QB Dixon doesn't play well for Steelers

Pittsburgh's QB Dennis Dixon finished 9 of 16 for 94 yards, two interceptions and a pair of sacks by Robert Ayers .

"He didn't play well," Tomlin said. "And a lot of guys didn't."

Rookie cornerback Perrish Cox picked off one of Dixon's passes in the end zone and Andre' Goodman returned Dixon's second interception 77 yards for a touchdown with 11 seconds left in the second quarter that gave Denver a 17-3 halftime lead.

Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton almost had his night shortened by a big hit from linebacker James Harrison .

After Harrison picked up a loose ball and rumbled toward the end zone in the second quarter, Orton tried to tackle him low but Harrison put his helmet down and hit Orton on the back of the head and his left shoulder.

While Orton was down, the officials huddled and ruled the play was an incomplete pass. Brady Quinn replaced Orton and was sacked on the next snap. Orton returned to the game on the Broncos' next series.

Orton finished 9-for-14 for 80 yards with one interception, by William Gay .

Rookie Tim Tebow made his home debut for Denver after missing last week's game with bruised ribs. He had mixed results, throwing an interception that set up Jonathan Dwyer 's 5-yard TD run and then driving Denver 74 yards in five plays, capped by a 3-yard scoring strike to Eric Decker .

Unlike in his pro debut at Cincinnati when he was hurt on a 7-yard dart into the end zone as time expired, Tebow was a pocket passer on this night with no designed runs or scrambles.