between the offense of Denver and the defense of Pittsburgh. 

If Denver is to win this game, it will need a much different performance than the one it put forth last Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

Because the game is in Pittsburgh and the Steelers are playing with a lot of momentum, they'll get the nod to make one or two more plays than Denver does in this game.

Final Prediction: Steelers 20, Broncos 17