Broncos vs. Raiders: Full Denver Game Preview
The Denver Broncos have made it through the first quarter of the 2015 season with an unblemished record. After finding a way to get past the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday, the Broncos will now make their annual trek to California to face the Oakland Raiders.
Coming off a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears, the Raiders still sit at 2-2, and the team has to be looking at this game as a must-win if they hope to make the posteason this year.
The game will also pit the Broncos against their former defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio.
Denver has not lost a game against Oakland in over four years, winning the last seven contests by an average score of 37-15. Most all of those last seven games have not been close and the Broncos have been the far superior team.
Del Rio has the Raiders heading in the right direction, and this could be a prime spot for an upset. How many national outlets will make that prediction this weekend?
That remains to be seen. As for the game, read on for an in-depth preview, including an injury report for the Broncos as well as other news and notes.
Location: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Week 4 Results and Recap
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The Broncos were able to defeat the Vikings in Week 4, but the victory didn't come easily.
Though Denver controlled most of the game, Minnesota was able to chip away at the lead before finally breaking through and tying the score at 20-20.
Teddy Bridgewater found success throwing the ball to his receivers down the field, beating the Denver secondary on several occasions. In the fourth quarter, the Vikings used a 48-yard touchdown run by Adrian Peterson and a Blair Walsh field goal to draw even.
But with just over five minutes to play in the game, Manning and the offense went on a nine-play, 55-yard drive which culminated in a 39-yard field goal from Brandon McManus to put Denver back in front 23-20.
The defense then put the clamps on the Vikings, forcing a Bridgewater fumble to preserve the victory.
The game went like most of the games the Broncos have played this season. It wasn't exactly pretty, but the team made the plays it needed to make to be victorious. The Broncos have found more than one way to win a game this season, and that is the sign of a championship contender.
News and Notes
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T.J. Ward Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
The Broncos can add another award to the mantle for a member of their defense after T.J. Ward was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week, as reported by Conor Orr of NFL.com.
DeMarcus Ware also earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September.
Ward had six tackles and two sacks against the Vikings. He also created the strip of Bridgewater that was recovered by Von Miller which helped seal the win.
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips continues to find the best ways to use Ward in his 3-4 defense, and he will be a significant weapon for the team for the remainder of the season.
Derek Wolfe Returns
Defensive lineman Derek Wolfe has missed the first four games of the season after serving a suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. With that behind him, Wolfe will be back in the lineup against Oakland.
Wolfe should be eager to get out on the field and start making plays, and he is another guy to add to a defense that already looks as good as any defense the franchise has ever had.
Look for Wolfe to come in and aide the team in stopping the run. As a 3-4 defensive end, Wolfe should excel in that aspect.
C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman Will Split Reps
During his Monday press conference, head coach Gary Kubiak addressed the Broncos running back situation, suggesting that C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman may see the field equally, according to Andrew Mason of the team's official website.
"I think of them both as starters, to be honest with you," said Kubiak. "I know somebody has to walk out there on play No. 1, but they're both going to play and probably play right down the middle."
This will be an interesting development, but Kubiak seems to realize that Anderson just isn't getting the job done and Hillman provides a huge spark that the offense can feed off of.
Latest Injury News
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| Cody Latimer | WR | Did not participate in practice |
| Peyton Manning | QB | Did not participate in practice |
| Evan Mathis | G | Did not participate in practice |
| Ty Sambrailo | T | Did not participate in practice |
| Louis Vasquez | G | Did not participate in practice |
| DeMarcus Ware | DE | Did not participate in practice |
| Omar Bolden | CB | Limited participation in practice |
| James Casey | TE | Limited Participation in practice |
| Ryan Harris | T | Limited Participation in practice |
| Demaryius Thomas | WR | Limited Participation in practice |
All injury statuses courtesy of NFL.com.
