Broncos Outlast Ravens 19-13 in Season Opening Win

It was an old fashioned defensive slugfest at Mile High on Sunday, and the Broncos outlasted the Ravens 19-13 to win the 2015 season debut. This was not the same Broncos we have seen in the Peyton Manning era. This game was won by the Broncos defense, and in the process it showed the rest of the NFL what we have suspected about this version of the Denver Broncos: The defense is the strength of this team now. A late, game-saving interception in the end zone by newly acquired Darian Stewart sealed the victory as the Broncos begin the season 1-0. Here are my thoughts and observations about the game....

1) The story about this game will be about Peyton Manning. What did we see from Manning and the offense? It is indeed a work in progress. Manning's numbers were not classic Peyton type numbers: 24-40 for 175 yards, 0 touchdowns and 1 interception for a passer rating of 59.9. We saw some of the same things that troubled Manning at the end of last season: He was just out of touch on some deep passes, he missed some wide-open receivers, and he looked uncomfortable at times. He ran a bootleg on the first drive and Demaryius Thomas wide open and missed him badly. There were some good signs for Manning and the offense. He did look fine and solid at times on some throws-particularly in the middle of the field and short passes. The offense got stymied by some penalties on some drives as well. The last drive was a good drive in which they took time off the clock and moved the ball effectively enough to give them a 19-13 lead. Look, the offense is a work in progress, and I wouldn't bury Manning or the new scheme just yet. As long as Manning can remain healthy,  give it some time, and I think the offense will work itself out.

2) The other parts of the offense that didn't seem to work were the lack of running game and the inability to protect Manning. It seemed like Gary Kubiak didn't even attempt to try to line up and run the ball with C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman until the last drive of the game. There wasn't the classic "Zone" style running game that we were looking forward to all offseason. They actually ran so many plays from the shotgun that it looked like the offense that Manning was running the last three years in Denver. Also, Denver's offensive line has four new starters and it showed. Manning got sacked four times and he was pressured and hit throughout. The Broncos have to get their offensive line issues fixed as soon as possible if this offense is going to get going.

3) Forget about the offense for a minute because the defense stole the show. They harassed, beat up and dominated the Ravens offense. Demarcus Ware and Von Miller were all over Joe Flacco all game long. The secondary played great, and Brandon Marshall picked up where he left off last year as he was all over the field. It seems like they are really buying into Wade Phillips new scheme. The story of this team right now is the defense.

4) After stifling the Ravens offense and Flacco through three quarters, the Broncos found themselves down 13-9 late in the third quarter. Aqib Talib made his biggest play of his Bronco career by stepping in front of a Flacco pass and picking it off and returning it 51 yards and a touchdown to give Denver the 16-13 lead. That was already one of the biggest plays of the Broncos season and we are only one game in.

5) You knew the Ravens wouldn't go quietly into the night and it took a great play by Darian Stewart to seal the victory. He literally took the ball away from Ravens TE Crockett Gilmore's hand in the end zone with time running out. It was fitting that the defense made the play to win the game.

6) Brandon McManus was great yesterday as well. He nailed four field goals including two from 57 and 57 yards. As long as he is consistent, then he will be a huge factor this season for the Broncos.

7) The debut of Gary Kubiak was good in my opinion. I thought his game management, clock management and overall decision making was fine. No issues there in Kubiak's first game as Broncos coach.

8) This was a great team win for the Broncos. No matter how you slice it, a win is a win. It was a tough game against a very good opponent. The defense played great, made the plays to win the game, and you take it and move on. You don't have to apologize for being 1-0 at this point. There are 16 teams who would like to be 1-0 at this point too.

9) This will be a tough week as Denver has to rebound quickly and play at Kansas City on Thursday night. The Broncos just played a very physical game on Sunday, there are a bunch of guys banged up and sore, and now they have to get to ready for a really tough game on a short week. This will be a very difficult game for the Broncos to win on Thursday.