Broncos-Ravens PreviewAP MegaSports GAME: Denver Broncos (3-0) at Baltimore Ravens (0-2).
TIME: Monday, 9 p.m. EDT.
The Denver Broncos are 3-0 for the first time since their last Super Bowl appearance. The Baltimore Ravens seem miles away from their last Super Bowl.
A pair of teams seemingly headed for different types of seasons meet when the unbeaten Broncos visit the punchless Ravens.
After beating a pair of 2001 playoff teams to open the season, the Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills 28-23 last Sunday.
The Broncos are unbeaten after three games for the first time since 1998, when they won their second straight Super Bowl. They reached the Super Bowl five of the previous seven times they started 3-0.
Denver has balanced a decent offense with a strong defense. Brian Griese, close to being benched early in the season, has played well when the game has been on the line, while the Broncos have the NFL's No. 1 rushing defense.
"I think everybody knows we've got a good offense, a good defense, got some good special teams," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said Monday. "Can we put it together consistently through the year? That will be the question."
The Ravens, on the other hand, have been consistent - consistently bad on offense. They still have one of the league's best defenses, as they did when they won the Super Bowl two years ago, but with Chris Redman directing a young offense, points have been almost impossible to come by.
Baltimore has scored just seven points this season. After opening with a 10-7 loss to Carolina, the Ravens lost 25-0 to Tampa Bay in the second week. They had a bye last week, giving them a chance to improve the NFL's 29th-ranked offense.
"We are going to have to go back and correct things," said Redman, who has just a 57.6 passer rating. "There's obviously a lot we didn't do right, and we're going to have to go forward."
Luckily for the Ravens, they still have one of the NFL's most respected defenses. Baltimore is third in the AFC in both total defense and passing defense, and has allowed just one defensive touchdown this season.
The star of that defense remains Ray Lewis, who despite playing only two games thus far is tied for the AFC lead with 21 tackles.
Lewis and the Ravens defense may be able to make sure the game is close late, which is when Griese has been at his best.
Griese is 16-for-19 for 165 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the fourth quarter this season. His 142.4 passer rating in the fourth quarter is second-best in the NFL.
He is aided by a balanced running attack featuring a trio of runners - Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis and Olandis Gary - who average 4.3 yards or more per carry. The Broncos have been just as strong against the run, allowing a league-low 47.3 yards per game.
The teams have split two regular-season meetings. This game features the return to Baltimore of tight end Shannon Sharpe, who spent two seasons with the Ravens before rejoining the Broncos prior to this season.
STANDINGS: Broncos - 1st place (tied), AFC West. Ravens - 2nd place (tied), AFC North.
BRONCOS LEADERS: Offense - Griese, 532 passing yards and 6 passing TDs; Portis, 149 rushing yards; Gary and Portis, 1 rushing TD; Rod Smith, 15 receptions, 163 receiving yards and 2 receiving TDs. Defense - Ian Gold and Deltha O'Neal, 17 tackles; Trevor Pryce, 3 sacks; O'Neal and Keith Washington, 1 INT.
RAVENS LEADERS: Offense - Redman, 359 passing yards and 1 passing TD; Jamal Lewis, 117 rushing yards; Brandon Stokley, 10 receptions and 140 receiving yards; Ron Johnson, 1 receiving TD. Defense - Lewis, 21 tackles; Peter Boulware, 2 sacks.
BRONCOS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 156 yards per game (5th in NFL); Passing Offense - 154.7 ypg (30th); Total Offense - 310.7 ypg (19th). Rushing Defense - 47.3 ypg (1st); Passing Defense - 245.7 ypg (26th); Total Defense - 293 ypg (11th).
RAVENS TEAM RANK: Rushing Offense - 66 ypg (30th); Passing Offense - 165 ypg (23rd); Total Offense - 231 ypg (29th). Rushing Defense - 109.5 ypg (18th); Passing Defense - 162.5 ypg (4th); Total Defense - 272 ypg (6th).
LAST MEETING: Sept. 30, 2001; Ravens, 20-13. At Denver, Elvis Grbac threw two second-half TD passes and the Ravens limited the Broncos to 228 yards in total offense.
STREAKS AND NOTES: Broncos - QB Griese has the NFL's longest active streak with a TD pass, tossing one in 18 straight games. ... RB's Anderson and Portis both average more than 5.5 yards per carry. ... Denver has not allowed a first-quarter point this season. Ravens - Baltimore is tied with Arizona for the NFL's youngest team, with an average age of 25.2 years. ... The Ravens are 1-0 on Monday night. ... The Ravens haven't allowed a defensive touchdown in two straight home games.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Broncos - 1-0 on the road; Ravens - 0-1 at home.
INJURIES: Broncos - QUESTIONABLE: T Matt Lepsis (hamstring). PROBABLE: LB Keith Burns (hand/hamstring); G Lennie Friedman (thumb); RB Gary (ankle); C Tom Nalen (knee); T Ephraim Salaam (ankle). Ravens - QUESTIONABLE: WR Brandon Stokley (ankle). PROBABLE: TE Terry Jones (hand); RB Lewis (ribs); CB James Trapp (chest).