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Bailey burns Roethlisberger
Cornerback intercepts two passes as defense creates six turnovers
By Rob Rossi, Special to the News
November 6, 2006
PITTSBURGH - Al Wilson can't believe opposing quarterbacks throw the ball anywhere near Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey.
"It doesn't make much sense to me considering the way he is tracking down balls right now," Wilson said of Bailey, who intercepted Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger twice and dropped a third potential interception during the Broncos' 31-20 win Sunday at Heinz Field.
"I know this, though, I'm always happy to see that ball going in Champ's direction because there is a pretty good chance that he is going to come away with it," Wilson said.
Against the Steelers, the Broncos came away with six turnovers. Pittsburgh lost three of its six fumbles and safety Curome Cox also intercepted a Roethlisberger pass.
"That is what it takes to win," Wilson said. "It's not about how many yards you give up; it's about keeping the other team out of the end zone. We're pretty good at doing that."
The Broncos defense was on the field for almost 35 minutes, and the 499 yards Pittsburgh gained might seem alarming considering the 428 yards it allowed in a loss the previous week against the Indianapolis Colts.
"Not really," Wilson said. "Great defenses make the plays at big times."
The same can be said of great cornerbacks. And currently, there are none playing any better than Bailey.
This season, he has intercepted a pass in the end zone, taken possession of the ball twice at the Broncos 3-yard line and two more times at the Broncos 2.
Both of his interceptions against
Roethlisberger came with the Steelers driving deep in Broncos territory with the drives appearing they might end with touchdowns.
They didn't with the help of Bailey's confidence in Roethlisberger's level of confidence.
"Ben is so confident. He has tremendous confidence that he can make every play," Bailey said. "I knew he was going to come at me because he has that kind of confidence. But there is a price you have to pay for coming at me."
Bailey said he expected the Broncos secondary to get some playmaking opportunities against the Steelers.
Wilson said Pittsburgh is the best two-win team he has seen.
What Bailey and Wilson would not say was the Broncos' victory served as revenge for a disappointing home loss against the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game in January.
"I wasn't carrying anything over from that game," Bailey said. "We just wanted to come in here and play a good game after last week."
In their 34-31 loss against the Colts, the Broncos did not force a turnover.
Cornerback Darrent Williams, who recovered two fumbles against the Steelers, said the Broncos' defensive unit focused on takeaways during practice leading to the game.
"What we emphasized a lot was slapping at the ball and trying to knock it away," Williams said. "We did that a lot last season but haven't been doing it a lot this year. We had to get back to that kind of Broncos defense."
According to Wilson, the six turnovers created are as positive a sign as the Broncos' 6-2 record through the first half of the season.
"Turnovers tell you that your team is playing hard for 60 minutes. That is what we did here," Wilson said. "That is what we have to do, period. If we do that, everything else will take care of itself."
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_5121821,00.html
Cornerback intercepts two passes as defense creates six turnovers
By Rob Rossi, Special to the News
November 6, 2006
PITTSBURGH - Al Wilson can't believe opposing quarterbacks throw the ball anywhere near Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey.
"It doesn't make much sense to me considering the way he is tracking down balls right now," Wilson said of Bailey, who intercepted Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger twice and dropped a third potential interception during the Broncos' 31-20 win Sunday at Heinz Field.
"I know this, though, I'm always happy to see that ball going in Champ's direction because there is a pretty good chance that he is going to come away with it," Wilson said.
Against the Steelers, the Broncos came away with six turnovers. Pittsburgh lost three of its six fumbles and safety Curome Cox also intercepted a Roethlisberger pass.
"That is what it takes to win," Wilson said. "It's not about how many yards you give up; it's about keeping the other team out of the end zone. We're pretty good at doing that."
The Broncos defense was on the field for almost 35 minutes, and the 499 yards Pittsburgh gained might seem alarming considering the 428 yards it allowed in a loss the previous week against the Indianapolis Colts.
"Not really," Wilson said. "Great defenses make the plays at big times."
The same can be said of great cornerbacks. And currently, there are none playing any better than Bailey.
This season, he has intercepted a pass in the end zone, taken possession of the ball twice at the Broncos 3-yard line and two more times at the Broncos 2.
Both of his interceptions against
Roethlisberger came with the Steelers driving deep in Broncos territory with the drives appearing they might end with touchdowns.
They didn't with the help of Bailey's confidence in Roethlisberger's level of confidence.
"Ben is so confident. He has tremendous confidence that he can make every play," Bailey said. "I knew he was going to come at me because he has that kind of confidence. But there is a price you have to pay for coming at me."
Bailey said he expected the Broncos secondary to get some playmaking opportunities against the Steelers.
Wilson said Pittsburgh is the best two-win team he has seen.
What Bailey and Wilson would not say was the Broncos' victory served as revenge for a disappointing home loss against the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game in January.
"I wasn't carrying anything over from that game," Bailey said. "We just wanted to come in here and play a good game after last week."
In their 34-31 loss against the Colts, the Broncos did not force a turnover.
Cornerback Darrent Williams, who recovered two fumbles against the Steelers, said the Broncos' defensive unit focused on takeaways during practice leading to the game.
"What we emphasized a lot was slapping at the ball and trying to knock it away," Williams said. "We did that a lot last season but haven't been doing it a lot this year. We had to get back to that kind of Broncos defense."
According to Wilson, the six turnovers created are as positive a sign as the Broncos' 6-2 record through the first half of the season.
"Turnovers tell you that your team is playing hard for 60 minutes. That is what we did here," Wilson said. "That is what we have to do, period. If we do that, everything else will take care of itself."
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_5121821,00.html