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 Playoff Push: Breaking Down The Denver Broncos’ Remaining 10 Games

Even with the extra week off to let it sink in, it’s still hard to believe that we’re actually where we are.

The Denver Broncos are 6-0 and hold a three-game lead over the Chargers in the AFC West.

The Broncos and their fans have been on cloud nine all season long, but as head coach Josh McDaniels reminds the media every week, a 6-0 record doesn’t mean squat. It doesn’t give the Broncos the AFC West, a conference championship, or the Super Bowl ring all coaches and players are after.

All it means to McDaniels and the team is that they had a solid start to the season and they need to be playing their best football in the final weeks. Plenty of teams have started fast throughout NFL history only to crash and burn at the end of the regular season and/or the postseason.

That said, the Broncos are in prime position to make the postseason for the first time since the 2005 season. However, they still face a tough slate of games ahead that will test their mettle and make sure they are playing the best football each and every week, regardless of the “significance” a game holds.

Here’s how the Denver Broncos remaining 10 games should shape up as the Broncos make a push for a division title and a postseason berth:

Nov. 1, at Baltimore Ravens

Many outside observers look at the Ravens as a team in a bit of trouble after their sizzling 3-0 start to the season. The Ravens defense has been anything but fierce and the suddenly explosive offense, led by second year quarterback Joe Flacco, has gone back into its shell. 

However, if there is one thing any coach in the NFL should know is that you never underestimate a defense that has Ray Lewis on it. Lewis is one of the all-time great leaders in NFL history and he will have his unit ready to play against the undefeated Broncos.

Still, I like the Broncos No. 1 defense better here as the Broncos remain undefeated for at least one more week.

Prediction: Broncos win

Nov. 9 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

The Broncos’ second appearance on Monday Night Football in four weeks is a home affair against the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers. The Steelers got off to a bit of a sluggish start in 2009 after All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu went down with an injury, but they have since come roaring back with Polamalu back in the lineup.

If there is one defense in the NFL right now that more dangerous than the Broncos, it’s the Steelers. One only needs to look at the drubbing they put on the previously unbeaten Vikings in Week Seven. Dick LeBeau’s unit swarms from all over the place and will be giving Kyle Orton fits all day.

All in all, I think the Broncos unbeaten streak stops at seven.

Prediction: Broncos lose

Nov. 15 at Washington Redskins

Ever since the Broncos started their magical run, fans have been openly wondering how this team would handle adversity. What would the team do once it lost its first game?

While there is no shame in losing to a solid team like Pittsburgh, Denver gets a chance at what should be an easy bounce back game against the Washington Redskins. I’m not going to re-hash all the Redskins’ problems because every other sportswriter has been writing about them ad nauseum.

That said, this still has the potential to be a trap game for the Broncos. I don’t see that happening, however, as the attitude McDaniels has instilled in this team shouldn’t allow such a thing to happen.

Prediction: Broncos win

Nov. 22 vs San Diego Chargers

The last time the Broncos met the Chargers it was the Eddie Royal Show on Monday Night Football. Royal returned a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the Broncos’ 34-23 win. The Broncos were behind at the half, but behind Royal and some great halftime adjustments made by the coaching staff, the Broncos were able to come from behind for the win.

This time the Broncos have the home field advantage and the Chargers could be a very desperate team at this point facing a potential huge deficit in the division. It’s likely Norv Turner could be coaching for his life coming into this game.

I like the Broncos here to do yet another “impossible” task that no one gave them a chance to do at the start of the season: Sweep the series against the Chargers.

Prediction: Broncos Win

Nov. 26 vs New York Giants

The Broncos return to the slate of Thanksgiving Day games—this year playing in the nightcap against the Giants. The Giants got off to yet another strong start this season by winning their first five games. They fell back to Earth the past two games though, getting blown out by the Saints in New Orleans and losing a squeaker at home against the Cardinals.

The Giants’ defense is still their strong suit even with new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan. Eli Manning has struggled a bit as of late and it is taking time for him to gel with his new receivers. 

