Should The Denver Broncos Explore Signing Larry Johnson?

Not surprisingly, former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson and his massive salary cleared waivers today, officially making him a free agent for the first time in his career.

The talented, yet troubled tailback was waived from the Chiefs after using homosexual slurs on his Twitter page, which resulted in a suspension by the team. 

Instead of reinstating him, the Chiefs parted ways with the former Penn State superstar, a move that was probably best for both parties involved.

Amidst reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Johnson wanted to return to the state of Pennsylvania to play for the red-hot Pittsburgh Steelers, the free agent tailback’s status is still in limbo.

Will he play again in 2009?

Smart money says that Johnson will find a home soon.

Will the Broncos express interest? I think they should, and here’s why.

The Broncos’ rushing attack is on the decline, and it’s going nowhere fast. A group that once ranked fifth in the NFL in yards per game this season has gone from elite to mediocre in a month’s time.

Denver’s running game now ranks 18th in the league with a meager 111 yards per contest.

Knowshon Moreno has not done as well as expected, and Correll Buckhalter has been frequently injured. LaMont Jordan plays sparingly, and when he does, he makes little impact.

Larry Johnson is a player who, not long ago, was considered to be among the NFL’s elite and a real load to tackle. Even as recently as last year, he tore apart the Denver Broncos in a regular season game that shattered the Broncos’ confidence.

This year, he is not quite averaging three yards per carry behind a Kansas City offensive line that is among the worst in the NFL. 

Even if he is limited in his ability to play, the Broncos should seriously consider bringing Larry Johnson in for a short stint. Their struggling rushing attack could use his skill between the tackles, and games like the one they just had against the Pittsburgh Steelers (27 yards, zero rushing first downs) simply cannot happen.

Plus, Johnson would have two opportunities to stick it to the team that just cut him.

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Denver Broncos Sign Veteran Cornerback Ty Law

If only they had put this unit together at the start of the decade…

In a relatively unexpected move, the Denver Broncos have agreed to a contract with veteran cornerback Ty Law, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Law re-joins the league after stints with the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, and you guessed it:  The New England Patriots.

Pending a physical, Law will join the Broncos tonight and will give the Broncos the NFL’s most illustrious defensive backfield along with Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.

This sign comes as a bit of a surprise, and no word was given as to whom Law will be replacing on Denver’s roster.  Jack Williams has been limited in practice of late with an injury, and Alphonso Smith has also been battling injury this season.

 

 

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My Interview With Denver Broncos Ring of Fame LB Karl Mecklenburg

I recently had the privilege of sitting down and having a phone conversation with one of the best players in Denver Broncos history, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg.

Mecklenburg was drafted by the Broncos in the 12th round of the 1983 NFL Draft as a nose guard out of Minnesota. Throughout his NFL career, he proved to be more versatile than a Swiss army knife, playing every position on the defensive front seven.

He performed all the way to a Ring of Fame career with the Denver Broncos that included six Pro-Bowl appearances and four All-Pro selections.

As a player, Mecklenburg helped the Broncos to three AFC titles and a regular season record of 114-65. Still, Mecklenburg didn’t keep the experience of and lessons learned from the NFL to himself, as he has just finished writing his first book entitled Heart of a Student Athlete: All Pro Advice for Competitors and Their Families. 

You can find more information on purchasing the book at www.studentathlete.us , where there is a sample chapter and a guest page. 

I strongly encourage all of you to check out this book even if you are not a parent or a student athlete. The lessons it teaches are absolutely outstanding, and reading the experiences of a professional athlete, to me, are always interesting.

In addition to his book, Mecklenburg operates the REACH (Rewarding Experiences for All Children) Foundation and performs motivational speeches all across the nation. Check out www.karlmecklenburg.org for more information about this program, and see a later segment in the interview for more details.

I am honored to have spoken with him personally, and I would like to share our conversation with you readers after we reminisced about the great city of Sioux Falls.

Sayre Bedinger: What was it like writing this book? What was your experience and what did you learn from it personally?

Karl Mecklenburg: The book was a challenge for me. I have dyslexia, so the writing part was really a challenge. It took more than five years to put together. I had another book from 1987 with a ghost writer and I was not happy about the experience. I really wanted to finish a book myself and I am pretty happy with the result but it was a long haul.

SB: Early on in the book, you state multiple times that success is overcoming obstacles on the way to your dreams. Why do you feel this interpretation of success is so important?

