Monumental blow to the Chiefs. Eric Berry was a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie and played in every single defensive snap for KC last year. He’ll miss the rest of 2011 with an ACL injury.

Kinda like the blow Broncos fans felt when they lost Elvis Dumervil last year, huh? Enjoy 4-12 KC.

The Denver Broncos are 3-point favorites against the Oakland Raiders in Week 1. Here are how the experts from ESPN, CBS, FOX, and Yahoo! pick the winner:

Allen Golic Hoge Jaworski Mortensen Schefter Schlereth Wickersham Accuscore ESPN Users Judge Freeman Richard Brinson Fowler Halpin Harmon Carpenter Yahoo! Users	Prisco Beall Silver Cole

And as we all know, if Adam Schefter says it, it must be true…

Denver Broncos coach John Fox, left, and Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett meet on the field after a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 24-23. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Being bitter rivals, the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders don’t like to admit they have anything in common. But one undeniable feature the teams share is that they’re led by new head coaches from a year ago. John Fox and Hue Jackson both hope to start their respective eras with a bang on Monday Night Football.

Six other teams in the NFL also boast new head coaches from Week One in 2010, but, for the most part, their respective eras started with a whimper. As Jason La Canfora points out, new coaches went 1-5 on opening weekend.

• Ron Rivera (CAR) lost 28-21 to ARI
• Leslie Frazier (MIN) lost 24-17 to SD
• Mike Munchak (TEN) lost 16-14 to JAC
• Pat Shurmur (CLE) lost 27-17 to CIN
• Jason Garrett (DAL) lost 27-24 to NYJ
• Jim Harbaugh (SF) defeated SEA 33-17

Of course, since it’s new coach vs. new coach Monday night, someone has to win. The record will move to 2-6.

But here’s one item worth noting: of all of those new coaches, Fox is the only one with at least a season of previous NFL head coaching experience. Advantage: Broncos.

• Matt Bowen runs down Sunday’s top stories. [National Football Post]
• Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller – can’t stop the hype. [Denver Post]
• “Have I watched them? Are you kidding me? These guys are a highlight reel,” Raiders coach Hue Jackson said. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Miller is the centerpiece of John Elway‘s Broncos vision. [ESPN]
• Game previews: PO breaks down the offense, defense and special teams. [Predominantly Orange]
• IAOFM looks at personnel packages the Raiders employ on offense. [It’s All Over Fat Man]
• Demaryius Thomas may be set for a breakout year, if he can ever get on the field. [Football Nation]
• Shanahan‘s boys: typically strong in Week One. [NFL.com]
• Peyton Hillis might soon be getting paid. [NFL.com]
• Rockies: Drew Pomeranz throws five scoreless innings in impressive big league debut. [Purple Row]

Antonio Gates #85 of the San Diego Chargers runs after the reception against the Minnesota Vikings during their season opener on September 11, 2011 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Since the Broncos play tomorrow, and we love the NFL, we’re keeping tabs on how the other teams in the AFC West fared today. (Kansas City recap).

For a minute, it looked like more of the same from the San Diego Chargers. Down 7-0 following Percy Harvin‘s 103-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown, the Chargers appeared to be in trouble. Special team woes were back, the annual early-season slump was rearing its ugly head, and you know more than a few of the fans in attendance were echoing sentiments on Twitter: “Fire Norv Turner.”

It wouldn’t last. The Chargers defense rallied and harassed Minnesota Vikings QB Donovan McNabb, who threw for only 39 yards, while fullback Mike Tolbert scored three touchdowns to lift San Diego 24-17 over Minnesota in Week One.

The Chargers didn’t come out of the game without incident, however — their injury numbers quickly began to mount. They lost kicker Nate Kaeding (knee) during Harvin’s return — punter Mike Scifres (impressively) handled kickoff and field goal duties the rest of the game. DE Luis Castillo (knee) was carted off, as well as Mr. Three Touchdowns Mike Tolbert (leg) himself.

