National Football League hands out fines to Bengals-Steelers

The three Steelers who were fined were safety Mike Mitchell ($23,152 for a hit on a defenseless player), guard David DeCastro ($8,681 for a facemask) and wide receiver Antonio Brown ($8,681 for an illegal crackback block). The Steelers need a win to keep pace in the AFC wild card race, while Denver could use a win to help hold off the surging Kansas City Chiefs, as well as to further improve their chances of having a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

22 DECEMBER 2013: Cincinnati Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga (58) and Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) celebrate in action during a football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.

Barring self-induced turnovers, no defense – not even Denver’s National Football League best today – looks capable of even slightly slowing down Big Ben and Co. An 80-yard drive that included two more third down conversions was capped off by an eight-yard Osweiler run, and the Broncos took a 27-10 lead after Brandon McManus missed the extra point. Those numbers dwarf those of the National Football League regular-season leaders – the Panthers’ top-ranked 31.6 scoring average and the Cardinals’ No. 1 offense that is generating 417.5 yards.

“You play 60 minutes, not 30 minutes”, Osweiler said.

“We just stayed together”, Brown told NBCs Carolyn Manno after the game. Their secondary guys are being physical, making plays. You should think about all the spectacular plays he has made for the Bengals and how promising the future is for this undrafted fourth-year player from Arizona State. Osweiler hit Thomas for an 18-yard score then found Sanders for an easy 61-yard catch and run.

“I feel like I caught up well”, he said.

The Denver Broncos need to learn how to close games out. “Kudos to those boys”. Denver is 4-1 with Brock Osweiler as a starter, and he’ll get a fifth start with Peyton Manning still nursing a foot injury.

With that said, enjoy the first half and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for all the latest news surrounding the team throughout the game and after!

“I think Ben may be the best deep ball thrower I’ve ever seen in this league in my years as a coach”.

“Of course we are”, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey said. “We really just had to wake up”.

Osweiler’s 7-yard keeper pushed Denver’s lead to 20-7 early in the second quarter. In the second half, though, he was 7 of 26 for 82 yards in the second half. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been on fire lately, throwing for over 300 yards four times over the last six games.

At halftime, Brock Osweiler had three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, the makings of a near-perfect 155.8 passer rating. “And I can’t give up two touchdowns in a half the way I did”.

This is a huge game for both teams, as the Denver Broncos look to force their way into the top 2 seeding positions in the AFC. In five games this season, the Arizona State product has been sacked 17 times, including being sacked at least three times in four games.

Star Wars numbers in the first half.