Sky Live preview: Denver Broncos host the Baltimore Ravens
Monday 14 September 2015 10:21, UK
If the Denver Broncos are to open their season with a win on Sunday, limiting Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will be key and head coach Gary Kubiak knows better than most how to do just that.
Kubiak revived his coaching career in Baltimore last season as Flacco's offensive coordinator after being fired by the Houston Texans and his impressive work there helped him land his dream job as head coach of the Broncos.
Aggressive defensive game plans caused problems for Flacco last season with games against Houston, Jacksonville and Cleveland proving surprisingly troublesome for the former Super Bowl MVP.
The Broncos have the personnel to get after the quarterback with Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and first-round draft pick Shane Ray, who they traded up to get.
Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips has taken over as Broncos defensive coordinator this season and aggressive defences are his trademark.
Of course the Ravens will face significant challenges on the other side of the ball also with future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Peyton Manning throwing to Pro Bowl wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
"They've got two Pro Bowl receivers, maybe the one and two, one and three production receivers in the league last year," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.
"Of course, that has to do with the quarterback, but these are two talented guys and obviously (tight end) Owen (Daniels) is a go-to guy in critical situations, so they've got lots of talent."
If the Ravens get involved in a shootout, Flacco will be looking to number one target Steve Smith Sr. and hoping he can win his battles with Pro Bowl cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. - a challenge he is relishing.
"I anticipate I'll go against both guys," Smith said Wednesday. "Talib, he's a good player. We've had our battles, but there's no animosity. It is high-competitive juices going."
Harris has only faced Smith once during his career but he is well aware of the former Carolina Panther's talent and knows he will have to be at his best to stop him.
"He's still out there punking people, just manhandling those other corners," Harris said. "It's pretty amazing to do that for so long."
The Ravens first-round pick, wide receiver Breshad Perriman, missed all of the preseason with a sprained right knee that will keep him out of the opener as well.
The last time these teams met was in week 1 of the 2013 season and the Broncos routed the Ravens as Manning threw for a career high seven touchdowns in a 49-27 win.
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But Harbaugh feels his team are far better prepared for this game and does not fear a repeat.
"I think we're going to be a pretty darn good football team," Harbaugh said. "We're excited about where we're at, and I can't wait to see what we do when the games are for real."
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