KM: I think a lot of people on the outside looking in, just getting started, they will realize that everybody who is successful has overcome. If you have an extravagant dream, the obstacles can be daunting. Both of my grandfathers worked in the stockyards of south St. Paul (MN), my dad went through grad school in three years then into the Army for med-school, and my mom had a daunting road to her eventual work in the government. 

You decide your own future. God has given us all different talents and abilities, and He also gives us free will. It’s up to you to go out and try new things.

SB: Do you feel, having been drafted in the 12th round that this particular derivative of success was prevalent in your playing career very early on?

KM:  It really was, you know, I went through challenge after challenge after challenge in football. Every one of them reinforced in my mind that I had to decide whether it was important enough for me to go through this. Doing things to get to the next day of practice, it really was a big part of it.

SB: You were part of some of the best teams in Broncos history, winning multiple AFC titles and going to six pro bowls; What is your greatest memory from your experiences with the Broncos?

KM: So many, but the obvious one is “The Drive” game when we went into Cleveland and won that game. It was such a hostile environment with the fans throwing dog biscuits at us, honking their horns outside of the hotel trying to keep us awake—Going into the situation and getting that win on the road; it was just a great feeling and I’ll never forget it.

SB: You have been honored by the Broncos by being named a member of the “Ring of Fame.” Do you feel you should be in the Hall of Fame or is it all just a bunch of politics?

KM: Well, it obviously is a political situation. I mean, if I could vote for me, I would, but you do what you do on the field and it’s out of your hands after that. I have a lot of respect for the players I played with and I feel there are a lot of guys from those Bronco teams that deserve to be in as well. You know, Pat (Bowlen, Broncos owner) has got to be disappointed that only John (Elway) and Zim (Gary Zimmerman)—you know, only two guys in the Hall of Fame. I know he is doing a lot with the committee to get some of these guys in.

SB: You said in your book that you grew up a Minnesota Vikings fan. Does playing for a team for over a decade change your loyalties?

KM: I’m a Bronco guy, there’s no doubt about it. The Vikings passed on me for 12 rounds, and I’m glad they did because with my knees, I probably wouldn’t have been able to play as long as I did on that artificial turf. I love it here in Denver; the people, the fans, being gracious for what this team has done. They have accepted me.

SB: The book talks about how the media favors the negative aspect of off-field life of NFL players in particular, but you go on to make a very compelling argument about how only one player from your team in 1983 has had legal issues. Do you feel that trend is still true in today’s NFL world where it seems like a player is arrested every day?

KM: I think it applies, I really do. The characteristics that allow you to succeed in the NFL are the same characteristics that allow you to succeed in life. The vast majority of NFL players are great guys, wonderful guys. In fact, there is a player from the Minnesota Vikings out of Maryland; young guy (safety Madieu Williams) who has started a foundation for his home town of Sierra Leone where children often die before they turn five years old. I think it’s really admirable what he is doing and, you know, it’s a shame that that sort of thing doesn’t make the news. If he were to hit his wife, it would be the front page headline. I can speak at a church every week, and that barely gets any news but you can guarantee if I were to hit my wife, my name would be all over the place.

SB: Going along with that, what was your reaction to everything that happened in Denver this offseason: The Shanahan firing, the Cutler trade, Brandon Marshall demanding a trade and acting like a fool in practice?

KM: A wait and see attitude. I know Mike had gotten to a point where he’d lost the ear of the team. It became apparent that players were becoming much more concerned with themselves than the team. You know, you saw last year with the Denver Nuggets trading Allen Iverson. Iverson is a great player, but he’s a selfish player. Chauncey Billups is a team player and a leader, but if you were to put him up against Iverson, Iverson would win nine out of ten times. Billups is just a great leader and he is willing to do whatever it takes to win.

SB: It’s interesting that you make that comparison, because some have compared Iverson and Billups to Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton. What do you make of that comparison?

KM: Well, I have gotten to know Jay through the Broncos and golf tournaments, and he is a child still. He is more concerned with himself than the team, and when Josh McDaniels came in, he came in with a system that wasn’t going to throw as much, and Jay saw that and put McDaniels in a tough place where he had really no choice but to get rid of him. He wasn’t happy with his contract or the prospect of not throwing the ball as much as he did in the past.

SB: With the Cutler situation and all of the negativity in the media surrounding for the Broncos—they tried to sugar coat it by saying they didn’t pay any attention to what the media was saying, but it’s got to feel good to stick it to everyone who doubted them.

