by Mike Klis The Denver Post , The Denver Post

"We've been giving you guys something to write about," said Darrell Reid, one of the Broncos' top special-teams players. "I don't know if it's gut-check time, but it's definitely tighten-up time. It's not a panic thing, but we've got to get back to basics and cover like we did in preseason, cover like we did early in this season."

With the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers visiting for a Monday night game at Invesco Field at Mile High, Broncos special teams have spun into damage control.

"This is going to be a week where we need to give our defense and our offense the type of field position that they need," special-teamer Josh Barrett said. "They've proved that they can make the plays that they need to make to win a game. With that in mind, we have that mentality that we are part of our offense, we are part of our defense."

Broncos special teams have been anything but the past three games. They nearly blew the New England game by committing two penalties so costly that they might as well have been considered turnovers, for they turned Patriots punts into Patriots first downs.

Then there was the 77-yard punt return for a touchdown by San Diego's Darren

Sproles, and the 95-yard kickoff return for another by Baltimore's Lardarius Webb last week that was the biggest play in the Broncos' only defeat.

"The timing of that play (last week) was critical," Reid said. "We played tough the first half; it was a tight game. The timing of the situation was what exposed it and also the fact our return team didn't do very well. If we returned one or two like we did (in the San Diego game, when Eddie Royal had two for TDs), maybe it's overlooked.

"Maybe it's better that it happened like this now, so we tighten up the reins right now instead of it happening later and having it costing us a game later or maybe in the playoffs."

Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com

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