I look for the Broncos to give Eli fits, but Kyle Orton might need to have a career day against the Giants to win. I think Denver loses its second game of the year here.

Prediction: Broncos lose

Dec. 6 at Kansas City Chiefs

Once again after a potential loss to a solid team, the Broncos face what should be an easy game to bounce back against an inferior opponent. The Chiefs are in a rebuilding process under first-year head coach Todd Haley with former Tom Brady backup Matt Cassel under center. 

They also have a potential major headache in running back Larry Johnson, whose Twitter escapades earned him a suspension by the team this week. With no solid backup, the Chiefs offense is one of the weakest in the NFL.

In another potential trap game, Denver should win this one no problem. The defense should have no trouble containing the Chiefs’ offense, and the Broncos’ offense should run all over the Chiefs.

Prediction: Broncos win

Dec. 13 at Indianapolis Colts

In what could be a preview of either an AFC divisional playoff game or even the AFC Championship, the Broncos undoubtedly face their toughest task of the 2009 season: Stopping Peyton Manning. No one has been able to do so thus far, and frankly I am not sure if anyone can.

What has been remarkable about the Colts this season is that Manning is working with all new wide receivers, especially with Reggie Wayne out with injury. Manning has his young wideouts looking like seasoned vets. That’s the mark of a truly great quarterback.

With home field advantage throughout the playoffs possibly on the line, Denver will keep this closer than many think it will be. I don’t think it will be enough.

Prediction: Broncos lose

Dec. 20 vs Oakland Raiders

Unbelievably, the Raiders showed signs of life two weeks ago, upsetting the Eagles 13-9.

Then the following week they were promptly shutout by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and the Jets, 38-0.

Such are the Oakland Raiders. Who knows who will be under center for the Raiders. Should JaMarcus Russell continue his putrid play? I say who cares? Denver should win this one, too.

Prediction: Broncos win

Dec. 27 at Philadelphia Eagles

In this game, the Broncos face their their last true tuneup before the playoffs start.  The Eagles could still be in the midst of a three-way battle for the NFC East at this point, so the Broncos should expect to see an intense Eagles squad.

The Broncos likely would have the AFC West sewn up at this point, but it seems like that won’t keep McDaniels from getting maximum effort out of his team. Teams that go flat towards the end of the regular season are usually one-and-done once the postseason begins.

I think this game will be a real toss-up, but I like the Eagles here just because they will have more on the line than Denver. It will be a close game throughout.

Prediction: Broncos lose

Jan. 3 vs Kansas City Chiefs

In the regular season finale, the Broncos likely will be resting many starters for the playoffs. That said, I still think the Broncos second-teamers are better than most of the Chiefs’ starters, so I look for the Broncos to win this game.

Prediction: Broncos win

If you tally it all up, I have the Broncos going 12-4 although that could easily be 13-3 depending on the outcome of the game against the Eagles. In a season in which the Broncos were expected to not win more than five games or so, a 12 win season will be cause for celebration in Denver.

The team won’t be celebrating though unless they are able to win the ultimate prize, Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. Could this team be one of the greatest Cinderella stories in league history and bring home the Lombardi Trophy?

With the AFC being ultra-competitive—an 11-5 record did not warrant a playoff trip in 2008—I think the Broncos stand a good chance of getting a first-round bye. They own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Patriots because of the win earlier this season. 

I think the Colts get home field, and the No. 2 seed will come down to Denver and whomever wins the AFC North, which I think will be Pittsburgh. If that’s the case and they beat the Broncos during the regular season, they get the No. 2 seed and Denver faces a wild card team in the first round. 

This is how I see the Broncos finishing the 2009 season, but if there is one thing this team has taught us it is to expect the unexpected and to believe. This team could still go 16-0 at this time.  t’s still a possibility and as long as it still is, the Broncos will continue to pursue that goal.

Buckle up Broncos fans, the fun has just begun.

