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It is being widely reported that the Denver Broncos will host the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 5 in the NFL season-opening game.

The season-opener has been reserved to be played at the home of the Super Bowl winner, but the Ravens were unable to host because of a conflict with baseball’s Baltimore Orioles. The NFL schedule will officially be announced Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

This matchup between Denver and Baltimore would make sense. The first game of the season is usually always highly anticipated and there's a festive feel around it.

This game would also give Denver a chance to start training camp a few days earlier than most teams, and it would give them a 10-day break between its first and second games of the season.

Also, starting out against Baltimore would give Denver a chance to get the bad taste of the 2012 finale out of its mouth. Baltimore stunned the Broncos in double overtime in January on its way to winning the Super Bowl.

In a game that would have many storylines, of course, an intriguing one would be Elvis Dumervil’s return. He left in free agency after the infamous fax machine fiasco that blocked his return to the Broncos.

We will know officially Thursday night if this game will indeed take place, but it seems like a perfect fit.

 
Former Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain has agreed to a deal with the Baltimore Ravens, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Before the contract is formalized on Friday, McClain is required to pass a physical and meet with general manager Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh regarding their expectations.

McClain told a newspaper in Alabama on Wednesday that he expects to sign a one-year deal with the Ravens.

"It's a move that can't go wrong and I'm looking forward to playing in Baltimore as the Ravens run the same or very similar defense as I was a part of at the University of Alabama," he told the Madison (Ala.) Weekly News.

"Ray Lewis retired after winning the Super Bowl and I look to fill his slot," McClain told the newspaper. "No one can fill his shoes, but I can fill his slot. I just want to fill out the shoes of Rolando McClain. This is a perfect fit for me personally."

For the full story, click here.

Want to learn how not to play defense in crucial situations against the Baltimore Ravens?

Just watch tape of the AFC West.

According to U-T San Diego, the San Francisco 49ers have watched and learned from the Chargers’ awful defense on the famous Ray Rice fourth-and-29 first-down conversion that turned what looked like a sure San Diego win into a Baltimore overtime victory. The last-gasp play came late in regulation Nov. 25.

I’m sure that, as they prepare to face the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, the 49ers have also watched Rahim Moore's horrendous defense in the Broncos' meeting with the Ravens in the divisional playoffs. The 70-yard bomb from Joe Flacco to Jacoby Jones over Moore tied the game late in regulation and set up the Ravens’ win in double overtime.

I witnessed both gaffes in person. And, no, I still can’t believe either happened. But the truth is, if the Ravens win the Super Bowl, they can thank the two colossal AFC West misplays for helping them get there.

» NFC Final Word: Packers-49ers | Seahawks-Falcons » AFC: Ravens-Broncos | Texans-Pats

Five nuggets of knowledge about the Baltimore Ravens-Denver Broncos AFC divisional-round game, which will be played at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Denver's Sports Authority Field:

Justify his glove: A quarterback wearing a glove is a fairly common occurrence. But when a quarterback the caliber of Peyton Manning starts to wear a glove, it’s noticeable. When it happens after Manning missed an entire season because of a neck injury that required four surgeries, it is going to be newsworthy. This week, Manning admitted he is wearing the glove as a result of his surgery. He wore the glove in the past two games -- both at home -- because he has had difficulty gripping the ball in the cold. Snow is a possibility Saturday, and temperatures might dip below 20 degrees at game time. Expect to see the glove make its third appearance. If the first two games are any indication, Denver shouldn’t be worried about the fit: Manning has thrown for 643 yards, six touchdowns and one interception while wearing the glove.

Is Rice suddenly a fumbler? There is a curious trend developing for Baltimore running back Ray Rice. Once the postseason begins, normally ball-secure Rice becomes vulnerable to fumbling. Rice has seven fumbles in 1,527 touches in his regular-season career. But after fumbling twice Sunday against the Colts, Rice has fumbled five times in 152 touches in the playoffs. Nothing can unravel an upset bid on the road in the playoffs like a key fumble. It will be something Rice -- and the entire Denver crowd -- will be thinking about Saturday.

Pees has playoff experience against Manning: Baltimore defensive coordinator Dean Pees was an assistant coach in New England from 2004 to 2009 and faced Manning in the postseason twice, winning once and losing once. This week on ESPN’s “NFL Live,” another former Bill Belichick defensive assistant, Eric Mangini, said Pees’ time planning for Manning with Belichick's playoff staffs could come in handy. Mangini said there were times when Belichick changed an entire defensive scheme against Manning at halftime to get an edge. Thus, Mangini said, Pees is adept at doing what it takes to try to stop Manning in the playoffs.

Will the Ravens be worn down? Denver will try to strike quickly and set the tone. Expect to see some fast-paced, no-huddle offense against what could be a fatigued Ravens defense. Baltimore had a short week after beating the Colts on Sunday -- after which the Ravens had to travel west into the thin air of Denver. The Colts ran 87 offensive plays and kept the ball for 37 minutes, 32 seconds Sunday. All of these factors could come into play Saturday.

