The Broncos look to pull out of Tennessee with another win. (Eric Lars Bakke/Denver Broncos)

The Denver Broncos travel to the south where southern hospitality does not include welcoming opposing football teams with open arms. As Music City sings its fine country tunes from Music Row, the Broncos will try to go for the kill next to the Cumberland for the second year in a row. Just like the Broncos, the Tennessee Titans sit at 1-1 and are tied for second place in the AFC South. The Titans are entering this game with a boat load of confidence after beating the always tough Baltimore Ravens 26-13 in week two. This is a Titan of a game for the Broncos who have some difficult games coming up in Green Bay next week and then against the Chargers in week five. First thing’s first, however. A win this week goes a long way. Fun fact: These teams have met just four times since 1992.

Offense

Broncos: The Broncos could be getting some key players back on offense. Brandon Lloyd is set to take the Sunday stage once again as he was back at practice participating fully Thursday. Knowshon Moreno also says that he will be ready to go on Sunday. Surprisingly, Lloyd wasn’t missed last week as Eric Decker stepped into his big shoes and had over 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Both of these guys will be tested by a strong Titans’ secondary that includes feisty Cortland Finnegan. It’s a great thing to have two very good deep threats against this defense. Even with Moreno back, look for Willis McGahee to take more carries than Moreno. His 100+ yard performance last week will be rewarded with more carries. Limiting turnovers against this team is absolutely key. They have the offensive horsepower to make you pay quickly and then they have a backfield that is good enough to kill the clock. The Broncos also have to score touchdowns. The thick sea level air doesn’t allow for 55-yard field goals.

Titans: Matt Hasselbeck has tormented Broncos’ defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in the past – in the recent past. Less than one year ago, Hasselbeck was the hero of Seattle after throwing 4 TDs against the Saints and upsetting them in the first-round of the NFC playoffs. Now that this team has a legit QB, this Grand Ole Offense looks deadly. Chris Johnson isn’t producing like he was a year ago, but then again, the team doesn’t have to rely on him entirely. Kenny Britt is second in the league in receiving yards and third in touchdowns. Suddenly, this Titans team is not one-dimensional anymore. Johnson has only averaged 2.3 yards per carry thus far with a long run of 9 yards, but as we know, he’s very capable of having a breakout game. Britt and Johnson’s game status was in question earlier this week due to injuries, but they have both been upgraded to full participation at practice.
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Kyle Orton was sacked 6 times last year, but anticipates much better protection from his line. (Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos)

The Broncos lone highlight on the road last year was in Tennessee. It was the only road game that they won, and they did it thanks in large part to the defense holding Chris Johnson to 53 rushing yards.

They also did it because Kyle Orton was able to pick apart a very aggressive Titans defense. He went 35-for-50 for 341 yards and 2 TDs. His play made post-game highlights, but so did his commentary on Titans’ cornerback Cortland Finnegan.

“You always hear about how tough they are and all that stuff,” Orton said. “I don’t think they are tough. I think they are cheap, and it was one of the cheapest games that I’ve ever seen out of some of those players. I thought the refs did a good job of keeping it under control.” [...]

“It’s ridiculous,” Orton said. “If that is the type of player Cortland Finnegan wants to be, then he is a cheap player — he is not a good player.” – Kyle Orton (Shutdown Corner)

This time around, Orton is playing it low-key when discussing Finnegan.

“It was a good game, he’s a good player,” Orton said. “They like to play a physical style of football. It will be a hard hitting game for 60 minutes.”
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Among other things, Orton talks about his offensive line and who pays when they go out to dinner, the possibility of throwing to Tim Tebow, and his remarks about Titans’ CB Cortland Finnegan after last year’s win.

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