Pittsburgh Steelers

Broncos' T.J. Ward: Steelers are hot because they haven't played us yet

Published Dec. 16, 2015 4:57 p.m. ET

foxsports

Something is going to give when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Denver Broncos this Sunday.

The Steelers have scored at least 30 points in five straight games, and Ben Roethlisberger has averaged 363 passing yards during the streak. Denver hasn't allowed a 300-yard passer or a 30-point game all season. Last Sunday, the Broncos held leading rookie receiver Amari Cooper without a catch and limted Michael Crabtree to 19 yards on four catches.

"They came to the no-fly zone," cornerback Aqib Talib said per the Denver Post. "That's how it goes out here."

Broncos safety T.J. Ward is expecting more of the same, even if the Steelers have one of the more lethal passing attacks in the game, led by Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, who is second in the league with 100 receptions and 1,397 yards.

"They're hot because they haven't played us yet," Ward said. "A lot of teams were hot before they played us."

Brown will likely be covered by Chris Harris, who hasn't yielded a touchdown in more than two years, according to the Denver Post. Talib will likely match up with Martavis Bryant, who has 38 catches for 672 yards and six scores.

Don't expect Roethlisberger to shy away from throwing the ball. In Week 12 against Seattle, Roethlisberger threw the ball 55 times for 456 yards against the Seahawks' lauded secondary despite Brown's being limited to 51 yards on six catches by Richard Sherman.

"These are the games you want. You want those teams to challenge you," Harris said. "You're going to have a lot of opportunities to get interceptions."