The Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans lace up the cleats Sunday in the early time slot in an AFC showdown between two teams that most experts have difficulty gauging in the early season. While expectations were high for both teams, preseason pickers didn't think that either team would make a serious run for the playoffs. So far, the predictions are holding fast, with both teams off to 1-1 starts.
The Broncos come into the game as the most injured team in the league. During last week's game versus the Cincinnati Bengals, which the Broncos won 23-20, there were over $40 million of salary on the Broncos sideline. Denver gets back some of their key players with outstanding wide receiver Brandon Lloyd expected to return. Starting running back Knowshon Moreno is also expected to play.
But the Broncos top two defensive players remain on the sideline. Neither Champ Bailey nor Elvis Dumervil are expected to play. The Orange Crush may get back top linebacker DJ Williams, who dislocated his elbow in a preseason game and has yet to take a snap in the regular season.
Despite all the injuries, the Broncos have hope that they can remain in first place in the AFC West with a win against the Titans in Tennessee. The two teams played last year, also in Nashville, a quirk in the schedule causing Denver to play in the volunteer state in back to back years, with the Broncos pulling out their only road win of the season.
Denver will rely on the arm of veteran quarterback Kyle Orton, who has played well early, and the legs of Willis McGahee. Last week second year receiver Eric Decker scored two touchdowns on pass plays from Orton and the Broncos will need Decker to score a touchdown in his third straight game. Decker returned a punt for a touchdown in the Broncos opening game loss at home to the Oakland Raiders and leads the team in receptions with eight.
Denver's winning touchdown in last year's matchup:
Tennessee stunned Super Bowl contender Baltimore Ravens and the rest of the NFL 26-13 last week. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck led the Titans to the upset by passing for 358 yards and one touchdown. His leading receiver was Kenny Britt with nine receptions for 135 yards and the touchdown pass from Hasselbeck. The Titan QB, in his first year with Tennessee, surprised the league with his outstanding performance. Britt is probable for Sunday with a sore hamstring.
Besides winning, the top goal for the Titans in Sunday's game will be to help get star running back Chris Johnson going after a slow start to the season. Johnson sat out the preseason in a contract dispute and came to Tennessee's camp late. Although he worked out on his own during the sit down, it's not the same as working out with your teammates. The off-season lockout no doubt also affected Johnson's conditioning. His ability is off the charts though and one game soon will be a break out game for Johnson.
It may come this week against the Broncos who ranked last in the league last year in rushing defense. They refused to draft a defensive lineman, to the chagrin of their fans, and are piecing together a defensive line with tape and glue, devastated even further with key injuries to their two starting tackles, as well as Dumervil's shoulder injury. The Tennessee attack is predicated upon getting Johnson through the tackles and bouncing outside. Denver may be in trouble.
The Titans defense has the edge over the Broncos defense, ranking third in the league after two games, while the two offenses are about even. They have also produced five sacks while the Broncos have given up seven sacks, so look for the Titans to rush Orton frequently.
The punters will impact the game with Denver's Colquitt averaging 43 net yards per punt. The Titan's Kern has placed four punts inside the 20.