KM: Certainly, every ball-player can get that blackboard material. We’re competitors, that’s what makes us athletes. You want to succeed. I think they have done an amazing job defensively, the way they play fundamentally. You know, I have been paying attention to the Broncos’ defense since I was drafted in 1983, and I am really impressed with the changes they have made on that side of the ball.

SB: Mike Nolan was a coach while you were there, correct?

KM: Yeah, Mike coached me he was a young guy. He got his first coaching job as a linebackers coach with the Broncos and I think he learned as much from us as we learned from him. He coached fundamental football; a lot of tackling drills, shedding blocks—He has taken things to a whole other level  He’s a good guy and he really cares about his players. 

SB: Talk about the REACH Foundation and what people can do to get involved.

KM: Yeah, we just started a program called “Reach for a Book” where kids in Denver elementary schools are encouraged to read 100 minutes a week. If they complete that goal, they get a free pizza. There is also a scoreboard on the classroom doors, so there is a little competitions between the kids. The top two readers are invited to Invesco Field to be honored for their efforts. The website is www.karlmecklenburg.org , and we would love to hear from people. As far as getting involved, donations help, but we do a golf tournament. This past year we held a poker tournament, and there are other volunteer opportunities. 

 

My interview with Mecklenburg, along with reading his book, have shed a whole new light on professional athletes and the NFL in particular. It has also been a key tool for me in focusing my goals and what I want to do in life.

I hope you all enjoyed this experience as much as I did, and again, I strongly encourage purchasing this book. It is great for aspiring youth, parents, coaches, pastors, or simply someone who is a fan of the NFL and likes a good story. Mecklenburg did an excellent job in his first solo book, and it is a great gift idea for the coming holiday season.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos Add RB Lance Ball, Re-Sign DL Carlton Powell to Practice Squad

For the second time since the season has started, the Denver Broncos made changes to their roster.  This time, they subtracted and added two players to their practice squad.

Joining the Broncos are running back Lance Ball and defensive lineman Carlton Powell.  Running back Darius Walker was waived from the team and defensive lineman Everette Pedescleaux was placed in injured reserve.

Ball is in his second year in the NFL out of Maryland, and he has spent time with Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Tennessee already. 

In his only NFL action thus far, he helped the Colts’ offense in a 2008 regular season game when he carried the ball 13 times for 85 yards, as well as catching a pass for five yards.

Powell is in his second stint with the Broncos after having spent time on the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.  The Broncos selected Powell in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech, where he was a teammate of current Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal.

Ball will wear No. 35 for the Broncos, and Powell will be wearing his third number with Denver in No. 96.

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NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Setting the Records Straight

And then there were two.

The Denver Broncos have been dethroned and their undefeated season has come to a close.

The other undefeated teams, Indianapolis and New Orleans, remained perfect though both games came down to the wire.

Who has taken the number one spot over?

Here are some rules to consider as you make your guesses:
1. Wins and losses; win percentage/ Opponents beaten win percentage

This is the biggest factor. A team who wins more often than not should logically be placed higher on this kind of a list. For instance, if a team is 6-0, they are automatically given superiority to a team that is 5-0. They have played more games, thus, they have been tested more, and it is fair.

Similarly, if a team is 0-6, they are automatically placed higher than a team that is 0-7. The 0-7 team has had more chance to win, and they have failed.

2. Head to head victory.

If two teams have the same record and have played each other, the winning team is ranked higher than the losing team. This is probably the most logical of all the factors.

3. Opinion

As is rarely the case, if all other factors are a complete tie, then I implement my opinion.

Enjoy!

Begin Slideshow

Ravens 30, Broncos 7: Denver Handed First Loss of 2009

The Denver Broncos have come crashing down to earth, and rightfully so.

Denver went to M&T Bank Stadium early Sunday afternoon and had their lunch served courtesy of the Baltimore Ravens.

Denver lost its first contest since week three of the preseason in an ugly 30-7 rout by Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, and Baltimore.

Both teams were coming off bye weeks, but it was clear which team was more prepared for this game. Baltimore never trailed in their first victory in four games, and they made the Broncos look silly with their resurgent defense.

Denver had multiple matchups they could have exploited this afternoon, but the Ravens’ pass rush was simply unstoppable. They confused Denver’s usually reliable offensive line, and Kyle Orton (who usually has time enough to knit a sweater) was chased around all day long.

The Ravens were simply better in every facet of the game on Sunday, both offense and defense.

Despite allowing 23 points, the Denver defense actually held their own for the most part. The one area they really struggled was in third-down conversions, where the Ravens were able to convert over half their attempts. 

