Week one will finally draw to a close, with one of the league’s most heated rivalries renewing acquaintances in the Mile High City. Last season, the Oakland Raiders cruised to victory in both of their games against the Denver Broncos, and the pressure is on the Broncos to get back on track this season. Top that off with the fact that both teams have new head coaches that are looking to prove that they can compete in the wide-open AFC West, and this divisional match-up has more than bragging rights at stake.
With all that in mind, here’s a look at three aspects of this game to keep an eye on that could swing this matchup in favor of either side.
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1) Raiders running backs vs. Broncos linebackers
Last season, Darren McFadden collected close to 300 yards in the Raiders’ two games against the Broncos, and Michael Bush managed to run for 50 yards the last time that he played at Invesco Field. If linebackers are the heart of a team’s defense then these were a pair of embarrassing games for the Broncos’ defensive unit, and this re-tooled linebacking corps will be out to improve their image. With fresh talent like top draft pick Von Miller and new starter Joe Mays, the Broncos have certainly addressed some of their linebacker needs, but those upgrades need to show some positive returns. Mays certainly has an attitude and aggression that will challenge McFadden and could potentially lead to some interesting encounters with Bush’s physical style of running, but the most important thing for the Broncos’ linebackers will be consistency, as McFadden can rip off a play at any moment. With that being said, Denver will need to be sound in their gap responsibilities and in their tackling for 60 minutes.
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2) Brandon Lloyd vs. Oakland’s secondary
With Nnamdi Asomugha now in Philadelphia, the pressure is truly on the Raiders’ secondary to step up and show the football world that they weren’t a one man band that benefited from teams having to play with only two thirds of the field. With that in mind, Oakland’s Asomugha-less secondary will face a stern debut against Brandon Lloyd, who is one of the most dangerous receivers in the league. Lloyd showed signs in the pre-season that 2010 won’t be a one off for him, and Broncos fans will be hoping that he can transfer his 2010 form into a positive display against the Raiders (who was one of the few teams that he didn’t tear to shreds last season). Lloyd was limited to just five catches in his two games against the Raiders last season, and he will be hoping to make a game-winning difference this time around. Keep in mind that Lloyd is particularly dangerous on back shoulder throws, so the Raiders’ cornerbacks will have to be conscious not to be too concerned about the deep pass in this game.
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3) Elvis Dumervil vs. Jared Veldheer
Knowing that Kyle Boller is only one hit away from getting onto the field should be enough to scare any team into protecting their starting quarterback at all costs, as Oakland needs to ensure that second-year left tackle Jared Veldheer doesn’t let Jason Campbell take any blind side shots from Elvis Dumervil. The Broncos’ pass rush was non-existent in Dumervil's absence last season, but with his return and the drafting of Von Miller, opposing offensive tackles face an entriely new challenge this season. Last season, Veldheer yielded 8 sacks in games where he started at left tackle, struggling particularly with the speed of Dwight Freeney and James Harrison. Although Dumervil and Miller may not be to the same level as those defenders, if Veldheer struggles against Denver’s pass rush, Campbell could be in for a long and painful night.
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So there’s your three to focus on. Feel free to let us know what you’ll be focusing on in the comments section, or at our Official Twitter account.
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