Didn't get to see much of the game ...

[TDs3nOut]

but it looks to me like what I kind of suspected: we are likely to become a team that relies much more heavily on its defense than we have the past three years. Still, the offense has to get better than it seemingly was today, right?

 

[SpiritOf77]

The defense looked great .. Ware was explosive, and if today's game is any gauge, he still has the ability to be a dominating factor .. We completely shut down their passing game, and Flacco was constantly in duress ..

Talib, Harris, Marshall, Trevathan, Miller, Malik Jackson, and even Sly Williams looked great ... and Stewart was excellent, and saved the game at the end with the pick ...

The one concern is that David Bruton left the game late, and while he walked off under his own power, it didn;t look good ... Yes, TJ will be back for the KC game, but Bruton is one of my favorites as he plays such an important role on this team - a real unsung hero IMHO

CJ looked nicked up too .. that's concerning as I don't think Hillman is a good option as the number one back

It is tough to accurately gauge what this offense is, and what it will be . . The Ravens were very good on defense ( I think ), but with the exception of Sanders, Hillman and Norwood, our O looked out of sync the entire game - those 3 guys were excellent - Sanders looks good on punt returns - very sure handed and explosive ...

McManus was awesome - I was worried because he was rattled last season, but he had shown flashes of tremendous potential .... He went out there like a 10 year vet and nailed his first attempt - the 57 yarder .... He had the 57, a 56, 43 and 33 yard FGs, and everything on KOs went into the stands ..

I hesitate to bring up Manning because I am admittedly very critical of him ... But I think there is real reason for concern - he looked as he did in the preseason - worse at times ... No zip, balls wavering and hovering, one attempt at a Jake The Snake roll out was actually sad as he missed a wide open receiver ... He missed Sanders at least twice on potential TD throws, and the Ravens "sacks" were Manning dropping like Bambi ...

Let's hope the OL meshes - which it definitely will as there is some obvious talent here - Paradis looked good ..... The run game should take off, as I suspect this might have been the most difficult game for them - a developing OL and a very stout Raven run stopping D ...

Take away anything over the top and you've got Manning - that is a big concern ....

If today was any indication, cannot imagine what we will see come January in freezing temperatures from Manning ...

 

[TDs3nOut]

The defense looked great .. Ware was explosive, and if today's game is any gauge, he still has the ability to be a dominating factor .. We completely shut down their passing game, and Flacco was constantly in duress ..

The one concern is that David Bruton left the game late, and while he walked off under his own power, it didn;t look good ... Yes, TJ will be back for the KC game, but Bruton is one of my favorites as he plays such an important role on this team - a real unsung hero IMHO

CJ looked nicked up too .. that's concerning as I don't think Hillman is a good option as the number one back

It is tough to accurately gauge what this offense is, and what it will be . . The Ravens were very good on defense ( I think ), but with the exception of Sanders, Hillman and Norwood, our O looked out of sync the entire game - those 3 guys were excellent - Sanders looks good on punt returns - very sure handed and explosive ...

McManus was awesome - I was worried because he was rattled last season, but he had shown flashes of tremendous potential .... He went out there like a 10 year vet and nailed his first attempt - the 57 yarder .... He had the 57, a 56, 43 and 33 yard FGs, and everything on KOs went into the stands ..

I hesitate to bring up Manning because I am admittedly very critical of him ... But I think there is real reason for concern - he looked as he did in the preseason - worse at times ... No zip, balls wavering and hovering, one attempt at a Jake The Snake roll out was actually sad as he missed a wide open receiver ... He missed Sanders at least twice on potential TD throws, and the Ravens "sacks" were Manning dropping like Bambi ...

Let's hope the OL meshes - which it definitely will as there is some obvious talent here - Paradis looked good ..... The run game should take off, as I suspect this might have been the most difficult game for them - a developing OL and a very stout Raven run stopping D ...

Take away anything over the top and you've got Manning - that is a big concern ....

