AFC West Preview – Week Two
By Craig Hurst
Sep 5, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) calls for a hike during the third quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Ravens 49-27. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
No doubt, all of Broncos Country will be tuned in today as the Broncos try to improve their record to 2-0 in the young 2013 season when they travel to the Big Apple to face the G-Men. In addition to the attention the Manning brothers are receiving in this match up, I am interested to see which Bronco receiver(s) will shine today. For more thoughts on this game, as well as the other AFC West teams and their week two games, please continue reading.
Denver Broncos at New York Giants: Will this game live up to the hype it has been receiving? Only time will tell, but once again, the Denver Broncos find themselves in the spotlight and are playing in arguably one of the week’s most anticipated match ups, if not the year’s. Manning Bowl III features brothers Peyton and Eli in an inter-conference showdown. Both quarterbacks are coming off great statistical games, but only Peyton has a win in this young season. Behind seven touchdown passes and 462 yards passing, the Broncos beat the defending Super Bowl champions Baltimore Ravens 49-27 in week one. Eli Manning on the other hand, lost for the first time in the Dallas Cowboys’ expensive home stadium 36-31, while accumulating 450 yards passing. Peyton Manning needs only 51 yards to join Brett Favre and Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with more than 60,000 career passing yards. Given the Broncos’ offensive display in week one, the elder Manning may achieve this on the Broncos’ first possession, possibly one play.
Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs: Both teams enter week two undefeated. Kansas City travelled to Jacksonville and easily beat a sub-par Jacksonville Jaguar team, while the Cowboys narrowly beat the New York Giants, partially thanks to a turnover plagued first half for the Giants. Being the home opener for the Chiefs, Arrowhead Stadium will be loud as Kansas City fans welcome new coach, Andy Reid, and new quarterback, Alex Smith. If the Cowboys can weather the excitement of the Chiefs’ home opener, this should be a fun game to watch. Needless to say, I will be pulling for America’s Team in this one, only because a loss to the Chiefs will be a benefit to the Broncos in the grand scheme of the 2013 season.
San Diego Chargers at Philadelphia Eagles: Which San Diego Charger team will show up in Philadelphia for week two? New Chargers’ coach, Mike McCoy, and the Chargers got off to a great start last Monday night against the Houston Texans, but then the Chargers we’re used to showed up and went on to blow a 21 point lead, losing 31-28. In the other week one Monday night game, the Philadelphia Eagles had an explosive first half and managed to hold off the Washington Redskins in the second half, giving Eagles’ new coach Chip Kelly his first NFL victory in his first regular season game. Being on the road, away from presumably frustrated Charger fans, may be just what the Chargers need. Keeping the fast-paced Eagles’ offense on the sidelines may be the best defense. It’s early in a long season and the Chargers do not want to start off 0-2, but that may very well happen! Again, the Chargers starting 0-2 would be great news for Broncos Country.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders: Like the Chiefs, the Raiders are making their home debut today against a team they should easily beat; evening their record to 1-1. Considering the Raiders had a very realistic chance to win their week one game against the Indianapolis Colts and Andrew Luck, it gives me the confidence to predict a Raiders’ victory today. I say that, but then I realize this is the NFL and Jacksonville will not lie down for any team, albeit they appeared to do this against Kansas City last week. Considering the Raiders/Jaguars kickoff at the same time as the Broncos and Giants, this game may get very little publicity given the intrigue of the Manning Bowl. In my mind and heart, I would love to see Jacksonville knock off the Raiders, possibly completing the AFC West trifecta of losses for the Chiefs, Chargers, and Chiefs, but I’m not sure if that will happen.
Go Broncos – beat the Giants!
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