The following are the highlights and lowlights from the Steelers' 31-19 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday night at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver:
Play of the game: Denver cornerback Tracy Porter stepped in front of the Steelers' Emmanuel Sanders, intercepted a pass from Ben Roethlisberger and took it back 43 yards for the game-clinching touchdown with 2 minutes, 10 seconds remaining in the game.
Offensive player of the game: Denver quarterback Peyton Manning was 19-of-26 for 253 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in his first regular-season game since the end of the 2010 season.
Defensive player of the game: Porter collected eight tackles to go with his interception return.
Most telling statistic: The Steelers, the best defense in the NFL last season, yielded 337 yards to the Broncos.
Deceiving statistic: The Steelers held the ball for more than 35 minutes to Denver's 25.
Best pass: Roethlisberger threw the ball to Mike Wallace's back shoulder for a 3-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Worst pass: In addition to the interception, Roethlisberger fired a low pass to a wide-open Heath Miller in the end zone in the second quarter, and Porter deflected the ball.
Best run: Manning outran linebacker Lawrence Timmons for a 7-yard gain on second-and-6 on a second-quarter touchdown drive.
Best catch: Denver's Demaryius Thomas caught a low pass with Ike Taylor in coverage in the second quarter.
Dropped pass: Porter could have had another interception in the third quarter.
Best block(s): Denver tight end Jacob Tamme took out Taylor and guard Zane Beadles took care of Ryan Mundy on a Thomas 71-yard touchdown catch-and-run in the third quarter.
Missed block: Pittsburgh backup guard Doug Legursky, in for the injured Ramon Foster, allowed middle linebacker Joe Mays to sack Roethlisberger in the third quarter.
Best tackle: Broncos rookie defensive end Derek Wolfe took down Roethlisberger by grabbing his right ankle on a first-quarter sack.
Worst hit: Denver safety Rahim Moore hit a defenseless Sanders helmet-to-helmet in the third quarter.
Missed tackle: Pittsburgh cornerback Cortez Allen didn't wrap up Brandon Stokley, who was able to pick up an additional 10 yards on a first-quarter reception.
Best coverage: Porter was stride-for-stride with Wallace on a fourth-quarter deep pass down the sideline on second-and-3 and came back on the next play to knock down a pass intended for Miller.
Worst coverage: Mays went for a Roethlisberger pump fake and left Miller open for a 4-yard TD reception in the second quarter.
Best kick: Steelers rookie Drew Butler had a punt downed at the 1-yard line by DeMarcus Van Dyke in the first quarter.
Best return: Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown took back a punt 23 yards into Denver territory on the final play of the first quarter.
Best decision: Manning changed the play at the line of scrimmage while waiting for the officials to spot the ball following a review, and he hit Tamme for a 1-yard go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Worst decision: The Steelers went for two following a touchdown with more than 14 minutes remaining in the game and holding a 19-14 lead.
Worst penalty: Pittsburgh cornerback Keenan Lewis was called for interfering with Eric Decker on a third-and-7 pass from the Pittsburgh 17 with 3:55 left in the game. Denver eventually kicked a field goal anyway, but the Steelers would have had an extra minute on their fateful drive, down six, and could have run the ball a few plays.
Best effort: Manning ran the no-huddle offense to perfection.
Unsung hero: Pittsburgh linebacker Larry Foote was all over the field in the first half and ended the game with eight tackles, including one sack.
Replays: A late third-quarter touchdown by Pittsburgh's Jonathan Dwyer was overturned because his knee had touched at the 2-yard line. Also, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin challenged that Decker fumbled at the Pittsburgh 1-yard line with 10:45 left in the game, but the play was upheld. It cost the Steelers a timeout.
