The Denver Broncos have a chance to make some noise this season. They have the second-toughest strength of schedule based on teams' records from 2018. However, the Broncos are still a talented team that could string together wins and build momentum which they can carry into the future. It all starts with beating the Oakland Raiders on Monday night.
The following four reasons provide the backbone of the argument for the Broncos steamrolling the Raiders in Week 1.
4. Second-Year running backs
The Broncos famously hit the jackpot with undrafted free agent running back Phillip Lindsay last season. Lindsay made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and ran for 5.4 yards per carry. Denver also has Royce Freeman, who is an accomplished running back in his own right.
Since Lindsay missed a lot of time this offseason recovering from wrist surgery, we'll see a healthy dose of both young runners in Week 1. Last season, the Raiders had the third-worst run defense in the NFL. They allowed 140.6 rushing yards per game on 4.6 yards per carry. On the other hand, Denver had the 12th-best rushing attack in the league last season, putting up 119.2 yards per game. The team also tied for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns with 18.
The Raiders have added some new defensive pieces, but none of them are particularly inspiring. The Broncos should still have their way with Oakland's defense on the ground.
3. Joe Flacco will have time to throw
The Broncos have spent time and money on their offensive line. While the unit still has a long way to go, the team did add two new starters this offseason. Rookie left guard Dalton Risner and right tackle Ja'Wuan James will stop Oakland's already measly pass rush.
Last season, the Raiders managed to record only 13 sacks. That was the fewest by any team in the league. The New England Patriots and New York Giants were tied for the second-least number of sacks with 30. That puts Oakland in a whole different class of pass rush deficiency. The team did add Clelin Ferrell through the draft, but the rookie failed to log a sack during the preseason.
While I fully expect the Raiders to surpass 13 sacks this season, Flacco will have all of the time he needs to make plays on Monday night.
2. The Antonio Brown situation
In a post on Instagram Saturday morning, Brown demanded that the Raiders release him. Following a flurry of other outlandish incidents, Brown's short time with the Raiders is at an end. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was the first to report that the Raiders had officially released Brown.
Without Brown, who led the NFL in receiving touchdowns last season, Oakland's best receiver is Tyrell Williams. Williams did have a 1,000-yard season back in 2016, but his production has declined over the past two seasons.
Behind Williams, the Raiders have several mediocre receivers. Ryan Grant was disappointing for the Indianapolis Colts last season. Dwayne Harris only caught six passes for the Raiders in 2018. JJ Nelson flunked out of Arizona. Hunter Renfrow is a rookie, but never showed signs of being a top receiver in college.
The Broncos' secondary also deserves some time in the spotlight. Chris Harris is one of the best cornerbacks in the league. In an article by Aric DiLalla on Denver's official website, Derek Carr called him a “Hall of Fame cornerback.” The Broncos added cornerback Bryce Callahan and safety Kareem Jackson in the offseason. Without Brown, Carr will struggle to find open receivers on Monday night.
1. A quarterback's worst nightmare
The Broncos have two of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Von Miller tied for the fourth-most sacks last season with 14.5. Bradley Chubb, who was only a rookie at the time, racked up 12 sacks of his own. The only teammates that produced more sacks last season were Dee Ford and Chris Jones.
Last season, Denver finished tied for the eighth-most sacks in the NFL with 44. At the same time, Derek Carr was sacked for a career-high 51 times. The Raiders added right tackle Trent Brown on a massive deal to help fix the offensive line. The team also added left guard Jordan Devey, who saw limited action for the Kansas City Chiefs last season. However, Devey is largely unproven and adding one tackle doesn't fix an entire offensive line.
I almost feel bad for Carr. First, he lost his best receiver, and now he has to face down two terrific sack artists. Carr won't be sleeping well on Sunday night.
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