Get your popcorn ready. Sunday’s showdown at Pittsburgh should provide a dramatic story line.

All eyes should be on the the Steelers’ receiving corps, which is arguably the best in the NFL, when it faces off with the Broncos’ Pro Bowl set of cornerbacks.

The Broncos’ prowess against opposing offenses has been on display all season. Denver has been the league leader in pass defense and total yards allowed nearly every week.

The Steelers have been on a tear since quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned from a left foot strain, torching every defense in their path. Pittsburgh has scored 30 or more points in each of its past five games.

“They’re hot because they haven’t played us yet,” safety T.J. Ward said. “A lot of teams were hot before they played us.”

Denver hasn’t allowed an opponent to score 30 points this season.

Even in a loss Sunday, cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris played one of their best games against Oakland. They shut down the Raiders’ top two receivers, Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper.

Crabtree finished with four catches for 19 yards. Cooper came into the game leading all first-year players with 920 receiving yards, and he finished with the same amount after failing to make a catch on eight passes thrown to him.

“They came to the no-fly zone,” Talib said. “That’s how it goes out here.”

Sunday it’s a new challenge facing Roethlisberger, who is one of the best deep passers in the league, and for his trio of receivers — Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton — who put fear into most corners.

Brown is second in the NFL with 1,397 receiving yards on 100 receptions, and he leads the league in yards after the catch. The 5-foot-10, 181-pound, lightning-fast receiver probably will be matched up with Harris. For those keeping track, Harris hasn’t allowed a touchdown in more than two years.

Talib will have his hands full with the 6-4, 211-pound Bryant, who can take over a game. Bryant suits up as the Steelers’ No. 3 receiver, but he averages 84 yards per game, which is better than any Broncos receiver.

Bryant and Wheaton are great deep threats, each ranking in the top five for yards per reception among receivers with at least 30 catches.

Recently, teams have avoided Talib and Harris, focusing their offensive attack on tight ends and running backs. That has increased with Denver’s injuries at the safety position.

Sunday’s game could be a little different. Roethlisberger is a high-risk, high-reward quarterback.

“These are the games you want. You want those teams to challenge you,” Harris said. “You’re going to have a lot of opportunities to get interceptions.”

Roethlisberger has thrown 15 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions in nine games this season. He is averaging 332.1 passing yards per game, best in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Broncos haven’t allowed a 300-yard passer all season.

What makes the Steelers so dangerous is that any one in their trio of receivers can break out at any time.

Brown torched Oakland with 17 receptions for 284 yards. The next week, Bryant torched Cleveland with six catches for 178 yards and a touchdown. Two weeks later, Wheaton made nine catches for 201 yards and a touchdown against Seattle.

Still, Brown is the Steelers’ true No. 1 receiver and one of the NFL’s best.

This isn’t the first matchup for Harris and Brown. The two squared off in the 2011 AFC wild-card game and the 2012 season opener. Brown made five catches for 70 yards in their first meeting and four catches for 74 yards in the second one.

Part III is sure to be a fun one, a couple of the league’s best playing at peak level.

Cameron Wolfe: cwolfe@denverpost.com or @CameronWolfe

Big games for everybody

Antonio Brown is the Steelers’ best weapon, but he’s not the only star in their receiving corps. Pittsburgh’s best wideouts each have had at least one spectacular game this season:

PlayerOpponentCatchesReceiving yardsTouchdownsAntonio Brown11/8 vs. Oakland172840Martavis Bryant11/15 vs. ClevelandSix178OneMarkus Wheaton11/29 at SeattleNine201One

Let the better man win

A look at how Denver’s Chris Harris, Aqib Talib and the rest of the secondary have shut down opposing wide receivers in their past three games:

OpponentName of top receiverPasses to wide receiversCatches for wide receiversReceiving yards from wide receiversTouchdowns for wide receiversvs. New EnglandBrandon LaFell11Five440at San DiegoMalcom FloydEightFour600vs. OaklandAmari Cooper17Six39One