Why I Hate the Pittsburgh Steelers

Why does any Denver Broncos' fan hate the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Two numbers that have haunted the franchise for five long years: 34 and 17.

The 34 stands for the number of points Pittsburgh laid upon Denver in the 2005 AFC Championship game, and 17 is the pitiful response of the Broncos.

Simply put, the Steelers were a team of destiny.

It was not supposed to be that easy for them, though. After a bye week in the first round of the 2005 playoffs, Jake Plummer and the Denver Broncos were set to host the New England Patriots, who were 10-0 in the playoffs at the time while Tom Brady was the team's quarterback. That game is best known for Champ Bailey's game-changing, near pick-six before halftime that set up a Mike Anderson 1-yard touchdown run.

Denver slapped New England with its first playoff loss in four years, and the Broncos had three words on their mind: Win and in.

That's right, and to make the situation even more appealing for Denver fans, the heavily favored, top-seeded Indianapolis Colts had been dethroned in their own house by the lowly Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Broncos were automatically rewarded with home field advantage.

It was the most perfect stage a team could ask for in post-season play: Home field advantage against the lowest seed in your conference, a top-ranked rushing game, a top-five defense, and a quarterback who was playing the best football of his life.

But like I said, the Steelers were a team of destiny.

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steeler defense came to Denver on Championship weekend and threw the Denver Broncos from cloud nine to a muddy hole in the ground.

Pittsburgh went on to beat Seattle in the Super Bowl that year, in a championship performance that has become known as "One for the Thumb."

Since then, the Denver Broncos have not made a playoff appearance, and the Steelers have added "One for the other thumb." But that is not to say the Broncos have not had their share of little victories over Pittsburgh.

Each of the last two times these teams have faced each other, the Broncos have walked away victorious. I'll take the Super Bowl rings any day, but it does count for something.

The Broncos will be seeking revenge once more on Monday Night Football as they play host to the Steelers in what figures to be a defensive battle between two AFC powerhouses. Most importantly, the Broncos are looking to finish the first half of their season with a 7-1 record, and a victory over the team that has cursed the Broncos to comfy couches in January on that sunny winter day in Denver five years ago.

Poetic justice says the Broncos walk away from this game with a lovely 34-17 victory under their belts.

--- SAYRE BEDINGER.