Though the offensive line managed to play well in Ty Sambrailo's absence against Minnesota, the team would like to get the rookie left tackle back on the field. Justin Tuck and Khalil Mack will both be on the other side this Sunday, and the Broncos will need all the protection they can get for Manning.
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Key Matchups
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Denver Pass Protection vs. Justin Tuck and Khalil Mack
As mentioned earlier, the Broncos will face a dangerous pass rush in this game, and the combination of Tuck and Mack could give Manning fits.
If Sambrailo is unable to play, it will be up to Ryan Harris and Michael Schofield to block these two players. It would be a stiff challenge even with Sambrailo in the lineup.
Mack and Tuck have a combined four sacks on the season, and Manning has taken more sacks through four games this season than Denver fans are used to seeing. The Raiders will be looking to knock him around Sunday.
Denver Secondary vs. Amari Cooper
Chris Harris had his struggles against Mike Wallace in Week 4, which could prompt the Broncos to use Aqib Talib on the Raiders' dynamic rookie wide receiver, Amari Cooper.
Whether it's Harris or Talib, they'll have their hands full.
Cooper and Oakland quarterback Derek Carr have created a quick connection, one that could last for the next decade in Oakland. On the season, Cooper has been targeted 40 times and caught 24 passes for 339 yards.
If the Raiders are going to pull the upset, Cooper will be a key ingredient.
Emmanuel Sanders vs. D.J. Hayden
This has mismatch written all over it. Oakland cornerback D.J. Hayden could struggle against Emmanuel Sanders in this game. If Manning is going to have the type of game throwing the ball that fans are used to seeing, this is why.
Pro Football Focus currently ranks Hayden No. 103 out of 104 cornerbacks in terms of pass coverage. Manning is smart enough to take advantage of this.
Look for the Raiders to use Neiko Thorpe or even David Amerson on Sanders if Hayden falters. Manning and Sanders have missed on the deep ball several times this season, but they'll keep trying to hit that home run.
Sanders is too quick and shifty for Hayden to keep up with him, and he could make some big plays in this game.
X-Factor Player
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Broncos X-Factor Player of the Week: Ryan Harris
Ryan Harris is in his third stint with the Broncos, and to this point, it's been his most important.
Harris started at left tackle in place of Sambrailo in Week 4 and more than held his own against the Vikings pass rush. If Sambrailo returns, Harris will shift back over to the right tackle spot, which he has held since training camp.
The Raiders will come into this game ranked No. 31 in the league in pass defense. Their game plan will likely be built around the idea of getting extensive pressure on Manning, one way or another. If Manning is able to sit back and survey the defense, he'll pick the Raiders apart.
Harris will be responsible for fending off either Tuck or Mack in this game, so that matchup will be one fans should focus on during the game. If Harris wins most of those battles, it will be a long day for the Raiders.
On paper, it seems as though the Raiders can have their way with Harris in order to get to Manning. But Harris has stepped up this season, and he'll do so again Sunday.
Manning will shred the Raiders through the air in this game, and it will start up front with the protection he gets. Harris will have a nice day.
Prediction
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It has been years since the Raiders were contenders in the AFC West. The players, coaching staff and fans are all well-aware of that fact. They also know that a win over the Broncos would propel them into the position of contenders in the division.
As a result, they will be pumped up for this game. The crowd in Oakland will be electric, and it will be a difficult environment for the Broncos to go into. The Broncos will need to strike early in the game to take the crowd out of it and slowly eliminate the chance of an upset.
Though the Raiders appear to be an improved team and already look better than they have in several years, they're still not ready to battle the AFC's elite.
At 4-0, the Broncos are one of those elite teams, and they also have the right mindset which won't allow them to look past a team like the Raiders.
Oakland will make plays in this game, and they will probably even show Denver that they're not far off from seriously challenging them for a division title. But the Broncos are the better team right now, and they'll leave Oakland with their fifth win of the season.
Final Prediction: Broncos 27, Raiders 17
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