Will Caldwell give different looks? When Denver beat the Ravens 34-17 in Baltimore in Week 15, it was the Ravens’ first game with Jim Caldwell as their offensive coordinator. The Ravens promoted Caldwell, who was Manning’s head coach in Indianapolis, from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator after the firing of Cam Cameron. Caldwell’s offense was anemic against Denver, which took a 31-3 lead into the fourth quarter. The unit has made some strides in the three games since, meaning Denver should expect to see an improved Baltimore offense.

This feels like Double Coverage déjà vu. It was only four weeks ago when we were talking about these same two teams. If you don't remember, or you're a Ravens fan trying to forget, the Broncos rolled to a 34-17 win in Baltimore.

Since that time, the Ravens regrouped with a 33-14 win over the Giants and delivered an emotionally charged 24-9 playoff win over the Colts in the wild-card round. Baltimore has now won at least one game in each of the past five postseasons.

The Broncos finished out the regular season with 11 straight wins to capture the top seed in the AFC. In the previous 42 seasons, there have been eight teams to enter the playoffs with an active win streak of at least 10 games, and half of them made the Super Bowl.

AFC West blogger Bill Williamson and AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley discuss whether Saturday's AFC divisional playoff game will be a repeat of the regular-season rout.

Hensley: The Ravens are decided underdogs in this game, and they should be. Baltimore hardly looked like a playoff team in getting beat by 17 points by Denver last month, and Peyton Manning didn't even have a great game. The Ravens believe the outcome will be different because they're healthier. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis and the Ravens' top two tacklers (safety Bernard Pollard and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe) will play this time after missing the last game against the Broncos. The Ravens' best offensive lineman, guard Marshal Yanda, will also be back in the lineup. This, at least, gives the Ravens some hope.

Williamson: There’s no denying this: The Denver Broncos are confident going into this game. They should be. They are 13-3. They have won a league-high 11 straight games. They pounded the Ravens in Baltimore four weeks ago in their best overall game of the season. But be sure of this: Denver respects Baltimore. It is not overlooking this game because of a potential Manning-Tom Brady showdown in the AFC title game. The key to Denver’s winning streak has been its focus on the upcoming game and its ability not to get ahead of itself. As Jamison said, the Ravens are healthier this week than they were in December, and the Broncos know it. They have spoken of that fact all week. This is a good approach for Denver. The Broncos feel good about themselves, but they are focused on the Ravens. Let’s face it, the Broncos should win this game, but an upset is not out of the question. Jamison, what do you think are some keys to this matchup?

Hensley: The biggest matchup is one the Ravens lost badly the first time. It's the Ravens' offensive line against the Broncos' pass rush. Joe Flacco was sacked three times, and he's not the same quarterback when he gets hit early. Pressure on Flacco often results in turnovers. It's kind of a running theme, but the Ravens hope it will be different this time because their line looks different. For the wild-card victory Sunday, the Ravens put Bryant McKinnie at left tackle, moved Michael Oher to right tackle and shifted Kelechi Osemele to left guard. McKinnie allowed one quarterback pressure against the Colts, and the Ravens gave up one sack. As you know, Bill, it's an entirely different challenge with Von Miller and the Broncos. What's the key matchup from the Broncos' standpoint?

Williamson: I think it starts here. I don’t know if the Ravens are going to have an answer for that. Sure, they did some line shuffling last week. But that is a sign of desperation. Denver’s pass rush is top-notch. It was all over Flacco last month. It set the tone for the game. Expect Denver to bring the heat early. The Broncos are well coached, but there isn’t a lot of mystery. They focus on what they do well, so don’t expect any funny business. Denver knows it got to Flacco easily four weeks ago and it will try to do the same thing. Miller is one of the best pass-rushers alive. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Miller had 11.5 of his 18.5 sacks on third downs in 2012. It was the highest total in the NFL in 20 years. But Denver’s pass rush is much more than the menacing Miller. Elvis Dumervil is a standout, and Denver gets great push from the defensive front. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Denver defense has sacked or put the quarterback under duress on 28 percent of opponent dropbacks this season. It was the highest rate in the NFL. Against Baltimore, Denver put Flacco under duress 33 percent of the time. That is extremely taxing for an offensive line and quarterback. It is something Baltimore will have to account for.

Hensley: Bill, there's no doubt the Ravens have to keep the pressure off Flacco. Baltimore's pass rush, which had its moments against Andrew Luck last Sunday, has been hampered by Terrell Suggs. Injuries to his Achilles and biceps this season have kept him from looking like the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Suggs has only two sacks this season and made one tackle against Denver. Paul Kruger has been the Ravens' best pass-rusher this season. He had a career-high nine sacks in the regular season and added 2.5 more in the playoff game. But the biggest pressure on Manning might not involve Suggs or Kruger. Since he won the Super Bowl, Manning has been one-and-done in three of his past four postseasons. Manning has had a reputation of faltering in the playoffs. Now, with the Broncos being the top seed and Manning being an MVP candidate, all of the pressure is on No. 18. Bill, do you see that being a factor?

