PITTSBURGH (AP) — The more coach Mike Tomlin keeps talking about it, the more agitated his players get.



Exactly the response Tomlin wants from his Pittsburgh Steelers.



Tomlin keeps referring to the Broncos as having "the world's best defense," a reference to Denver's spot atop the NFL team yardage statistics. He mentioned it during the weekly team meeting. Before practice on Wednesday. Before practice on Thursday. And he'll likely keep saying it until game time Monday.



"We've heard coach Tomlin say it 1,000 times already this week," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "They're a great defense, a big challenge for us ... an awesome challenge."



By constantly reminding that the Broncos (6-1) are playing better statistically than the Steelers (5-2), Tomlin is trying to motivate both his offense and his defense. He wants his offense determined to prove it can move the ball in Denver, and his defense mad that it's no longer No. 1.