NFL
By Keith Richards
Guess what day it is! Guess what DAY IT IS! NFL Sunday has returned. Week 1 of the NFL season is upon us! For the 2023-2024 season, the saying, “New year, new me,” perfectly fits how the Denver Broncos approach this season under new head coach Sean Payton. After an abysmal stretch of seasons, climaxing with the debacle that was the ’22-’23 season, Denver looks to turn over a new leaf with a Week 1 win against their bitter rivals: The Las Vegas Raiders.
Game Notes
• The Raiders lead the all-time 71-54-2
• Las Vegas has been Denver in six straight games
• The Broncos have the most division titles between the teams at 15 (Raiders, 12)
• The longest win streak for the Broncos and Raiders is eight games and 14 games, respectively
• The Raiders won the last meeting between the two teams, 22-16 (OT)
Offensive Week 1 Keys to Victory
For the Broncos to defeat the Raiders in Week 1, two things will need to happen. First, the offensive line has to quickly get in sync. There were many issues with the Denver Broncos in their last season. One of the biggest issues was poor offensive line play. Last season, Denver gave up an NFL-leading 63 sacks. In their Week 1 matchup, priority one for the offense is for the offensive line to protect Russell Wilson.
Second, Russell Wilson and Sean Payton must be in sync as quickly as possible in Week 1. More than likely, after the last season Wilson had, he and head coach Sean Payton will be the most heavily scrutinized coach and QB combo in the NFL. The Denver Broncos have invested a lot in Russ and Sean. A lot means three players, three first-round picks, three second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick.
On top of that, Denver extended Wilson for a five-year, $245 million contract. Even further, Sean Payton was signed for five years at an estimated $18 million per season. For the Broncos, Russell Wilson, and Sean Payton, the future is now. They don’t have much leeway for growth. A Week 1 victory would go a long way.
Defensive Week 1 Keys to Victory
For the defense in Week 1, the Broncos have two keys to victory here as well. The first is to limit Josh Jacobs. Jacobs led the NFL last season with 1,653 yards. Against Denver last season, Josh rushed for 144 yards (2 TDs) and 109 yards respectively. If the Broncos look to beat the Raiders in Week 1, they have to limit the rushing yards of Jacobs. Under 80 yards would be ideal. If they can limit the rushing yards, it puts more pressure on the new Las Vegas quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Second, Pat Surtain II must have a better game against Raiders star receiver Davante Adams in Week 1. In two games last season, with PSII as the main cover guy on Adams, Davante had games of 101 yards and 141 yards (2 TDs) respectively. After recently being voted the second-best cornerback in the NFL, Surtain will need to limit Adams (the best weapon for Jimmy G) and force others to produce. No pressure, kid!
The Week 1 Result
Even though the Broncos have added numerous new players in their own right, Las Vegas has a new player at its most important position: Quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo takes the helm for the Raiders after a disappointing end to his stint with San Francisco. There may be more pressure on him than Russell Wilson. One thing that remains is the stoutness of the Broncos’ defense. In Week 1, I believe Denver rides that defense to a 24-20 victory over Las Vegas.
Be sure to follow Team NBS Media on Twitter (I refuse to call it X) for its gameday thread for all the action. Loads for content can be found on the Team NBS Media site for coverage of other NFL teams. Lastly, the Team NBS YouTube channel features gameday live streams to get you started for Week 1 and will continue throughout the season. Check out the YouTube channel and don’t forget to like and subscribe! Now, let’s play ball!
