Geoff JohnsonThe Denver Broncos appear as 15 point favorites for their Monday night matchup against the Oakland Raiders to be held at Sports Authority Field at Mile High at 8:30 PM ET.
The Broncos scored 40+ points in their two first game of the season against the Baltimore Ravens and the NY Giants, and Peyton Manning became the only player in the NFL to have thrown nine touchdowns in the first two weeks. If he throws three TDs against the Raiders he will have the all-time record for the here first weeks of the season, currently owned by Tom Brady in 2011.
“He’s the best of the best,” Raiders defensive back Charles Woodson said. “The thing with him is you try your best to give him different looks and not let him know what (defense) you’re in. If he knows what you’re in, you see what he’s done the first couple of weeks.”
Denver is 14-1 in the last 15 games in the regular season; their only loss came against the New England Patriots.
The Raiders are 1-1 this season after the win over the Jaguars 19-9 last week. Their quarterback Terrelle Pryor leads all quarterbacks with 162 rushing yards. However, they are thinking mostly on how to slow down Peyton Manning.
“This will be the best team that we’ve faced and they’re very talented,” head coach Dennis Allen said. “We’re going to have to do a good job of changing things up and mixing some things up, mixing some looks and be able to play a good, team game.”
Denver is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Oakland; that one ATS victory came with Peyton Manning under center last season.
