Week 1: Raiders vs Broncos

At 10:15PM ET the Denver Broncos will be at the McAfee coliseum to play the Oakland Raiders, in what will be a very important opening week matchup.

The Broncos have dominated the Raiders as of late, but with that said, who hasn’t? When I look at the stats, my head starts to spin, so instead of staring in a remake of The Exercist, I have decided not to look at those annoying numbers and focus on the now.

These are two very evenly matched teams.

Both have potentially stellar QBs. Both have solid run games. Both have an amazing defensive backfield. Both struggle with the run defense. Both have a thin, and questionable recieving core. Both have weak offensive lines. Both have average special teams, that can be great at times. And both teams are not expected to win the division, much less make the playoffs, or even have an above 500 average.

So who gets the edge?

I believe that the Broncos will lose this game because of the following 3 reasons:

1. The Broncos defense was terrible last year, and getting rid of Lynch and some of the other older guys, is not going to fix that problem. I believe that the Raiders will run the ball over 70% of the time, and when Russell is asked to pass the ball, it will be for safe plays. Fargas, McFadden and Bush will all get used, and they will cause fits for the Broncos defense, as they all have very different styles of play. Because of the run game, the Raiders will control the clock, and keep eating up the yards.

2. Cutler is the only true offensive threat that the Broncos have. With Marshal out for this game, he will have a thin group of guys to throw it to, and he will have to do it against one of the best defensive backfields in the game. The Raiders will be able to stuff 8 guys in the box, and focus on the run defense, and that will make Denver have to pass, more then they want to. This will open up the chance for INTs and the turnovers could kill them.

3. Oakland is at home. Say what you will about home field advantage, but it has to count for something.

Key to the game:     Run defense!

Luck goes out to the raider nation, as we try to start this season off on a great note. A win, and a divisional one at that.

Here we go!!!!

Tremblay

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