Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders – Week 1 Blitz

vs.
Raiders (0-0) vs. Broncos (0-0)
McAfee Coliseum
Mon, Sep 8, 2008
7:15 PM PDT ESPN

Your Daily Blitz gets a makeover for game day, which some long time readers might recognize as an old feature we called “Around the Web.” Let’s take a trip around the Internet to see what the experts, beat writers and soothsayers are saying about the upcoming game.

Sporting News —

This is a classic rivalry that dates to the AFL days and doesn’t lose any intensity or meaning when one or both teams aren’t faring well. The intensity level should be even higher than usual, given that the teams play in a prime-time setting, on Monday night, with a chance to seize an early lead in the AFC West race. Neither team has made the playoffs the past two seasons — make it six for the Raiders — and each likely views this as a game it should win.

Rocky Mountain News —

Here is a take from (former Raiders defensive tackle Warren) Sapp on Denver’s running game: “Shanahan’s going to get into that nasty little double tight end set that he likes, put it in motion, find out if you’re in man-to-man defense or Cover 3 because those are the basic coverages that you get, and then he’ll attack — run the ball.” Sapp also said, “I know the system Oakland plays . . . (the Raiders) are in trouble.”

BroncoTalk —

Last year, the Broncos defense allowed 4.4 yards per carry in the preseason. It was a sign of things to come, as the Broncos allowed 4.6 all year along. In 2008, they only allowed 3.4 ypc in the preseason. The Broncos need the improvement to carry over into Week One against the three-headed running back monster the Raiders employ.

Yahoo! Sports —

Oakland finished fourth in the NFL in rushing last year, but it was one of six teams that failed to have a touchdown run of at least 20 yards. Darren McFadden is expected to change that. He’ll be facing a Broncos defense that has been revamped after allowing 145.9 rushing yards per game and 409 points last season. Six teams scored more than 30 points versus Denver, and two scored more than 40.

Inside Slant (Broncos) —

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Broncos LT Ryan Clady vs. Raiders DE Derrick Burgess. Clady will be making his NFL regular-season debut. He held up pretty well in pass protection in the preseason, and he has to be up to the challenge of slowing down Burgess if the Broncos are going to move the ball.

Inside Slant (Raiders) —

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Broncos DLE Elvis Dumervil vs. Raiders RT Cornell Green. Dumervil already owns a pair of two-sack games against the Raiders, one of them coming in the first meeting between the two teams last year with Green as the tackle. Dumervil’s speed poses a problem for Green, a journeyman with a propensity for false starts and struggling with smaller, faster linemen. Green’s best chance lies with wearing out Dumervil if Oakland can run successfully. Having to pass protect 30 or more times could be a problem.

Inside the Oakland Raiders —

The Broncos don’t have the defensive personnel to dominate the Raiders offensive line. No Albert Haynesworth and not a Williams (Pat, Mike, Jamal) in sight. It’s true the Raiders tackles have some pass blocking issues, but in a true zone blocking system, the key linemen are the center and two guards _ and Robert Gallery, Jake Grove and Cooper Carlisle (Ed: Ha!) should take care of business