The Broncos kicked off their 2013 season in style Thursday night with a resounding 49-27 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Kickoff Opener. The highlight was Peyton Manning's seven touchdown passes and over 460 yards through the air. It was a wild game that featured a lightning warning that delayed the kickoff for about 40 minutes. The Ravens really controlled most of the first half and took a 17-14 lead into halftime. After the break it was all Manning and the Broncos. A 21 point 3rd quarter really put the game out of reach, and the Broncos were able to finish off the Ravens in the 4th quarter. Here are my quick thoughts and observations about the win........
1) Manning started slow in the first quarter, but he really picked it up from the 2nd quarter on. His numbers were video game type of numbers. He finished 27-42 for 462 yards and 7 touchdowns. The scary part was that he didn't even play an A+ game. Manning was slow to get going early on, but once he settled in he was dynamic. He took advantage of the revamped Ravens defense, and he spread the ball around very nicely. It was vintage Manning at his best. Just a pleasure to watch.
2) The defense struggled as expected early on, but give them credit because they responded in the second half. They shut down the Ravens for the most part after halftime. Shaun Phillips added 2.5 sacks, and the Broncos got 4 sacks total and two interceptions of Flacco. I was really impressed by their run defense. They completely shut down Ray Rice in the second half, and their stops to start the third quarter gave the offense the chance to blow this game open.
3) Speaking of offense, Julius Thomas, Demaryius Thomas, and Wes Welker played really well last night. We heard so much about Julius Thomas this offseason, and he didn't disappoint. He finished with 5 catches for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns. Demaryius Thomas finished with 5 catches and 161 yards and 2 touchdowns. Welker caught 9 balls for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was one of those nights where the Ravens had to pick their poison. It started with Welker, then Julius Thomas, and then to Demaryius Thomas.
4) Make no mistake this game turned on a couple of freaky plays. Late in the 2nd quarter on a 3rd and goal, Flacco hit a wide open Dallas Clark for an easy touchdown, but Clark dropped the ball. The Ravens settled for a field goal and a 17-14 lead, but it should have been 21-14 heading into the half. In the third quarter, on their first drive of the half, the Broncos had a 3rd and 9. Manning threw low to Welker, who appeared to have caught the pass for a first down; however, the replay clearly showed that Welker dropped the ball. The Ravens and John Harbaugh never challenged the play, and the Broncos lined up and ran a play right away. Manning hit Demaryius Thomas on a 34 yard catch and run, and the Broncos scored two plays late on a Manning to Andre Caldwell 28 yard touchdown down the sideline to give the Broncos a 21-17 lead. After a Baltimore three and out, David Bruton blocked a punt and the Broncos set up shop at the Ravens 10. Two plays later, Manning hit Welker for a five yard touchdown, and that gave Denver a 28-17 lead, and they never looked back. Those three plays (Clark's drop, the missed challenge on Welker's drop, and Bruton's blocked punt) completely turned the game, and it was over from that point.
5) Danny Trevathan played really well in this game, but he will be remembered for his gaffe midway through the fourth quarter. Up 42-17, Trevathan stepped in front of a Flacco pass and took it back for an apparent 30 yard interception touchdown return. Trevathan dropped the ball before he hit the goal line, and the play resulted in a touchback. It was a huge mental error, and the only thing that can be forgiven about that play is that the Broncos were comfortably ahead. Hopefully, he and the rest of his teammates learn from this experience and are smarter when they are crossing the goal line on scoring plays.
6) It was a great win for the Broncos. They needed to beat the Ravens from a mental standpoint to start the season, and with Manning throwing seven touchdowns, it made for a pretty special night, but this is only one game and one step on the journey for the Broncos. Right now, they are 1-0, and the focus will be on the next game at the Giants. There should be no shortage of hype of Manning Bowl III next Sunday, and that is all the Broncos and their fans should be thinking about. Great night, great win, onto the next one. Go Broncos
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