The Broncos crossed into enemy territory only three times, and entered the red zone only once. 

Their best drive of the game consisted of the biggest play being a 40-plus yard pass interference call on Domonique Foxworth. Denver did capitalize on their only red-zone attempt, which is encouraging, but they had a lot of help from Baltimore in getting there.

This was a very discouraging game for the Broncos and their fans, but all of the pessimism is unwarranted. 

The Broncos are a team that has exceeded all expectations this season, and a 6-1 record is of elite caliber. Denver is behind only Indianapolis in the standings, and they lead San Diego by two games in the AFC West, with a head-to-head victory and a home game left against them.

This loss should be considered a reality-check for the Broncos, who undoubtedly will be more prepared for their Monday night matchup with Pittsburgh next week.

One thing that needs to be fixed is the special teams, believe it or not. Denver has allowed a return touchdown in two straight games, and Eddie Royal could get absolutely no room on his returns today. Simply no blocking was happening.

The Broncos looked lackadaisical and downright undisciplined. One of the reasons Denver has been so good this season is because they have been able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and Baltimore simply played Denver’s game today.

Denver got a taste of its own medicine, but this fan thinks a return to the winner’s circle is coming sooner rather than later.

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Broncos-Ravens Preview: Keys to Victory for Denver in Week Eight

The Denver Broncos are off to one of the most magical starts in recent NFL history.  After an offseason of verbal beatings, Josh McDaniels has led his resurgent Denver team to a 6-0 start, and following their bye week, they face one of their toughest tests yet.

For their Week Eight matchup, the Broncos will travel east to take on the Baltimore Ravens, one of the NFL’s feel good stories from the 2008 season. 

After a quick 3-0 start, many considered the Ravens to be one of the best teams, if not the best team in the entire NFL. Since then, they have dropped three straight games and find themselves two back of the Steelers and Bengals in the AFC North.

Denver and its number one defense travel to Baltimore to take on one of the league’s most explosive offensive units, led by Joe Flacco and Ray Rice.

If Denver is going to improve to a perfect 7-0 this season, they are going to have to do so against a balanced Baltimore attack. Here are my keys to victory for Denver in Week Eight.

 

1. Imprint Joe Flacco’s No. 5 on the turf

By this, I obviously mean that Denver and its top pass rush need to keep the pressure on Joe Flacco, and often.

Elvis Dumervil leads the NFL with ten sacks through six games, and is on pace to absolutely shatter Michael Strahan’s single season record of 22.5 quarterback take-downs. 

The Broncos do a great job of mixing things up with their blitz packages with disguises and eight or nine man fronts. They are able to blitz much more often than not because of their superb talent in the defensive backfield.

The Ravens have been able to throw the ball all over the field this season due to a partial lack of talent on behalf of their opponents, because Baltimore does not have the most imposing group of receivers.

Baltimore will try to counter Denver’s pass rush with a barrage of screen passes, which were extremely effective in the second half of their bout with Minnesota two weeks ago.

 

2. Denver’s Passing Attack

The Ravens’ clear weakness lies with their defensive backs, who combined with a relatively quiet pass rush have given the Ravens the NFL’s 24th ranked pass defense.

This is an area Denver clearly needs to take advantage.

The Broncos are ranked 13th in the NFL in passing offense, but that number has risen every week so far this season. Kyle Orton’s only interception this year came on a hail mary pass at the end of the first half against the New England Patriots, so the Broncos play an efficient pass offense.

They may need to be a bit more aggressive against the Ravens to exploit this weakness, and there is no reason Orton shouldn’t be able to pick and choose where he wants to throw it.

Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal clearly overmatch Baltimore cornerbacks Domonique Foxworth and Fabian Washington, who are speedy but not very physical.

The key for Baltimore lies with Ed Reed, who is bound to have his hands full on Sunday.  The Broncos boast a bevy of talent offensively, and a scouting report given to me by a Vikings analyst indicated that the Ravens were susceptible to the pass over the middle.

Denver needs to exploit this weakness with their physical receivers and with screen passes. Tony Scheffler saw a career high in receiving yards in Denver’s last game and he could be a huge factor on Sunday as well.

One of the most underrated aspects to Denver’s aerial attack is its offensive line, which is absolutely dominant. This group is arguably the best in the NFL, and they have been a huge reason for the Broncos’ offensive success thus far.

