2020 vision: Looking ahead to Denver's Week 2 matchup in Pittsburgh

Miles

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Mar 18, 2019
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The Broncos' regular-season opener isn't for another four months, but over the next few weeks, DenverBroncos.com will take an early look at each game on the Broncos' 2020 schedule. We don't know how injuries could impact each contest, but we'll present the pressing storylines, matchups, questions and more.


It's never too early to start talking football.


We continue with Denver's road opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.



Storylines to monitor:


After a "Monday Night Football" opener against the Titans, the Broncos will head across the country to face the Steelers. Pittsburgh hasn't made the playoffs in either of the last two years, but they're a traditional NFL powerhouse and Heinz Field is among the toughest places to play in the NFL. It will be worth monitoring how Drew Lock and the offense handles their first road test against one of the league's toughest defenses. When the Steelers have the ball, they feature some dynamic players in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back James Conner, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Eric Ebron. Roethlisberger's return, of course, is one of the biggest factors in the game.


Then, of course, there's the Devin Bush trade.


Bush will forever be connected to the Broncos after Denver traded the 10th-overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft to Pittsburgh for the 20th-overall pick, 52nd-overall pick and a 2020 third-round pick. The Broncos netted tight end Noah Fant, quarterback Drew Lock (after another trade) and center Lloyd Cushenberry III in the trade. Pittsburgh secured Bush, who started 15 games for the Steelers last season and picked off two passes while recovering four fumbles. If Bush is matched up on Fant at any point, this will be a fun matchup to watch. And, if the Broncos win, it would be at least a small indication that they made the right choice.


Players to watch:


DT Cameron Heyward and S Minkah Fitzpatrick



The Steelers ranked fifth in total defense in 2019 behind strong efforts from first-team All-Pros Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cameron Heyward. Fitzpatrick, a safety, could pose problems for Lock as he makes his first road start of the season. After he arrived in Pittsburgh following a mid-season trade, Fitzpatrick recorded five interceptions, two forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns. Likewise, Heyward will be a handful at defensive tackle for Dalton Risner, Graham Glasgow and perhaps Cushenberry. He's been a first-team All-Pro in two of the last three seasons and tallied 83 tackles, nine sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 23 quarterback hits last year. Both players could wreck the game.
 
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