Running back Rashard Mendenhall has given Pittsburgh a spark over the past four games. (Paul Sancya/Associated Press)Talk of a Super Bowl letdown has subsided as the Pittsburgh Steelers ride a four-game winning streak into Monday night's game against the Denver Broncos.
Pittsburgh (5-2) is coming off its most impressive win of the season, 27-17 over previously unbeaten Minnesota.
The Steelers scored just one touchdown on offence against the tough Vikings, but scored twice on defence.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger connected on a 40-yard touchdown to Mike Wallace, with LaMarr Woodley returning a fumble and Keyaron Fox an interception for touchdowns.
After Willie Parker was ineffective to start the season, second-year pro Rashard Mendenhall has helped solidify the ground game for the Steelers.
Mendenhall has 373 yards rushing and four touchdowns over the last four weeks, while catching seven passes out of the backfield.
Dumervil leads AFC in sacks
Monday night's game will pit two of the NFL's best pass rushers, both outside linebackers.
Entering the weekend, Elvis Dumervil of Denver led the AFC with 10 sacks and Pittsburgh's James Harrison, the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was near the top with eight.
"Other than the stature, I don't see any striking similarity other than they have the same jersey number [92]," said Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin.
"I think that Dumervil is a very skilled, detailed rusher. He uses his hands extremely well. He has unique quickness. Whereas, I think James is probably a power player first in terms how he approaches the rush concept."
While the Steelers are hot, three of the wins during their streak were at home, giving them something to prove at Invesco Field in Denver. Pittsburgh is 1-2 on the road the season, winning against the mediocre Detroit Lions.
Pittsburgh is trying to keep pace with the surprising Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Central. The Bengals upset the Steelers in Week 3, with the two teams facing each other on Sunday in a rematch in Pittsburgh.
Denver (6-1) will try to prevent falling to just one game ahead of San Diego in the AFC West. The Broncos led by three games after a Monday night win over the Chargers on Oct. 19.
After a bye week, the Broncos lost their unbeaten mark against the Baltimore Ravens.
Running back Knowshon Moreno scored the team's only touchdown in the 30-7 loss in Baltimore. Quarterback Kyle Orton completed 23 of 37 passes, but the Ravens limited him to 152 passing yards.
Two losses in a row and many football observers will question whether the Broncos truly belong with the league's elite, although Monday's game ends the toughest stretch of Denver's schedule.
While the Broncos still have to plays the New York Giants and Philadelphia this season, as well as San Diego in a rematch, they have two games on tap with the 1-7 Kansas City Chiefs.
Denver returns to action next week against the struggling Washington Redskins.
With files from The Associated Press
