Page 17 - ATD19DEC2015

SPORTS A17
Saturday 19 December 2015

Juli Inkster Returns as Solheim Cup Team Captain
Page 20

Week 15 Preview:

Powerhouse Offense Meets Shutdown Defense

Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) runs for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday,
Dec. 13, 2015, in Cincinnati.

(AP Photo/Frank Victores)

BARRY WILNER averaging an NFL-best 6.4 tory, and the AFC West divi- do about it? We can’t do games.
AP Pro Football Writer yards per play. sion with a win and a Kan- anything. We can’t carry The Giants are in a three-
NEW YORK (AP) — If any- The Broncos’ 44 sacks lead sas City loss at Baltimore. that luggage. We can only way tie atop the medio-
one can halt the Pittsburgh the league. Steelers quar- Meanwhile, the Steelers are move forward. It’s on to cre NFC East, but face a
Steelers’ offensive ram- terback Ben Roethlisberger in a tight race for an AFC Pittsburgh.” The unbeaten tougher schedule than
page, it might be the Den- is averaging 332 yards pass- wildcard and still have an Carolina Panthers could does either Washington or
ver Broncos defense. ing, tops in the NFL. outside chance of catch- secure home-field advan- Philadelphia.
In the only game of Week Add in that Denver hasn’t ing Cincinnati in the AFC tage throughout the NFC Key matchup: Giants re-
15 matching teams with lost in Pittsburgh since 1997, North. “It’s playoff football playoffs with a win over ceiver Odell Beckham Jr.,
winning records, the NFL’s and that the Steelers have right now. We have to han- the New York Giants, and against Panthers corner-
most potent offense in re- won nine straight games in dle business,” says Broncos an Arizona Cardinals loss. back Josh Norman.
cent weeks (Steelers) faces December. receiver Emmanuel Sand- But Carolina will be without Arizona takes the NFC West
a defense that has been Or that the Broncos, even ers, who began his career in-form running back Jona- with a win at Philadelphia
the league’s stingiest (Bron- with Peyton Manning still in Pittsburgh. “Obviously, than Stewart. or a Seattle loss, and can
cos) at Heinz Field on Sun- sidelined — but somewhat we dropped an egg ver- Carolina leads the NFL get a first-round bye with
day. closer to returning while sus Oakland (15-12 loss last with 21 interceptions and a victory and a Green Bay
The Broncos are allowing Brock Osweiler gets his fifth week) and we had an op- 33 takeaways. Safety Kurt defeat.
a league-low 4.3 yards per career start — can clinch portunity to be first place in Coleman has intercep-
play, while the Steelers are a playoff berth with a vic- the AFC. So what can we tions in each of his last five Continued on page 18