Denver Broncos-Baltimore Ravens playoff rematch kicks off 2013 NFL season
The Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens get the 2013 National Football League season underway with a in Denver. The game will be televised by NBC at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time.
These two teams last saw each other in January during an AFC Divisional playoff game, also in the 'Mile High City,' where Raven quarterback flung a touchdown pass to tie the score late in the fourth quarter. Baltimore eventually won the playoff contest in double overtime.
Thursday night, both Flacco and Bronco quarterback are back to lead their respective teams. The offenses early on.
For Manning and the Denver offense, the biggest acquisition was former Patriots wide receiver who signed on as a free agent. He joins Denver wideouts and to form a potent aerial attack.
鈥淚鈥檝e been looking forward to this one for a while,鈥� Welker told Tuesday. 鈥淎nd being in the kickoff classic 鈥� I鈥檓 definitely excited about it.鈥�
Baltimore's offense, with Flacco and running back , has added tight end Dallas Clark and wide receiver Brandon Stokely. They ranked last season in the American Football Conference.
It's a little different story on defense for the Broncos. Standout linebacker Von Miller will miss the contest as part of for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Veteran cornerback Champ Bailey is . And former Bronco pass rusher Elvis Dumervil is now with the Ravens, because of that allowed him to sign a free-agent deal with Baltimore.
"It鈥檚 just as a player and as a competitor 鈥� I鈥檝e been doing it for almost eight years now 鈥� you鈥檝e got to prove yourself. And that鈥檚 the great thing about the NFL, is you have opportunity, and whenever you have an opportunity to prove yourself, I think you should take full advantage of it. So, I鈥檓 looking forward to that,鈥� Dumervil told .
For the NFL world champions, former All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis has retired. But the Ravens defense, including Dumervil, will still be formidable. Inside linebacker will take up the leadership mantle from Lewis and will get help from nose tackle .
As far as which team might prevail in this first NFL matchup, four of the five game analysts for are going with the Broncos. The majority of analysts on are also siding with Denver over the Ravens.
Other big matchups in the NFL opening weekend include the return of Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III from injury as Monday night. On Sunday, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton returns from a one-year suspension for player bounties as the in an early NFC South meeting, to play the 49ers, and the in Dallas Sunday night.