So, the winner of tomorrow night’s opening week finale between the Broncos and Raiders won’t have sole possession of the AFC West lead. That would have been neat in a dumb kind of way. . . . Let’s see how well the Chargers keep their early season slump at bay as they travel to New England next week.

Wide receiver Dexter McCluster #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs catches a pass against pressure from defensive back Aaron Williams #23 of the Buffalo Bills during the fourth quarter on September 11, 2011 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Bills beat the Chiefs 41-7.(Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Since the Broncos play tomorrow, and we love the NFL, we’re keeping tabs on how the other teams in the AFC West fared today. (San Diego recap).

The 2010 AFC West champions didn’t start the defense of their division title with any sort of gusto.

Or toughness. Or anything really resembling football efficiency.

Watch game highlights and read the AP recap to have the grim picture painted for you. The Kansas City Chiefs fumbled and bumbled their way to their most lopsided home loss in 35 years. Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw four touchdown passes, and Jamaal Charles was held to 56 rushing yards as the Bills cruised to a 41-7 victory.

Again, this was against the Buffalo Bills. The Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs might be in trouble.

While it’s foolish to draw conclusions from the first week of the NFL season (see: Buffalo 31, New England 0, Week 1 2003), it’s equally foolish to not acknowledge that the calendar year has changed. The Chiefs boasted the league’s second-leading rusher last year in Jamaal Charles. The Bills were the league’s worst rushing defense. It’s a new year, folks. Let’s see how the rest of the AFC West reacts to the calendar change.

Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey intercepts a pass as San Diego Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd,left, during the first half of a NFL football game Monday, Nov. 22, 2010, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Every week, Denver Broncos players and coaches give a fair number of interviews and snippets as they prepare for that weekend’s opponent. We’ll hand-pick what we think is the best such transcript and post it here.

This week, Champ Bailey talks about the revamped defense and growing a beard. As one Twitter follower described, this defense has Champ sounding like “a kid in a candy shop.” Quotes courtesy the Denver Broncos.

On being named a team captain

“It feels good. It means a lot because the players vote; so you definitely have the respect of the guys in the locker room, and that’s what’s most important.”

On being used as a nickelback on third downs

“It’s an adjustment, I would just say that. Not a hard one, and not an easy one, but it’s just something where I’ve got to be more inclined to studying more and preparing a lot more because it’s different. I’ve been open to it for years, now, and finally I’ve got a staff that wants me to do it.”

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Injury Report for the Week 1 Monday Night Football NFL game between the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders on Monday, September 12, 2011.

Raiders report and key after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

I can’t speak of the pain felt by those who lost loved ones on that tragic day. I can’t relate to the personal tragedies. But I know the overwhelming burning I felt in my heart. Of humility, awe, sadness, anger, and courage. It brought with it an undeniable affirmation of what America meant to me. I know it was a sensation shared by millions of others that day.

Today we remember the courage and legacy of those lost ten years ago, and those who serve our country since and now. Thank you. We stand united behind you. We will never forget.

The Broncos have released a number of notes to fans planning on attending Monday’s game, including information on their planned tribute to 9/11. View those below.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #88 of the Denver Broncos makes a reception as cornerback Kelly Jennings #21 of the Seattle Seahawks tries to make the tackle at INVESCO Field at Mile High on September 19, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 31-14. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

It’s been one thing after another for Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. The good news, if you want to put it that way, is that his latest injury won’t affect him more than the injury from which he is already recovering.

Thomas suffered a broken finger on his left hand, the Denver Post reports. He should be ready by the time he’s fully recovered from his Achilles injury — in the next two or three weeks. The broken finger held him out of practice Friday and Saturday.

The Post also takes inventory on Thomas’ history in the 19 months since he participated in the 2010 combine. It’s relatively lengthy — a broken foot, an ankle injury, an Achilles injury, and now this finger injury. These setbacks have caused him to miss six games last year and at least the first two or three games this year.

Hopefully it’s a short-lived phenomena and not a career-plaguing trend.

Demaryius Thomas suffers broken finger [First and Orange]