Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 gaining yardage in the second half at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA, December 20, 2015

Cincinnati Bengals' Vontaze Burfict (55) runs into Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown (84) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh won 18-16. Burfict was called for a penalty on the play.

At halftime, long after Wiz Khalifa revved up the crowd, the Broncos could not be blamed for looking at the Pittsburgh Steelers and thinking, ‘We won’t ‘See You Again.’ “

The Broncos held a 14-point lead after putting together their most impressive first half of this season. They scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions. In the second half, Denver managed five first downs, dissolving in a 34-27 loss to the Steelers on Dec. 20.

A chance for redemption arrives Sunday.

The Broncos host the Steelers in the divisional round in Phase II of operation kicking and screaming.

“I mean, anytime you get beat and some other team beats you, you always want to get them back,” all-pro cornerback Chris Harris said. “I am happy to get a rematch with them.”

Harris reflects the Broncos’ confidence and desire for revenge. He has played one poor game in the last two seasons. It came against the Steelers. Upset over an interference call, Harris failed to regroup, allowing the first of two touchdowns to Steelers star receiver Antonio Brown. His status remains uncertain after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet hit Saturday that helped set up a game-winning field goal against the Cincinnati Bengals. And Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger injured his right shoulder, though he returned on the final drive.

“We won this game. I am happy,” Roethlisberger said on the CBS broadcast.

Harris pointed the finger in the mirror for the loss in that Dec. 20 game. The Broncos’ offense, however, absorbed much of the blame. Quarterback Brock Osweiler riddled the Steelers defense in the first half, throwing for three touchdowns and running for a score. Then came the second half. Osweiler completed 7-of-26 passes as Denver went 1-for-8 on third down.

Denver boasts a different venue and a different look. The players won’t be swimming in a sea of waving yellow Terrible Towels. They will be surrounded by orange. Peyton Manning will be at the epicenter, making his first start since Nov. 15. Manning, 39, completed 5-of-9 passes for 69 yards last Sunday, rallying the Broncos to their fifth consecutive division crown and the AFC’s top seed.

But no one will remember without playoff success.

“Every play is so crucial, but I think the bottom line is, when it’s all said and done, the top teams are there and going at each other,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “You usually know each other pretty well. You normally don’t play people in the playoffs that you haven’t crossed paths with somehow, someway. That has a lot to do with it, but it’s what this game is all about. It’s why you work. It’s why you play. It takes a lot of effort and focus for a long period of time just to get yourself in position to play in these games. It makes you appreciate them.”

No. 1 Broncos vs. no. 6 Steelers

When: Next Sunday, 2:40 p.m., KCNC-4

Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Steelers’ strength: With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown — if both are healthy enough to play — the offense is potent. Roethlisberger led the league with 328.2 yards passing per game, and Brown tied for No. 1 in receptions (136) and ranked No. 2 in yards receiving per game (114.6).

Last meeting: On Dec. 20 at Pittsburgh, Denver scored four first-half touchdowns but gave up a 17-point lead and lost 34-27. Brown racked up 16 catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns.

Key to victory: Offensive consistency. The Broncos’ offense has often been a tale of two halves this season, especially so in their last loss at Pittsburgh. With Peyton Manning back, finding a rhythm with his receivers and exploiting the Steelers’ weak pass defense are crucial.

Troy is a former Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies beat writer for The Denver Post. He joined the news organization in 2002 as the Rockies' beat writer and became a Broncos beat writer in 2014 before assuming the lead role ahead of the 2015 season. He left The Post in 2015.

Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson had butterflies before Sunday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. It wasn't because of the big-name opponent, but rather his return from a 13-game injury absence and being stoked to rejoin a team in a playoff push and looking for its third postseason appearance in 10 years.