With RB Montee Ball (groin) ready to go, the Broncos should have plenty of opportunity to sharpen the goal of a balanced attack and work to rebuild the swagger of TE Julius Thomas. Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Broncos (6-2) at Oakland Raiders (0-8)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, at o.Co Coliseum, Oakland, Calif. – TV: CBS
*TV announcers: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Evan Washburn
*Keys to the game: History — new and old — is against the Raiders. They have lost five in a row in the series and Peyton Manning has played the part of puppet master in four games since he joined the Broncos. The goal will be to mix coverages and hope OLB Khalil Mack at least alters Manning’s view off the edge.
Denver wants to jump ahead and put rookie QB Derek Carr into a two-minute offense mindset, pulling the Raiders out of a weighty commitment to run the ball. The Raiders will attempt to do what they have failed to do all season: establish some sort of running game in an attempt to keep Manning off the field. Coming off a game where they couldn’t budge the Seattle defense, the line will be challenged by the coaching staff. If Darren McFadden and FB Marcel Reece can pick up yards on first and second down, Carr will get the support he needs and be able to strike downfield to Andre Holmes and Kenbrell Thompkins, with short throws to TE Mychal Rivera.
The Raiders are 32nd in rushing with 65 yards per game because the team is too often scraping to rally from steep deficits.
With RB Montee Ball (groin) ready to go, the Broncos should have plenty of opportunity to sharpen the goal of a balanced attack and work to rebuild the swagger of TE Julius Thomas, who was dogged by bracket coverage last week at New England.
*Matchup to watch – Raiders CB Tarell Brown vs. Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas: Brown won’t be the only player who has to deal with Thomas, but he’s the Raiders’ best one-on-one defender and Thomas has done heavy damage to the Raiders since Manning arrived. In four games against the Raiders with Manning throwing the ball, Thomas has 26 receptions for 393 yards and two touchdowns.
*Player spotlight – Broncos WR Wes Welker: He needs one touchdown to reach 50 in his career and become the third undrafted player to do so. Welker said he is unaffected by the back injury he suffered on a hit against New England.
*Fast facts: Manning is 7-0 against the Raiders. … The Raiders’ average margin of defeat in four games against Manning’s Broncos is 20 points.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Denver should cruise if it regains the focus it had before last week’s loss in which self-inflicted wounds were problematic. Oakland is opportunistic but not stocked with the talent to pull a monumental upset.
*Our pick: Broncos 37-18
