Chadiha:You can write it down now:The Broncos will be playing in this year's SB

Broncos win the next 8 super bowls. Write it down

This is same as when manning had all those weapons in indy and everyone in the country thought they will win the SB. Everyone falls in love with manning.

Believe it or not, I wasn't overly impressed by the Broncos. You all saw how close the first half was. So what changed? I truly believe the injury to Jacoby Jones and Micahel Ore completely took away the Raven's offense and then they became mentally weak afterward. Along with some bad tackling by the birds, the game was quickly out of reach.

Despite all of the points scored, their offense didn't flow like a well oiled machine, not yet anyway. Maybe I will view them as truly elite later in the season but not after beating a team clearly in transistion.

The Broncos offense looked phenomenal. I think they will be supremely tough to knock off.

But the last three years straight, we've had a 4 seed and below win the Super Bowl. It's about getting hot in December and January, not early September. Let's take everything with a grain of salt for a few weeks.

alvinnf said:

As soon as teams figure out that Manning has trouble exploiting the deep part of the field, they will start to flood the underneath zones and make it much more difficult for them offensively. I saw a QB who lost the zip on his fastball. Same thing the Ravens saw the second half of last years divisional game. The only deep shot I saw him take last night was an underthrown ball to Decker that drew an offensive PI. Only time will tell.

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"that drew an offensive PI"

Isn't this what usually saves Manning? It seems to me the refs assume that if his pass wasn't completed it must have been interfered with and so they pick some hapless defensive player and tag him with the penalty.

For me, the great thing about watching the Denver Mannings is that they could have the greatest of all time at every single position surrounding the 5-head, and I'd still be thinking "If the Patriots face them in the playoffs, Manning will choke enough to give NE a chance to win".

Like everyone else, I was impressed with their passing game, how could you not be? Welker and Julius Thomas are excellent additions, D. Thomas is absolutely loaded with talent, and I think Decker is better than he showed yesterday.

However, as we all know, all too well, the season is all about adjustments, and I saw enough to make me believe Denver has some vulnerabilities on offense and defense. Let's not forget that Baltimore was playing with 8 new starters, including two certain Hall of Fame players and both starting safeties, on the road, at altitude, etc. Not exactly a recipe for effective adjustments for them.

I think you can shut down Denver's running game, and while this may just be my old school bias, I'm still a big believer in the value of balance on offense. I'm not impressed by Moreno at all, he's always seemed very ordinary to me, not big, not fast, not a weapon. I think they'll be starting Ball by mid-season. More to the point, regarding their passing game, I think you have to take away the middle of the field, make Peyton beat you throwing to the edges. You also have to try to be physical with Peyton, it does rattle him and he is all about being comfortable. Finally, lets not forget Peyton's history playing outside in the cold weather, it isn't stellar. Last time I checked there is no dome in Foxboro, or Denver for that matter.

Their defense is nothing special, when Miller gets back it will be a plus, but I think they will regret losing Dumerville. Without Elvis to contend with, I think a good OL can shut down Miller, he's good but not at the JPP,Ware, or Watt level. I'm not buying Phillips as a replacement for Dumerville through an entire season. They did a nice job against the run last night, but Baltimore was playing with a new center and losing Oher hurt their offense both running and passing, and Flacco returned to his usual medicrity during regular season road games (check his record in that spot, it's not so good).

After 2007, I don't know how anyone can declare a lock on a Super Bowl victory, especially after week 1. Hell, Manning is one blind side hit from a wheelchair.

The Broncos weren't that impressive to me. They realistically could have lost that game if the proper challenge was issued on that Welker drop. That play alone probably changed the complexity of the game, at least momentum wise.

Any passing attack would look good against James Ihedigbo and Michael Huff.

Deus Irae said:

For me, the great thing about watching the Denver Mannings is that they could have the greatest of all time at every single position surrounding the 5-head, and I'd still be thinking "If the Patriots face them in the playoffs, Manning will choke enough to give NE a chance to win".

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Homer!!!!!

Aside from the gaudy #s I was impressed by how PM shrugged off several big hits he took immediately after releasing the ball. He got hammered several times - legit hits. (I only saw the 1st half) But if that were Brady I would have been concerned for him. Bolt necked Frankenstein, not so much.

Deus Irae said:

Jeff phoned that one in, and he pretty much acknowledged it right off the bat:

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True, he acknowledged that this is only 1 game/the opening game yet he then completely disregarded it. It strikes me as odd to point out such a salient fact only to disregard it. I guess you could call that phoning it in, however, I would be even less kind in the descriptive phrase I would use.

Overreaction is pretty much a reality of sports fandom. It is what it is. Yet game 1 of the season is so unrepresentative of what a season will result in, I can't believe someone who is a professional writer would make that connection in widely distributed print unless their job is to be un-serious.

TheBostonStraggler said:

True, he acknowledged that this is only 1 game/the opening game yet he then completely disregarded it. It strikes me as odd to point out such a salient fact only to disregard it. I guess you could call that phoning it in, however, I would be even less kind in the descriptive phrase I would use.

Overreaction is pretty much a reality of sports fandom. It is what it is. Yet game 1 of the season is so unrepresentative of what a season will result in, I can't believe someone who is a professional writer would make that connection in widely distributed print unless their job is to be un-serious.

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Denver looked as good as most people thought they would on Offense. The more pressing concern should be the Defense giving up nearly 400 yards to Joe Flacco. I wasn't particularly impressed with any of Moreno, Hillman or Ball in their running game. Ball looks shifty but he was dancing behind the line.

Brady is going to destroy that Denver D as per usual. The question for the Patriots will be whether or not the Patriots D can contain Denver's O.

doesntmatter1 said:

Believe it or not, I wasn't overly impressed by the Broncos. You all saw how close the first half was. So what changed? I truly believe the injury to Jacoby Jones and Micahel Ore completely took away the Raven's offense and then they became mentally weak afterward. Along with some bad tackling by the birds, the game was quickly out of reach.

Despite all of the points scored, their offense didn't flow like a well oiled machine, not yet anyway. Maybe I will view them as truly elite later in the season but not after beating a team clearly in transistion.

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That Welker drop on the first series of the second half that was called a catch was a huge momentum changer as well.

If it is called by the refs or challenged it's 4th and 9 and the Broncos punt, from their 21, instead next play 34 yard play to Thomas and 2 plays later 28 yard TD.

Then Ravens go 3 and out and the punt is blocked and Denver starts on the Baltimore 10. Easy TD.

14 point swing because the refs missed a drop and Harbaugh and whoever confers with him about challenges were out to lunch

Which at this point momentum has complete swung and the Ravens have all but fallen apart

Then on the ensuing drive Joe "i'm elite" Flacco hands off twice to Pierce for a total of 3 yards, incomplete pass to Clark. 3 and out

Punt to the 37 yard line of Denver. Ronnie Hillman takes to dump off passes for 27 yards in 2 plays, 13 yard pass to J.Thomas has them at the 15, two plays later 3rd and 1 and Ball gets 4 yards, Denver at the Baltimore 2, easy short pass to Welker for the TD

game over, the rest was just piling on.

ausbacker said:

Brady is going to destroy that Denver D as per usual. The question for the Patriots will be whether or not the Patriots D can contain Denver's O.

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Praying to the weather gods to make it 25 degrees with a wind chill of 5 degrees and a nice steady snow fall wouldn't hurt.