3. Create Turnovers

The Broncos started the season with a ton of turnovers, but the last couple of games they have been relatively quiet in that category. Baltimore is plus two in the turnover margin, so they do not often hurt themselves in that venue.

Denver is going to have to instigate the situation, and it starts with my first key to victory which is the pass rush. Joe Flacco is a good quarterback, but his strong arm can get him into trouble at times, and the Broncos need to take advantage.

 

4.  Get out to an early lead

This one is pretty simple, actually.

Denver is the best defensive team in the second half of football games this season, allowing only 10 points through 12 second half quarters.

If the Broncos can get out to an early lead, statistics would indicate that they can hold on to it. The Broncos have had to come back in over half of their games this season, and while the comeback win is still a win, Denver is ninth in the NFL in total offense, and is more than capable of putting up points.

The Broncos have scored 17, 20, and 34 points in their last three games, so their offense is obviously improving.

Getting out to an early lead helps a lot in terms of defense as well. Obviously, if the Broncos get out to a hot start, they will be able to pin their ears back on defense and get after the quarterback.

 

Final Thoughts

The fans in my earlier article picked the Broncos to win by a final count of 231 votes to 27 in favor of Denver. 

Obviously, the Broncos are a team that is gaining respect across the league, but many still consider them to be an underdog in this game. It seems like if a team like New England had similar numbers to Denver, they would be double-digit favorites, but I digress.

This should be a great game, one filled with great coaching and good defense. When it comes down to it though, it seems that this game will be decided on the offensive side of the ball. Which defense will give in first?

Can the Broncos improve to 7-0 on the season and continue their magical run?

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NFL Power Rankings Week Eight: Setting the Records Straight

Welcome to my third edition of NFL “Power Rankings”, which are based on what I believe is the most fair system offered out there for any rankings. Most people believe Power Rankings should be based on opinion or hypothetical situations of which team is better than which, but I firmly believe that wins and losses are the only thing that should matter when it comes to this type of list, so here are some rules to consider as you read along my rankings. 1. Wins and losses; win percentage/ Opponents beaten win percentage This is the biggest factor. A team who wins more often than not should logically be placed higher on this kind of a list. For instance, if a team is 6-0, they are automatically given superiority to a team that is 5-0. They have played more games, thus, they have been tested more, and it is fair. Similarly, if a team is 0-6, they are automatically placed higher than a team that is 0-7. The 0-7 team has had more chance to win, and they have failed. 2. Head to head victory. If two teams have the same record and have played each other, the winning team is ranked higher than the losing team. This is probably the most logical of all the factors. 3. Opinion As is rarely the case, if all other factors are a complete tie, then I implement my opinion. I hope you enjoy!

Begin Slideshow

Early Thoughts on The Broncos-Ravens Week Eight Matchup

For Denver Broncos fans and Baltimore Ravens fans alike, the bye week is finally over and it is time to get back to work.

Sunday’s matchup pits the Broncos (6-0, first place AFC West) against the Ravens (3-3, third place AFC North) in what figures to be a pivotal matchup for both teams.

Denver has a flawless record following their bye week and only one injury to report. This has some fearing the off-time came a bit too early this season, though it was nothing they could control.

The Ravens are a very intriguing matchup for the Broncos, especially on the road.

After starting the season 3-0, the Ravens appeared to be one of the NFL’s top teams following an impressive 2008 campaign which saw them win 11 games.  It appeared as though they were on track to improve on last year’s total following victories over Kansas City, San Diego and Cleveland.

Then it went downhill.

The Ravens lost three straight games by a combined 11 points, including a two-point loss against Minnesota in Week Six on a missed field goal by kicker Steven Hauschka as time expired.

Three losses by 11 points would lead one to believe that the Ravens are much better than their record would indicate, and I think they are.

For the first time this decade, Baltimore boasts a better offense than they do defense, led by their passing game and quarterback Joe Flacco.

Flacco has had an outstanding season so far, but the MVP of Baltimore’s offense has to be undersized running back Ray Rice, who leads the team in both rushing and receiving. 

Rice has rushed for 441 yards and three touchdowns on a six-yard per carry average. He also has 33 receptions for 325 yards and a touchdown. 

The Ravens are in the top 10 of every major offensive category and boast the league’s ninth-ranked run defense.  This is a team that can get out to a large early lead and hold on to it.

How will the Broncos counter?

The biggest thing for Denver will be running the ball.  The Broncos have the league’s seventh-best rush offense, but they did not look great running the ball against San Diego for some odd reason. 