You can follow Kris Burke on Twitter @KBurkeNFL

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Why a Loss to the Broncos Could End The Ravens’ Season

With three consecutive losses, the Ravens desperately need a win to keep pace with the division-leading Bengals and Steelers, who are 5-2. A win over the Broncos will keep Baltimore hot on their tails. However, a loss means Baltimore falls below .500 for the first time this year, a scenario Ray Lewis would like to avoid.

“3-4?” quoth the Raven. “3-4? We don’t want to go there. I think even the great Edgar Allan Poe would agree that that would probably result in a ‘Premature Burial’ of our playoff plans.”

“If nothing else, though, we’re playing for pride. Defensively, we’re not playing up to our capabilities. We’re lacking passion and fire. In keeping with the Poe theme, who was known to have a drinking problem, we’re suffering from an ‘absinthe’ of malice.”

Josh McDaniels has brought youthful exuberance to the head coaching position in Denver, and the players have quickly bought into his system. The Broncos are 6-0 and boast a three-game lead in the AFC West.

“I wear my emotions on my sleeve,” says McDaniels, “whereas Mike Shanahan wore his on his face. It’s no wonder Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall were ‘seeing red’ when I got here — they had been conditioned to do so.”

“I’ll put my defense up against the Ravens any day. ‘The Raven’ may be big in Baltimore, but ‘The Hawk,’ Brian Dawkins is hot in Denver. I’d like to say this is a contest between two great defenses, but I can’t. Because the Ravens are playing.”

Broncos win, 19-17

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Breaking Down The Ravens Vs. Broncos Match Up

When I look at the matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos, there seem to be several mismatches waiting to be exploited by the Giants.  The Ravens are a tough team to face, but perhaps more so in the past than today, as the Ravens have been vulnerable to the pass in recent games.  They also miss Rex Ryan more than many thought they would.  The Ravens are a team built to apply pressure and take advantage of the mistakes that said pressure forces other teams to make.

However, in this young season the Ravens have not yet applied the desired pressure on opposing offenses, furthermore they have not been as creative in their blitz packages, which is a clear sign of a team missing their former coordinator.

I have broken down this game into four matchups that could very well decide the outcome of this game.

Ravens ground game vs Broncos run D

The Ravens boast a very good and efficient run game, with a one-two punch composed of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee.  The Ravens will pin the 10th ranked rushing attack against the 3rd best rushing defense.  While the ground game does not seem to be the focal point of Baltimore’s offense anymore, it is definitely a crucial part of their attack.

Rice and McGahee each bring something special to the table and they certainly have very different running styles.  They also bring a line very similar to the Cowboys, they are big and strong but not the most athletic group in the world.  When pitted against a Broncos defensive front that is very athletic but not as big the Ravens, Oline should come away with some success.  All in all, this is a matchup to watch and is one area where the Broncos face a disadvantage.

Advantage:  Ravens

Broncos ground attack vs Ravens run D

This is an interesting matchup for me.  While the Broncos do bring the 7th best ground game in the league, they will face the 7th best rush defense in the league.  The Ravens streak of not allowing a 100 yard rusher was broken, and since then they have slowed a bit.  Denver’s one-two punch bears some similarity to that of the Ravens with the different styles and their versatility.

Denvers’ offensive line is among the very best, if not the best in the league and they have helped the Broncos develop a very efficient ground game.  I believe that the new streak for the Ravens continues as their aging defense continues to miss Ryan and the Broncos hit them up foe 100+ yards in the match up.

Advantage: Broncos

Ravens newfound pass attack vs the Broncos veteran secondary

While it might be cheek to say that Baltimore’s passing attack has developed and turn the corner, they are still very much unimpressive to me.  Mason, Clayton, and Heap do not present an elite core of receivers to threaten the Broncos secondary.  While the O line has been good in pass protection, they are far from impregnable and Flacco’s mobility does help, when it comes to getting to the QB the Broncos hold a decisive advantage.

What the Broncos need to watch out for, once again, is the screen game.  Ray Rice has shown a knack for taking screen and short passes and turning them into huge gain, when you add Denver’s aggresive style of defense this could be a problem.  All that said, I think the Broncos veteran leadership in the secondary will be a major asset.