If today was any indication, cannot imagine what we will see come January in freezing temperatures from Manning ...

Only saw coverage of the first half and only what was shown on Red Zone. I did see Peyton miss Sanders for TDs twice. Also saw him run a bootleg play where he looked pretty good before making an errant throw. Agree that Bruton is an important player and that Hillman probably isn't ideal as our feature back. I do have a lot of faith, however, in Thompson and perhaps Bibbs. Hopefully the O clicks better at KC, but I think that we might have to get used to riding the defense a lot more than we typically have the past three years.

 

[Mingo]

I heard Bruton interviewed on KOA after the game and there was no mention of any injury to him.

Manning started the 2012 season the same way as he is starting this one - out of rhythm with his receivers - by my eye there is no difference in his ability to throw the ball. Remember he did not get the reps he was used to in pre-season or training camp.

The problem with Manning outside the just mentioned rhythm issue - is there was no commitment to the run game until the 4th quarter. In quarters 1-3 the Broncos were still trying to set up the run game with Manning's passing - instead of setting up the passing game with establishing the run game. CJ Anderson was also not in rhythm - because runners can't get in rhythm unless you run them. Hillman looked better, but he was fresh legs in 4th quarter at altitude. Still on that 4th quarter drive the Broncos ate up 11 minutes off the clock and if they had scored a TD - it would have effectively ended the game.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Stewart only cleaned up that last defensive play. If I recall correctly it was Bruton who actually saved the TD by having his hand/arm in between the receiver and the ball, stripping it away.

 

[Mingo]

Stewart only cleaned up that last defensive play. If I recall correctly it was Bruton who actually saved the TD by having his hand/arm in between the receiver and the ball, stripping it away.

I've seen the play a number of times via GIF on another site - and while Bruton does tip the ball - Stewart actually takes the ball out of the receiver's hands - great NFL play.

 

[SpringStein]

Funny that Bruton had no idea it was intercepted. He just thought he had knocked it away.

 

[LGM]

So the past what decade? We always complain about a lack of turnovers, ints, etc. Then we play the Ravens, by all accounts a very good team, and we get two ints with one of them a pick 6?

My MVP is Wade Phillips, all day long.

 

[WalkerBoh]

I've seen the play a number of times via GIF on another site - and while Bruton does tip the ball - Stewart actually takes the ball out of the receiver's hands - great NFL play.

Look at it in slow motion. It looks like the ball was knocked away before Stewart grabs it.

 

[Mingo]

Boh - still not how I see it, but I'm getting old - and they say that the eyesight is the second thing to go.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

but it looks to me like what I kind of suspected: we are likely to become a team that relies much more heavily on its defense than we have the past three years. Still, the offense has to get better than it seemingly was today, right?

We got that game down here.

My thoughts for a game one.

DEN...the OL is going to take some time to develop...never have seen Manning hit that many times in a game in as a Bronco...the young LT looked okay at times and he looked like a rookie at times which is expected...recognizing and picking up the delayed blitz is one thing the OL will get better at.

DEF...it was dominant, but being totally honest I thought BAL's OFC would struggle early in the season...new OC, lost WR1, young TEs...but the strength of that OFC is supposed to be the OL and they were made to look bad yesterday...I'm going to say the DEN OFC is not nearly as bad as the result and the DEF is not as good as the result from yesterday.

Manning...call it rust, idk, but the rumors of lack arm strength were on display at times yesterday...need to see more to make a firm judgement but no question he's closer to the end than ever before.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Boh - still not how I see it, but I'm getting old - and they say that the eyesight is the second thing to go.

Ehhhh..... was still a great INT.

 

[TDs3nOut]

I just saw a replay of the Stewart INT and it definitely looked like Bruton knocked the ball away. Very nice play to recognize that he needed to turn, run at the receiver and get his hand up. He is credited with two PDs in the box score, so that play is presumably one of those.

 

[cdumler7]

We got that game down here.

My thoughts for a game one.

