AP

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been looking. But he can’t find a good way to attack the Broncos defense, at least not one he’s ready to admit now.

Of course, he was talking to Denver reporters, via the team’s official website, but he’s also speaking the plain truth about Sunday’s game against the league’s top-ranked defense.

“I haven’t found out yet,” Roethlisberger said. “Their pass rush and rushing coverage work together. Their pass rush is unbelievable; they have edge rushers getting around the outside and inside guys getting a push. Their secondary guys are being physical, making plays. The ball is in the air, they intercept it and they score. So, there’s a reason they’re No.1 in almost every category.”

There’s some degree of buttering up the opponent there, of course. But Roethlisberger also runs a pretty efficient unit himself, as the Steelers have overcome his injury absence earlier this year and now have the second-ranked offense in the league, scoring over 30 points in five straight games.

“We always say that we want to be the best,” Roethlisberger said. “To be the best, you have to beat the best and this is the best defense in the NFL. They prove it week in and week out. For all of us, not just the wide receivers—I think if you ask anybody on offense, we want to try to be the best. It’s going to be a challenge and a test for all of us.”

Roethlisberger doesn’t even need to channel his inner Ric Flair to hype this one, however. The Steelers have been keeping a tremendous pace with the ball lately, and if they can score on the Broncos, it will cement their place as contenders, even if they still need some help to get into the playoffs.