The Steelers improved that record to 25-6 as they harassed Denver rookie Bo Nix throughout the game. Nix, Denver’s first-round pick this year, completed 20 of 35 passes for 246 yards with two interceptions. After kicking six field goals in an 18-10 win over the Falcons last week, the Steelers scored their first touchdown of the season on their second possession of the game, covering 73 yards on 12 plays.

Fields capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown toss to sophomore tight end Darnell Washington. It was the first career touchdown catch for Washington, who was split in the formation on the play and gave the Steelers a 7-0 lead.

The Steelers had another promising drive on their third possession after taking over at their own 1, but two holding penalties on Broderick Jones, who had entered the game at right tackle early in the second quarter in place of rookie Troy Fautanu, ended the drive. Fautanu, the Steelers’ top pick in this year’s draft, was making his first career start.

The second of the two penalties was the most damaging, as Fields rolled toward his goal from midfield and connected with George Pickens to reach Denver’s 6-yard line. However, the foul caused the play to be overturned.

After the second holding penalty, Fautanu was put back in the lineup in place of Jones, but the Steelers still had to score.

The Broncos had their best drive of the first half on their next possession, moving the ball to the Pittsburgh 39 with just over two minutes left in the half. But on fourth-and-7, rookie quarterback Bo Nix was pressured into throwing an incomplete ball on downs. Denver managed just three first downs and 62 yards of offense through the first two quarters.

The Steelers reached Denver’s 6-yard line with 21 seconds left in the first half thanks to a 21-yard pass interference penalty against Riley Moss on Van Jefferson. However, a touchdown catch by Pickens was negated by an offensive pass interference penalty on Jefferson.

The Steelers had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Chris Boswell and a 10-0 lead.

The Broncos used a trick play on their second possession of the second half to nearly double their offensive output and score for the first time.

The Broncos ran out of a Wildcat formation and let running back Javonte Williams take the snap. He passed the ball to wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who then tossed the ball back to Nix, who was out wide in the formation.

Nix then threw a 50-yard pass to receiver Josh Reynolds for a 50-yard gain between safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick, DeShon Elliott and cornerback Donte Jackson to the Pittsburgh 6-yard line.

But two plays later, Nix was intercepted in the end zone on a pass intended for Sutton by Corey Trice, his first career interception, ending the threat.

The Steelers took over at their own 20 after the turnover, came out aggressive and Fields threw a bomb down the sideline for Pickens. Pickens drew an interference penalty on Patrick Surtain II from 37 yards to get the ball to the Denver 43.

That led to a 53-yard field goal by Boswell, his fourth field goal of 50+ yards this season, and a 13-0 Pittsburgh lead with 4:16 left in the third quarter.

The Broncos drove inside the Steelers’ 20 on their next possession, including converting a fourth-and-6 from the Pittsburgh 42 with a 22-yard pass to Reynolds, but Nix’s third-down pass was picked off by Isaiahh Loudermilk. Denver recorded a 35-yard field goal from Will Lutz with 10:42 left in the game to avoid the shutout, but it only cut the Steelers’ lead to 13–3.

The Broncos went for another field goal, this time from 29 yards by Lutz with just under two minutes left, cutting the lead to 13-7.

But the Steelers ran the clock down to 18 seconds before turning the ball back over to Denver, which had used all of its timeouts, with 9 seconds left on its own 19-yard line.

Damontae Kazee intercepted Nix and that was the end of the game.