DEN...the OL is going to take some time to develop...never have seen Manning hit that many times in a game in as a Bronco...the young LT looked okay at times and he looked like a rookie at times which is expected...recognizing and picking up the delayed blitz is one thing the OL will get better at.

DEF...it was dominant, but being totally honest I thought BAL's OFC would struggle early in the season...new OC, lost WR1, young TEs...but the strength of that OFC is supposed to be the OL and they were made to look bad yesterday...I'm going to say the DEN OFC is not nearly as bad as the result and the DEF is not as good as the result from yesterday.

Manning...call it rust, idk, but the rumors of lack arm strength were on display at times yesterday...need to see more to make a firm judgement but no question he's closer to the end than ever before.

I would say with how much Tgann and some of the other Ravens fans bragged about the OL that if that was the case then the Broncos should have one of if not the most dominating pass rushes in the entire game. They had 19 drop backs where they brought pressure or something like 65% of the passing attempts. That is a ridiculous number. So even if they are breaking in some new pieces that OL should have looked better than it did if the Broncos defense isn't as dominating as some were thinking heading into this season. To me I don't think that game was an anomaly but what Bronco fans can come to expect in a very attacking defense. The one worry is they will be open to big plays because of how aggressive they play which I do think the lack of a deep threat hurt them in this one. I told Tgann that they would miss Torrey Smith especially early on in the season.

 

[Broncos6482]

Look at it in slow motion. It looks like the ball was knocked away before Stewart grabs it.

I agree, Bruton had that ball knocked out and Stewart cleaned it up with the INT.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I would say with how much Tgann and some of the other Ravens fans bragged about the OL that if that was the case then the Broncos should have one of if not the most dominating pass rushes in the entire game. They had 19 drop backs where they brought pressure or something like 65% of the passing attempts. That is a ridiculous number. So even if they are breaking in some new pieces that OL should have looked better than it did if the Broncos defense isn't as dominating as some were thinking heading into this season. To me I don't think that game was an anomaly but what Bronco fans can come to expect in a very attacking defense. The one worry is they will be open to big plays because of how aggressive they play which I do think the lack of a deep threat hurt them in this one. I told Tgann that they would miss Torrey Smith especially early on in the season.

If we are to think DEN will play that well every game...maybe you're onto something. The reason I thought they looked better than advertised is because BAL was breaking in a new OC, they have a near 40 y/o playing WR1, a rookie TE...take nothing away from DEN, but even with a good OL, I just find it hard to believe they would be 100% in sync after a camp and 4 PS games.

Taking the high or the low from game one and assuming that to be the standard is preemptive thinking at its best.

 

[cdumler7]

If we are to think DEN will play that well every game...maybe you're onto something. The reason I thought they looked better than advertised is because BAL was breaking in a new OC, they have a near 40 y/o playing WR1, a rookie TE...take nothing away from DEN, but even with a good OL, I just find it hard to believe they would be 100% in sync after a camp and 4 PS games.

Taking the high or the low from game one and assuming that to be the standard is preemptive thinking at its best.

But that is only looking at one side of the coin then. The Broncos have a new DC. They have their 2 starting ILB's coming off serious injuries from last year. The DL was essentially 3 new starters compared to last year. And both starting Safeties in this one did not start for the Broncos last year. So essentially the team only had the returning players of Ware, Miller, Harris, and Talib. The rest were role players, injured, or not with the team last year.

I would also add that the Ravens had said all off season that they were keeping the same playbook. So same offense from a year ago just different coordinator running it. Throw in the same starting 5 OL players that finished 3rd last year in total PFF grades for a starting unit. Yet they got dominated to the tune of Flacco having pressure on close to 65% of his drop backs and a running game that was dominant last year only gaining 3.2 yards per carry with most of that being from one long run.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

But that is only looking at one side of the coin then. The Broncos have a new DC. They have their 2 starting ILB's coming off serious injuries from last year. The DL was essentially 3 new starters compared to last year. And both starting Safeties in this one did not start for the Broncos last year. So essentially the team only had the returning players of Ware, Miller, Harris, and Talib. The rest were role players, injured, or not with the team last year.

