Tebow, Broncos boot Steelers from playoffs

DENVER — The Steelers' season came to a stunning end in Denver.

Tim Tebow and Demariyus Thomas hooked up for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play in overtime as the Denver Broncos beat the Steelers, 29-23, at Sports Authority Field.

The Steelers had scored the final 10 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Seven of those came thanks to a 31-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Jerricho Cotchery.

Roethlisberger threw for 289 yards and a touchdown, but it was Tebow's magic that carried the day.

Tebow threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 50 yards and a touchdown. The Broncos took control of the game in the second quarter as Tebow's passing carried them to 20 unanswered points. Completions of 51 and 58 yards set up both of Denver's touchdowns, and Tebow completed 5 of 9 passes for 185 yards in the second quarter.

Roethlisberger threw an interception in the quarter, setting up a Matt Prater field goal, and he had another pick nullified because of a Broncos penalty. The Steelers looked like they might cut into Denver's 20-6 lead at the end of the first half. But on third down from the Broncos' 32-yard line, center Doug Legursky snapped the ball over Roethlisberger head, and the Steelers had to punt.

The Steelers cut the lead to 20-13 in the third quarter, as a Mike Wallace 1-yard scoring run capped an 11-play, 87-yard drive.

The teams then traded field goals, and a lost fumble by Willis McGahee midway through the fourth quarter led to the tying touchdown.

The Broncos won it in overtime as Thomas beat Ike Taylor, as he had several times earlier in the game, and scored one of the biggest touchdowns in Broncos' history.

Photo Galleries