PITTSBURGH (AP) -Santonio Holmes' fumbled kickoff return led to the Denver Broncos' second touchdown less than four minutes into the game and a 14-point deficit that the Pittsburgh Steelers never overcame.

Holmes' fumbled punt, one of his five fumbles in the last four games, forced coach Bill Cowher to pull him off the kick return teams.

``I didn't like the look in his eyes,'' Cowher said.

Cowher also doesn't like the look of a Super Bowl championship team that has lost six of seven games and, with a 2-6 record, trails Baltimore by four games in the AFC North. Bad records often bring changes, as evidenced by the benching of cornerback Ike Taylor only two months after he signed a new contract.

Considering the Steelers' investment in Taylor - more than $6 million in signing bonus alone - that demotion is likely to be short-term. So is the decreased use of Holmes, a fast wide receiver who figures to play a greater role in the offense during the second half of the season.

Just as soon as he gets rid of those fumbles.

``He's put the ball on the ground way too many times,'' Cowher said. ``He knows that and I remind him of that. He's got to do a better job of securing the football. In terms of a receiver and picking up this offense, I think he's gotten more comfortable and I think he'll continue to get better.''

Despite his two fumbles on special teams, Holmes had six catches for 58 yards in the 31-20 loss to Denver on Sunday and has 13 receptions in his last three games.

``I had a little talk with Santonio, and I think he's going to be OK,'' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. ``I tell him to keep his head up because we're going to need him on offense. He's a great asset to this offense and I think he will continue to grow. He's learning and making less mistakes for us on offense.''

One reason Holmes may be fumbling more is the increased speed of special teams play in the NFL. In college football, even at Ohio State where Holmes played, special teams players often are backups; in the NFL, former college stars usually man such roles.

``You have your ups and you have your downs, and Sunday was one of those days you have your downs,'' Holmes said of his struggles as a returner.

Holmes, a first-round draft pick, got a late start on learning the offense because he couldn't attend the Steelers' offseason workouts in May and early June. The NFL bars players from attending anything but a minicamp until their college class has graduated.

That set back Holmes when he arrived for training camp in July, and he hasn't yet beaten out veteran Cedrick Wilson to become a starter. But Holmes has one more reception than Wilson, 22 to 21, though neither has a touchdown catch.

Those numbers reflect one major problem of this Steelers offense: the lack of a deep-threat receiver to take some of the pressure off Hines Ward, who has 41 catches.

During the Steelers' last 24 regular-season games, the starting receiver opposite Ward - last year, it was Antwaan Randle El - has only one touchdown catch.

Holmes didn't say so, but it's apparent he thinks that is about to change.

``If it came down to it, I'd like to be starting, but I don't have any say-so,'' Holmes said. ``The progress I'm making, I'm pretty sure they're satisfied with it.''

With defenses repeatedly stacking eight defenders along the line of scrimmage to keep the Steelers from getting their running game going, Roethlisberger is being forced to throw more than he did in his first two seasons. Falling behind repeatedly also has led to more throwing.

``When you're down 14-0, you don't have too many options to get back into the game,'' Ward said.

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