Ravens’ defense capitalized on Peyton’s lack of arm strength

Seventeen plays, 10 minutes and another field goal.

Both teams will struggle offensively in this game.

As the Chiefs get ready for their home opener, they are making a big marketing push to call the day “Red Thursday!”

Life doesn’t get easier Thursday night against Kansas City with Justin Houston off to another dominant start. For now, the Broncos defense must carry the squad until the offense finds its footing. Keep in mind, when the Broncos changed up their strategy past year , it put Manning in a much different position, put him under center a lot more, and it’s not something he’s used to. That leaves the Oakland Raiders as the only team to lose in the division in the opening week. It was a dominant performance.

The Broncos did win on Sunday right? Combine a new coach, Gary Kubiak, a New offensive Coordinator, Rick Dennison and a reconstructed offensive line I expect the Broncos to continue to struggle while in KC. Then there’s the “mortal” Peyton, the 39-year-old who looked his age in a Week 1 lucky-they-escaped win over Baltimore.

One key matchup to watch will be the Broncos’ linebackers and safeties against Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, who burned Houston for over 100 yards and two scores.

Manning passed for just 175 yards and an interception without any touchdown passes. Running back Jamaal Charles had a slow week 1, but is projected to be one of the top statistical running backs in the league in 2015. Can you imagine what he could have accomplished with a few more seasons? However, they each averaged less than 9 yards per catch.

If the Ravens want to be competitive this year and make a Super Bowl push, they have to be able to move the ball better, especially against elite defenses like the Broncos’. The Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos, with the game set to kick off at 5:30 p.m. PT on CBS. The Chiefs are 3-point favorites, yet another change to recent trends in this AFC West series, which dates back to the AFL when the Chiefs were the Dallas Texans.

During the John Fox era in Denver, we saw Manning routinely in shotgun formation, essentially playing in a spread offense.