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To start the second quarter, the Steelers were in need of an answer they got just that when Roethlisberger and company, again, methodically moved the ball into Denver territory. On a 3rd and 1, Roethlisberger pulled off a beautiful play fake to James Conner and hit a wide open Xavier Grimble who was hit at the one yard line, and fumbled the football into the endzone. By rule, it is a turnover, and a touchback for the Broncos.
The Steelers’ defense kept Denver from adding to their lead, and Pittsburgh continued to move the ball well against the Broncos’ defense, but as well as they had played they had little to show for it. On their third drive the offense was finally able to put up points, by way of a Chris Boswell field goal, to tie the game 3-3 with 6:29 left in the first half.
Pittsburgh’s defense certainly loosened on the next drive as Keenum hit several big pass plays, and back-to-back throws to Matt LaCosse, the latter resulting in a 10 yard touchdown. The point-after was good, and gave Denver a 10-3 lead with 3:27 left in the second quarter.
Ben Roethlisberger looked to Ryan Switzer early and often throughout the ensuing drive, and it got the offense inside the 10 yard line with under a minute remaining in the first half. When Smith-Schuster was stopped short on 3rd and goal, Chris Boswell was sent onto the field to kick the field goal, but the team faked the field goal and Boswell threw a strike to Alejandro Villanueva for the game-tying touchdown.
Both teams headed into halftime with a 10-10 score.