If the Broncos are unable to run the ball, Baltimore will be in the game until the very end, if they haven’t already run away with it.  Inversely, if the Broncos can run the ball effectively, they will most certainly control this game from the outset.

Denver’s defense has been absolutely suffocating this season, ranking in the top 10 of every major category.

Denver’s defense is aggressive. The Ravens like to run a lot of screen plays.  If the Broncos blitz early and often, the Ravens will take advantage by dumping the ball to Ray Rice or Willis McGahee.

Mike Nolan will have his unit well prepared, and the Broncos always seem to make proper adjustments during the game anyway.

If Denver can limit the big play on screen passes, it will be hard for the Ravens to get anything going on offense.  It doesn’t appear as though they will match up well with Denver’s outstanding defensive backs, either.

On the other side of the ball, the Broncos have some very favorable matchups.  Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney and Tony Scheffler could have a field day against a Ravens defense that ranks 24th against the pass.

Kyle Orton has played exceptional football so far this season, virtually mistake-free.  If he can keep the ball away from Ed Reed’s grasp, the Broncos will have to do a lot to beat themselves offensively.

The Ravens have home-field advantage in this game, but the Broncos are hungry for their seventh consecutive victory.  If Baltimore is going to keep pace in the AFC North, they need to win this game and move to 4-3.

It should be an exciting contest in Baltimore on Sunday.

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Early Thoughts on The Broncos-Ravens Week Eight Matchup

For Denver Broncos fans and Baltimore Ravens fans alike, the bye week is finally over and it is time to get back to work.

Sunday’s matchup pits the Broncos (6-0, first place AFC West) against the Ravens (3-3, third place AFC North) in what figures to be a pivotal matchup for both teams.

Denver has a flawless record following their bye week and only one injury to report. This has some fearing the off-time came a bit too early this season, though it was nothing they could control.

The Ravens are a very intriguing matchup for the Broncos, especially on the road.

After starting the season 3-0, the Ravens appeared to be one of the NFL’s top teams following an impressive 2008 campaign which saw them win 11 games.  It appeared as though they were on track to improve on last year’s total following victories over Kansas City, San Diego and Cleveland.

Then it went downhill.

The Ravens lost three straight games by a combined 11 points, including a two-point loss against Minnesota in Week Six on a missed field goal by kicker Steven Hauschka as time expired.

Three losses by 11 points would lead one to believe that the Ravens are much better than their record would indicate, and I think they are.

For the first time this decade, Baltimore boasts a better offense than they do defense, led by their passing game and quarterback Joe Flacco.

Flacco has had an outstanding season so far, but the MVP of Baltimore’s offense has to be undersized running back Ray Rice, who leads the team in both rushing and receiving. 

Rice has rushed for 441 yards and three touchdowns on a six-yard per carry average. He also has 33 receptions for 325 yards and a touchdown. 

The Ravens are in the top 10 of every major offensive category and boast the league’s ninth-ranked run defense.  This is a team that can get out to a large early lead and hold on to it.

How will the Broncos counter?

The biggest thing for Denver will be running the ball.  The Broncos have the league’s seventh-best rush offense, but they did not look great running the ball against San Diego for some odd reason. 

If the Broncos are unable to run the ball, Baltimore will be in the game until the very end, if they haven’t already run away with it.  Inversely, if the Broncos can run the ball effectively, they will most certainly control this game from the outset.

Denver’s defense has been absolutely suffocating this season, ranking in the top 10 of every major category.

Denver’s defense is aggressive. The Ravens like to run a lot of screen plays.  If the Broncos blitz early and often, the Ravens will take advantage by dumping the ball to Ray Rice or Willis McGahee.

Mike Nolan will have his unit well prepared, and the Broncos always seem to make proper adjustments during the game anyway.

If Denver can limit the big play on screen passes, it will be hard for the Ravens to get anything going on offense.  It doesn’t appear as though they will match up well with Denver’s outstanding defensive backs, either.

On the other side of the ball, the Broncos have some very favorable matchups.  Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney and Tony Scheffler could have a field day against a Ravens defense that ranks 24th against the pass.

Kyle Orton has played exceptional football so far this season, virtually mistake-free.  If he can keep the ball away from Ed Reed’s grasp, the Broncos will have to do a lot to beat themselves offensively.

The Ravens have home-field advantage in this game, but the Broncos are hungry for their seventh consecutive victory.  If Baltimore is going to keep pace in the AFC North, they need to win this game and move to 4-3.

It should be an exciting contest in Baltimore on Sunday.

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