Advantage: Broncos

Broncos spread vs Ed Reed (basically)

When the Broncos lineup to pass the ball there is one man that has to be accounted for at all times, that man is Ed Reed.  Baltimore has chosen to go the young route this off season when they addressed their secondary, it might prove to be a very wise choice in the future but not this season.  The Ravens pass defense is ranked at a very pedestrian 23rd in the league and while the Broncos are not very impressive at number 12th, they have been getting better with each passing week.

Kyle Orton has been very careful with the ball whenever he has dropped back to pass, but the more time Orton and his weapons spend together, the more dangerous they become.  When you look at weapons like Marshall, Royal, Gaffney, Scheffler, and Stokely against a very young and inexperienced secondary, you see some serious mismatches.  The one man that does have to be accounted for at all times is Reed, he can and will cause serious problems for Orton and company if he is not accounted for.

This matchup is one that the Broncos should exploit and handle with ease.  I believe that this week is one that the Broncos show a more cohesive and potent offense.

Advantage: Broncos

I have never been one for predictions and I will not start now, but I will say that while most people seem to be under the impression that the Ravens will win this game I say the the Broncos keep the perfect record after this week.

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A Look at the Denver Broncos’ Future

There has been a lot of talk about the future of the Broncos at certain positions specially at QB seeing that this is a contract year for Orton.  Some of the fans have taken to speculation as to whether the Broncos will draft a QB in next years draft or if they will re-sign Orton or promote from with in.

This is a very interesting situation, and one that will be the topic of many rumors and speculation for the remainder of the season or until something is done by the front office.  The way I see it i is really not all that tough to see what Mcdaniels might be headed towards.

Orton has done an impressive job so far in handling the transition while learning and leading the offense, and he has surprised all of his critics including me.  He has been a key part to their success and has been getting better with each passing moment, but he is one of many Broncos in a contract year, and while he is a key part there are others that will demand the attention of the front office as well.

Some of the key members of the Broncos that face free agency include, Brandon Marshall and the king of doom himself Elvis Dumervile.  I believe that those two will represent the priority when it comes to being re-signed.  I know that may seem a little out there for some of us but the more I think about it the more it makes sense.

Marshall is huge part of our offense and is a headache for opposing defenses to cover, even more prove of this is the fact that the more McDaniels incorporates Marshall into the offense the better it has become. 

Add to this that Marshall has presumably turned the corner on his antics and has fully bought into the system and he becomes more indispensable with each week.  I have seen Marshall become a better blocker and his attitude and route running have improved dramatically.

If the front office hasn’t already begun drafting long term contracts and talks with Marshall, they soon will, this is one that we simply must keep.  He will demand a big contract but one I’m sure will be riddled with clauses regarding his off the field issues and attitude.

I don’t forsee this as a problem, from what I’ve heard, Marshall is more than willing to take his lumps, as they say, and negotiate his up-coming long term deal.  I have even heard that he is just find with an incentive oriented contract because he is out to prove his worth and that he has changed for the better.  The Broncos have the cap space to certainly accommodate Marshall and I think they will.

Then there is Elvis.  What can I say about this kid, non stop motor, great technique and certainly is very very coachable, not to mention the fact that he just simply gets the job done and then some.  Elvis’ knack for getting to the QB isn’t something that you can coach or teach, its a gift. 

He has become a disruptive force in the defense and by standing him up during running downs he is more than efficient against the run.  Elvis is just as important to the Broncos as is Marshall and he too is one that we simply must keep with the organization if we are to be successful in the future. 

His unique skill set and attitude as a “team guy” will demand a big payday from the Broncos, one that could very well be along the lines of Ware’s contract in Dallas.  This is a deal that will get done towards the end of the season but I don’t believe that Elvis will even sniff free agency, because as I stated before he is definitely a keeper.

Another that I would like to talk about is half of the Ryan brothers, Ryan Harris.  While he is not in the final year of his contract, he is an exceptional player.

