Oakland Raiders safety Michael Huff, top, breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry (20) during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007. Oakland won 34-20. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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DENVER -
Question: what is more surprising, the Denver Broncos having two wins, or the Raiders having any victories?
You're right...it's a tie. Both seem equally astounding.
The Broncos are 2-0 and after an offseason of turmoil, inexplicably lead the AFC West. No big surprise, there....I mean Josh McDaniels was on a team that went 16-0, right? Alright, time to put down the orange and blue Kool Aid and take a sip of reality. Denver has swept the state of Ohio, that's it. They beat the Bengals on a fluke play and defeated the Browns by merely showing up. (Seriously, Cleveland appears to be that bad).
The Raiders were defeated in the final minute by an already underwhelming team Chargers and managed same late heroics to edge the Chiefs. (Kansas City may be as bad as Cleveland).
So who has the edge at The Black Hole Sunday?
At quarterback, it has to be Denver. JaMarcus Russell, who starts under center for the Raiders, was 7-24 for 109 yards last week. He can't be labeled a bust quite yet and the idea of trying to nurture a young signal caller in the chaos that is the Raiders organization, gets him some slack.
Kyle Orton has been rather efficient, if not tremendous in the team's first two games. At the end of the day, Orton may not put flashy numbers but the one statistic he excels in is winning games. Records as a starter? Try 23-12. Jay Cutler? How about 18-22?
The Broncos have a solid overall running game but the single best carrier on the field Sunday, is Darren McFadden. Edge: Raiders
Defensively, the Raiders front seven is impressive and surprisingly, so is Denver's. In fact, the story of the season for the Broncos may be emergence of their new 3-4 defense. Their ability to rush the passer will most likely tip the scales either way. Denver's secondary led by Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins will probably be able to keep a so far struggling Russell in check----having a breakout game against those two would be hard to imagine.
Therefore, don't expect Russell to be throwing downfield much. The Raiders will opt for primarily a ground attack and make Denver's defensive front prove their lofty ranking is legitimate and not the by product of weak opposition.
We'll see beginning at 2:15 P.M. on Sunday. Lots of intrigue in the Bay Area. Will Denver be 3-0? Will Oakland be 2-1 and possibly tied for the AFC West lead? Either one of the scenarios seemed unlikely but one will most likely occur tomorrow afternoon.
You're right...it's a tie. Both seem equally astounding.
The Broncos are 2-0 and after an offseason of turmoil, inexplicably lead the AFC West. No big surprise, there....I mean Josh McDaniels was on a team that went 16-0, right? Alright, time to put down the orange and blue Kool Aid and take a sip of reality. Denver has swept the state of Ohio, that's it. They beat the Bengals on a fluke play and defeated the Browns by merely showing up. (Seriously, Cleveland appears to be that bad).
The Raiders were defeated in the final minute by an already underwhelming team Chargers and managed same late heroics to edge the Chiefs. (Kansas City may be as bad as Cleveland).
So who has the edge at The Black Hole Sunday?
At quarterback, it has to be Denver. JaMarcus Russell, who starts under center for the Raiders, was 7-24 for 109 yards last week. He can't be labeled a bust quite yet and the idea of trying to nurture a young signal caller in the chaos that is the Raiders organization, gets him some slack.
Kyle Orton has been rather efficient, if not tremendous in the team's first two games. At the end of the day, Orton may not put flashy numbers but the one statistic he excels in is winning games. Records as a starter? Try 23-12. Jay Cutler? How about 18-22?
The Broncos have a solid overall running game but the single best carrier on the field Sunday, is Darren McFadden. Edge: Raiders
Defensively, the Raiders front seven is impressive and surprisingly, so is Denver's. In fact, the story of the season for the Broncos may be emergence of their new 3-4 defense. Their ability to rush the passer will most likely tip the scales either way. Denver's secondary led by Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins will probably be able to keep a so far struggling Russell in check----having a breakout game against those two would be hard to imagine.
Therefore, don't expect Russell to be throwing downfield much. The Raiders will opt for primarily a ground attack and make Denver's defensive front prove their lofty ranking is legitimate and not the by product of weak opposition.
We'll see beginning at 2:15 P.M. on Sunday. Lots of intrigue in the Bay Area. Will Denver be 3-0? Will Oakland be 2-1 and possibly tied for the AFC West lead? Either one of the scenarios seemed unlikely but one will most likely occur tomorrow afternoon.
