The Broncos are flying into California riding high with a 4-0 record and an NFL-record 13-game winning streak against road divisional opponents. The Oakland Raiders are on the upswing under new head coach and former Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. After losing a heartbreaker to John Fox in Chicago last week they are looking to rebound at home and inch closer to the AFC West-leading Broncos.
The battle looks to be won through the air as Oakland is giving up an average of 310.5 yards in the passing game. However, their offense is throwing the ball extremely well, averaging the 10th best passing game in the NFL, led by second-year quarterback Derek Carr. With such a focus on the passing game, these three players will be vital to keeping the Broncos a step ahead of the silver and black.
3. Von Miller
Von Miller has been quietly pressuring opposing quarterbacks into bad throws and into the arms of his teammates through four weeks. His sack total sits at only two but his quarterback hurries and hits are up there with the best in the league. The Raiders have only given up five sacks to opposing teams this season and the five linemen up front have played every snap together. Thursday, Miller attributed their early success in the air to Carr’s maturation in season two and commented on what they need to do to slow him down.
“I think their progress has come from Derek [Carr]. He’s a better quarterback than he was last year. You can see it. He’s poised. He makes a lot of quick decisions. He’s not holding the ball for four, five-seconds. He’s starting to become the quarterback that I think that they drafted,” he stated. “It’s going to be our job to take away those quick throws, make them hold the ball a little bit, get a rush, stop the run and just play the same Broncos defense that we’ve been playing.”
Miller will likely be matched up on right tackle Austin Howard for the majority of the game. With DeMarcus Ware playing as good as he is, it will be hard for the Raiders to double-team Miller as much as they have in the past. Miller has some extra motivation Sunday and it is not the fact that he is facing his old coach, Del Rio. Miller is a student of the game and has aspirations to be the best pass rusher in the league. Thursday he commented on the talented players the Raiders have and how much he wants to out perform them.
“I think it’s more special that I’m going against Aldon [Smith] on the other side and [Michael] Crabtree. Me and Crabtree are from Texas and everything. I think it’s more special in that end than going against my old defensive coordinator,” Miller earnestly said. “I think it’s more special that I know these guys now, being able to play against them and stuff.”
The Broncos defense has gotten to every quarterback they have faced and often. They already have 18 sacks through four weeks and getting a pass rush on Carr early could dismantle the Raiders offense. Miller will be in top form and a likely candidate to lead both teams in sacks.
2. Aqib Talib
Aqib Talib will once again be asked to cover the most dynamic wide receiver on the opposing team Sunday. Rookie and fourth overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, Amari Cooper has quickly adjusted to the professional level and helped propel Carr’s big year thus far. He already has 24 receptions for 339 yards. Talib had nothing but nice things to say about the entire receiving corps of the Raiders on Wednesday.
“They’re probably two of the best route runners that we’re going to see this year. They’re a great vet [Crabtree] and a great young gun [Cooper]. Cooper has that good speed and great releases. They’re a pretty good tandem to start and then they have No. 10 [Seth Roberts] and No. 18 [Andre Holmes] coming off of the bench. They have a pretty good group of receivers out there.”
Talib has the speed, size and, most importantly, the experience to shut down Carr’s top target. Cooper has made big plays after the catch as well. He leads all NFL receivers in yards after catch with 192, according to TruMedia. The Broncos defense knows that the Raiders will try and get the pass game going immediately as they have struggled to run the ball consistently. They have averaged a mediocre 96.3 yards per game. The Raiders will have to go to Cooper often due to an ankle injury to Crabtree. Chris Harris Jr. should be able to take him out of the game with tight coverage and as a result, Talib will be tested.
Talib has been tasked with covering the opposition’s largest, often most-talented receiver and started off the season well. The last two weeks he has had a small drop off, in part due to the defense’s focus on Adrian Peterson in Week 4 and the Minnesota Vikings made dash through the air in the second half of last week’s game. In the last two games he gave up 70 receiving yards a piece, according to Pro Football Focus. He played admirably against Calvin Johnson in Detroit but got turned around by the Vikings’ quick receivers last week on several plays. If he can wrangle Cooper, the Broncos’ day will be much easier.
3. Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning has feasted on the Raiders since his arrival to Denver. He is 6-0 against the AFC West rival and owns a career passer rating of 103.8 in his 11 games versus them. The days of automatic 300-yard performances may be gone but the Raiders’ troubles against the pass and a key injury in the secondary, suggests that Manning should have another strong performance.
The only thing that may hold him back is the ongoing shuffling of players along his offensive line. Ty Sambrailo will miss his second straight game. Evan Mathis, Ryan Harris and Louis Vasquez are also nursing leg injuries. Mathis is questionable for the game. With players injured Manning understands that others must step up and contribute in order for the team to get out of Oakland with a win.
“Everybody that’s in there in the National Football League, everybody is there for a reason. They deserve to be there. You take Mike Schofield making his first start against a really good Minnesota front. I thought he did a heck of a job,” he said Wednesday. “I think you’re counting on everybody to do their job. At the same time, when you have a new starter or you have somebody that’s maybe not playing at full speed, he’s injured, everybody has got to kind of step up and raise their level of play.”
Raiders cornerback, T.J. Carrie has been ruled out for the game and David Amerson or Neiko Thorpe will be the likely replacements to cover Emmanuel Sanders. That matchup alone should yield favorable results for Denver. The biggest threat to the Broncos success and Manning’s health is the dynamic edge rusher, Khalil Mack. In his second year in the NFL, he is quickly becoming a physical force. Head coach Gary Kubiak knows how good this young defensive end is and hopes the Broncos don’t fall behind on the scoreboard.
“The biggest thing is hopefully you’re not protecting against him all day. If you get behind this team and you’re throwing the ball every down with those two edges, you’re going to be in trouble. It’s kind of like playing against our guys. He [Mack] is a heck of a player and very versatile. They play him a lot of places when they get the nickel and stuff like that. We’ve got our work cut out for us. [They have] probably as good of two-edge players as we’ve played all year long.”
Manning with have to account for Mack at all times, while also worrying about Aldon Smith who joined the team on September 11. The matchup still favors Manning who can pick on a poor cornerback has well as anyone. Hopefully the line came give him the few seconds he will need to find the open receiver.
The Broncos and Raiders rivalry dates back to 1960 and there is no love lost between the two historic franchises. The Raiders solid 2-2 start and the hiring of Del Rio has added a spark to the old flame and the Oakland faithful will be out in force. Despite a slow offensive start to the year, the Broncos have the opportunity to continue their recent domination of the Raiders with a breakout passing game. If Talib can cover the young upstart long enough for Miller to create sacks and turnovers, the ball will inevitably end up in Manning’s hands enough times for a big win Sunday afternoon.
Prediction: DEN 30, OAK 17
OTHER NOTES:
The Broncos have a 48-59-2 all-time record against the Raiders but have dominated the recent contests, winning the last seven.
The Broncos defense is continuing to creep up most vital statistics. They own the least average yards allowed per game (275.5), average net passing yards per game (185.3) and the second fewest average points allowed per game (17.3).
The Raiders offense owns the seventh-best third down conversion percentage (45.3%) and red zone touchdown percentage (66.7).
The Broncos will be without Cody Latimer and Bennie Fowler and Evan Mathis are questionable. The Raiders will be without Justin Ellis (NT), Taiwan Jones (RB) and Taylor Mays (S) is questionable.
*Stats provided by the Denver Broncos Football Media Relations unless otherwise noted
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