I’m sure most fans would agree with me when I say that Harris is a very important player in Denver’s O line and one that if not for Clady could very well be the starting left tackle for the Broncos, and could very well be for any other team.  He is one that I think should be re-signed as soon as possible.

That brings us to our QB, Mr. reliable Kyle Orton.  While he has played at a very high level and will surely be and upgrade at the position for over half of the NFL, Kyle finds himself in a very weird situation. 

Many, in the media and front office personnel, have attributed his success here in the Denver to the system, and while this is partly true I think its safe to say that not all of its due to the system.  Kyle has proved himself to be more than just a game manager and is on his way to being a bonafide play maker in this offense, with time.

Orton is barely 27 years old and has all the tools needed to succeed, but there are a couple of problems standing between Kyle and a BIG payday.  One is the perception surrounding Orton around the league, and that is that he is no more than a product of the system and his performance in a different system would not be comparable.

This is an issue that Kyle must face if indeed he and the team decides to let him try free agency and one that will keep this valuable commodity’s price down, from what it should be for a QB of his caliber, one that is a proven winner.

Second and perhaps his biggest issue to getting a big pay day here in Denver, goes by the name of Tom Brandstater.  The rookie you say, yes the rookie.  Tom showed a lot during the preseason (when he was prepared) to warrant hope for the future as the QB.

Brandstater showed, excellent arm strength, mobility, athleticism and touch when he got a real chance during the preseason, not to mention awareness and a very good ability to make the right read and go through his progressions.  Word on the street is that Mcdaniels is very high on this QB and likes him a lot.

This puts Orton in a weird place.  Orton knows all to well about the perceptions around the league about him, and he knows that those perceptions will keep his price tag relatively low in the free agent market. 

Add to that the fact the Tom and even Simms both performed well given their chances and this will drive his value down even further and elevate the “he’s just a system guy” talk even higher, but this all plays in favor of the Broncos.

You see, if Orton would like to stay in Denver, and I believe that he would very much like to, he will have to do it not only below market price, but if Xanders is as good as I have heard he is when it comes to the cap, he will probably have to take a home discount as well.  All this boils down to Orton being very available to re sign in Denver, something that I think is of great benefit.

A lot of my “brothers” in orange and blue have speculated that Denver will go the QB route come April but that’s just not McDaniels’ style.  He comes from a system that has taken two lower round picks and turned one of them into a hall of fame QB and another into a capable one.  McDaniels likes to develop his QBs within the system and not pay much for them, that is one of the main things he brought with him from New England.

I have a very strong feeling that he will go defense to start next years draft, specially if we retain Orton.  Among the bounty of defensive talent coming out of next years draft are LB Spikes from Florida and NT Cody from Alabama.

I won’t presume to know which way we will go but I would love to see Cody wearing the orange and blue, can you picture it a line that starts Baker and Thomas at DE and Cody in at NT, that would be a very nice defensive line indeed.

Then again we might draft Spikes who is a very good prospect at LB and I would not mind seeing that either, but who knows, Mcdaniels might go for something else entirely and draft Taylor Mays or he might go the QB route, in the end though, I have no doubt that McDaniels and Xanders will do what is best for the team and that is something we should take great comfort in.

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With Every Loss, Bears Pay More for Cutler

Last spring, the Chicago Bears made a play for Jay Cutler, a quarterback whom they thought would be the future of their franchise. Indications are, they still feel the same way about him, as they awarded Jay a fat contract extension that will likely be worth as much as $30 million for two years.

Just a few days after locking up Cutler, the Bears went into Cincinnati and got ran over by Cedric Benson, whom they drafted in 2005. Benson seemed to pick up at least ten yards every time he touched the ball. This, of course, put Jay Cutler in a tough position, but his response to the hardship was less than inspiring.

He finished the game with one touchdown pass and three interceptions. Not a $30 million dollar day, as the Bengals steamrolled the Bears 45-10.

