Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts preview
The Denver Broncos will have the death of a team-mate on their minds when they take the field against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Kenny McKinley was found dead in his home on Monday of an apparent suicide. He is the third Denver player to die in recent years.
The Broncos will have to try to focus on the task at hand on Sunday: trying to contain Peyton Manning. Manning has started the season well and could take advantage of a Denver defence that has not been the
same with the loss of pass-rusher extraordinaire Elvis Dumervil.
The Broncos have allowed 19 points-per-game to a couple of pretty weak teams in the Lacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks. Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard, in particular, was sub par, and threw
for three interceptions.
Manning is much, much better than Garrard. The four-time MVP has been brilliant in 2010, throwing for 688 yards and six touchdowns already. Manning has yet to throw an interception.
Denver can counter Manning with their quarterback Kyle Orton, who has quietly had a very good start to the season. Orton is averaging over 300 yards-per-game and has three touchdowns and only one interception.
Orton also has a shiny new toy to play with, with the emergence of rookie wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. Thomas, the first receiver taken in the 2010 draft, was held out of action with a foot injury and
made his debut in week two.
His foot didn't seem to slow him down, as Thomas led the team with eight receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown, going some way to erasing the memory of Brandon Marshall.
Orton has not, however played against a pass rush of the calibre of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis of the Colts. The pass-rushing ends were relentless in the Colts last game against the Giants, finishing
with two sacks each and pressuring Eli Manning on seemingly every down.
If the Broncos drop Orton back over and over, they will give up sacks. The way through the Colts defence is, as ever, on the ground. The Colts were gashed by Texans running back Arian Foster in week one for
231 yards and three touchdowns. Week two wasn't much better, as Ahmad Bradshaw averaged 5.2 yards-per-carry on limited touches.
The Broncos will hope that they can get a breakout game from running back Knowshon Moreno, who has struggled so far this season. Moreno got nowhere against the Seahawks in week two, averaging a paltry 2.1
yards-per-carry on his way to 51 yards rushing. However, that Seahawk defence also held Frank Gore in check, so Moreno could have more success on Sunday.
The Broncos could have some success on offence on Sunday, but to beat the Colts you have to be able to keep Manning in check, or on the sideline. The Broncos offence has been good, but not so good to suggest
that they're capable of hogging the ball for long enough to negate Manning. The defence certainly hasn't given any indication of being capable of containing a Colts offence at the top of its game. The Colts will pull away to win behind their Hall of Fame to-be
quarterback.
Prediction: Colts 28 Broncos 17
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