I would also add that the Ravens had said all off season that they were keeping the same playbook. So same offense from a year ago just different coordinator running it. Throw in the same starting 5 OL players that finished 3rd last year in total PFF grades for a starting unit. Yet they got dominated to the tune of Flacco having pressure on close to 65% of his drop backs and a running game that was dominant last year only gaining 3.2 yards per carry with most of that being from one long run.

Maybe we're debating two different things...noted on the other side.

I'm debating whether the effort (based on 1 gm) should be considered the standard. I don't care who you play...the sample size is too small to assume that result is the standard every week.

You seem to be establishing BAL OFC as a strong measuring stick because they bragged about their OL and DEN dominated them.

I've said BAL OFC would struggle from the beginning so I was not shocked that they didn't score. Any time you shut out a NFL OFC, it's a great effort...we need to see a little more is my point.

 

[cdumler7]

Maybe we're debating two different things...noted on the other side.

I'm debating whether the effort (based on 1 gm) should be considered the standard. I don't care who you play...the sample size is too small to assume that result is the standard every week.

You seem to be establishing BAL OFC as a strong measuring stick because they bragged about their OL and DEN dominated them.

I've said BAL OFC would struggle from the beginning so I was not shocked that they didn't score. Any time you shut out a NFL OFC, it's a great effort...we need to see a little more is my point.

Sorry I should have said that one game definitely does not set the standard. They have to do this week in and week out. I will say though as a Bronco fan I have been hearing all off season about how dominant the defense has looked in practice and then we saw when the 1st units were in during preseason that same thing showed up in a very dominant defense. In fact they had more sacks than completions allowed against them with the 1st unit in. So then I see that week 1 of the season still and it makes me think that this is no fluke that this unit is actually looking to have a more dominant season.

Baltimore's offense was a bit of a measuring stick though to me in that they had a very dominant OL last year and were returning all 5 starters. I figured if we could get pressure on Flacco with that unit on the field then it would show pretty well that this pass rush is not a joke. While yes they are adjusting to a new Coordinator again they have the same playbook and a group that was one of the more dominant offensive groups last year in both passing and running. Obviously we have to wait and see how this all plays out but to me the evidence is beginning to mount that this Broncos defense is set up to have a very dominant season and maybe even outshine our offense.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Sorry I should have said that one game definitely does not set the standard. They have to do this week in and week out. I will say though as a Bronco fan I have been hearing all off season about how dominant the defense has looked in practice and then we saw when the 1st units were in during preseason that same thing showed up in a very dominant defense. In fact they had more sacks than completions allowed against them with the 1st unit in. So then I see that week 1 of the season still and it makes me think that this is no fluke that this unit is actually looking to have a more dominant season.

Baltimore's offense was a bit of a measuring stick though to me in that they had a very dominant OL last year and were returning all 5 starters. I figured if we could get pressure on Flacco with that unit on the field then it would show pretty well that this pass rush is not a joke. While yes they are adjusting to a new Coordinator again they have the same playbook and a group that was one of the more dominant offensive groups last year in both passing and running. Obviously we have to wait and see how this all plays out but to me the evidence is beginning to mount that this Broncos defense is set up to have a very dominant season and maybe even outshine our offense.

DEN...agreed...play a few more games and we'll have a better idea of just how good they are.

BAL...the DEN front 7 dominated an experience OL...I get that...it's no small task.

With the same playbook, take Owen Daniels, Dennis Pita, and Torrey Smith away from the OFC...insert Perriman (#1 draft pick out gm 1), Maxx Williams (rookie), Marlon Brown...couple that with Forsett now having to prove he's not a 1 yr wonder...I think it's going to take a few weeks for them to be hitting on all cylinders...however many cylinders that might be this year. LY they scored in the top 10 with 409 pts...I'm thinking they will be in the 350 range this yr.