Whats most disturbing about the loss is that the Bears trademark defense seems to be missing this season. The heart of their team, Brian Urlacher, hasn’t been able to contribute this season, which could have a lot to do with it. But that doesn’t matter to the undefeated Broncos. It only gives them more hope that the 2009 Bears will be a complete flop.

The Bears still owe Denver their first round pick this season. This was originally dismissed as a late first round pick, but week by week, it is becoming more apparent that this pick could very well be in the Top 10.

Its double jeopardy for the Bears. The less Cutler does for them on the football field, the higher the draft pick the Bears will fork over for him.

The way things are going, this trade is getting sweeter and sweeter for the Broncos. It is now possible that after trading away their “Franchise Quarterback” in 2009, they could be in line to draft another in the 2010 draft.

As it is now, the Bears have already traded Kyle Orton, Robert Ayers, Seth Olsen, and Richard Quinn for Jay Cutler, and Johnny Knox. The trade already seems one sided, with Robert Ayers proving to be a very solid pass rusher, and Kyle Orton playing mistake free ball. Seth Olsen is good insurance for Denver’s veteran offensive line, and Richard Quinn was considered the nation’s premiere blocking tight end at the collegiate level.

Johnny Knox may be the only pleasant surprise for the Bears, in an otherwise disappointing season. Cuter has basically thrown an interception for every touchdown pass this season, and his contract will make it even tougher for the Bears to get better in the future, having already given up their first and second round picks in this year’s draft. Ouch.

But it just gets worse from there. Bears’ GM Jerry Angelo may not know any greater pain than to watch Denver turn around a year after the trade, and use Chicago’s pick to draft Jake Locker, or Tim Tebow, or Jim Clausen, or even Sam Bradford, as there is no consensus pick as to which QB will get drafted first this year.

It will be a tough year for Bear fans.

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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!

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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.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Top Five Plays from the 2009 Denver Broncos (so far)

What a season it has been so far for Broncos fans.

In a season in which the team was expected to struggle, the team has surged out to a surprising 6-0 start and a three game lead over the Chargers in the AFC West.

There have been many great memories so far this year. Here are the top five to date:

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Kyle Orton: The NFL’s “Inglourious Basterd”

Game Manager. That’s the inglorious term in which Kyle Orton has been dubbed. When did effectively managing the offense become such a bad thing?

Every talking head in the world of sports makes the same point. Get the ball into the hands of your playmakers. Isn’t that what Kyle Orton has been doing throughout this amazing 6-0 Denver Broncos start?

Orton has effectively spread the ball around to his playmakers. Brandon Marshall, Knowshon Moreno, Tony Scheffler, Eddie Royal, and Brandon Stokley are Denver‘s playmakers and Orton has done a fine job of getting the ball to them.

How did “game manager” garner such a negative connotation? Its relatively simple, due in part to effective marketing campaigns, the NFL has promoted the notion that the quarterback should be the flashiest guy on the field (see: Manning, Brady, Romo, etc.) but how often does flash equal results?

Through six games, Orton has thrown for 1,465 yards, nine TDs and only one INT. Keep in mind that one INT was on a halftime Hail Mary jump ball against New England, hardly what I would consider to be poor execution. If you take Orton’s averages through six games and spread it out through a full season, Orton posts an exceptional line of 3,600 yards, 24 TDs and 3 INT.

Orton is a winner, plain and simple. He boasts a 27-12 record as an NFL starter, and won 58 percent of his college starts. I believe you would be hard pressed to find any of the 0-6, 1-5 or 2-4 teams in the NFL that wouldn’t benefit from having Orton under center.

A successful NFL quarterback needs three things in his arsenal. Timing, touch, and accuracy. Orton has displayed all three thus far, couple that with the fact that Josh McDaniels runs a pseudo-spread offense similar to what Orton ran at Purdue and add a dash of veteran moxy and you have a recipe for success.

Kyle Orton is the NFL’s “Inglorious Basterd”, but should he have continued success in Denver, I think you will soon see the phrase “Pro Bowler” associated with one of the NFL’s best game managers.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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