Williamson: The guy has been so spectacular all season, I don’t see a lot of pressure. I mean, this is a 36-year-old man who missed all of the 2011 season because he had four neck surgeries. His recovery was the story of the NFL offseason. He responded with one of his best NFL seasons in a new setting and he is a top MVP candidate. I think the pressure is off. Now, it's true that he has not been great in the postseason. He is 9-10 in his career. If Denver loses Saturday, it will certainly be a major storyline. But I don’t think there is a lot of worry in Denver about Manning’s playoff history. Maybe because everyone is so confident in how he fits with this team and the supporting cast around him. This is arguably the best team he’s played on.

Hensley: Well, Bill, I'm not breaking new ground by saying this isn't the best defense Lewis has played on. No one will be making any comparisons to the 2000 record-setting defense, but the 2012 defense is better than what people think. The Ravens were the second-best red zone defense in the NFL this year and stopped the Colts on all three trips inside the 20-yard line last Sunday. Over the final six games, Baltimore allowed the NFL's fourth-fewest yards per game. But the best defense against Manning might be the weather. Bill, do I need to bring my snow shovel?

Williamson: You might want to pack an ice scraper, but nothing too serious. The forecast calls for a chance of snow. I think the biggest issue will be the cold. That could help the defense. Interesting that you mention the Ravens’ defensive success in the red zone. There have been times when Denver’s offense has stalled in the red zone. For Baltimore to win this game, it needs to hold Denver to three points more often than not and create big plays on defense. I don’t think it is out of the question that Baltimore wins this game, but the truth is that Denver is balanced and rolling. The Broncos will need to make an unusual amount of mistakes and the Ravens will have to cash in every time. I’m not sure if that will happen. I think this game will be closer than the last meeting, but I still give Denver the edge.

Sunday’s game between the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens features two division leaders in contention for the AFC's No. 2 seed. It's also a potential showdown between two of the best players at their position who are both on the comeback trail. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is an MVP candidate after missing all of last season with a neck injury. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is looking to return just eight weeks removed from surgery on a torn triceps and get Baltimore back on track in the playoff race.

ESPN bloggers Bill Williamson and Jamison Hensley discuss this matchup:

HENSLEY: The banged-up Ravens defense is not coming into this pivotal matchup on top of its game. The Ravens have lost their past two games by allowing two backup quarterbacks, Charlie Batch and Kirk Cousins, to come back against them in the fourth quarter. There is some hope with the potential return of Lewis and Terrell Suggs, two former NFL Defensive Players of the Year. But this isn't exactly the way Baltimore wants to head into a matchup with Manning, who has owned this team. Manning has won his past eight meetings against the Ravens, including five in Baltimore. The last time the Ravens beat Manning was 2001, when they were defending Super Bowl champions. Bill, is there anything the Ravens can do to slow him down?

WILLIAMSON: What the Broncos have going for them heading into this crucial game is that they are red hot. What else would you want going for you in mid-December? They have won eight straight games and own the longest current winning streak in the NFL. Denver is a season-high No. 2 in this week’s ESPN.com Power Rankings. Of course, it all starts with Manning. As Jamison points out, Manning has owned the Ravens. Something is going to give Sunday. While Manning has some power over the Ravens, his new team doesn’t. The Broncos are 0-5 all-time on the road against the Ravens, including in the playoffs. The question is, what is more important, Manning’s history or the Broncos’ recent history? I’d think the Broncos’ instant success since signing Manning may answer that question.

HENSLEY: I've witnessed every one of those Manning victories. The fun part about watching them is the verbal chess match between Manning and Lewis. Manning does his famous audibles at the line, and Lewis counters by yelling at his teammates on where to move. Lewis is expected to return this week after tearing his triceps two months ago. It's a season-ending injury for many players. Most thought Lewis wouldn't return this season. But he proves time and time again that you shouldn't count him out. I never expected Lewis to be playing middle linebacker at 37 years old. While Lewis can't run sideline to sideline like he did years ago and he can't get off blocks as easily, his leadership to the Ravens is invaluable. It's why Suggs always refers to Lewis as "The General." Even if Lewis and Suggs are able to play, the best linebacker on the field Sunday won't be wearing purple.

WILLIAMSON: I’m sure the Broncos would prefer Lewis to stay out for another week because of his leadership and his ability to inspire his team. Who else besides Lewis can get the Ravens out of their mini-funk? But physically, I give the Broncos and Manning the edge here. Lewis just isn’t the player he was and as Jamison hinted up top, there will be a dominant, young linebacker on the field. While Manning is a leading MVP candidate, second-year Denver outside linebacker Von Miller is a leading candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. His top competition is Houston’s J.J. Watt. While Watt’s team floundered Monday night at New England, Miller and his defense have a chance to shine in their big game Sunday. Miller has been brilliant. He has 16 sacks, six forced fumbles and an interception return for a touchdown. Most important, the No. 2 overall pick in 2011 has become a complete player. He does so much more than just put heat on the quarterback. His overall game savvy will be on display.

HENSLEY: Bill, those six forced fumbles have to concern the Ravens because quarterback Joe Flacco's pocket awareness has been terrible recently. Flacco was among the league leaders in fumbles last season with six, and he has fumbled the past two games. It’s also bad timing for the Ravens to take on the team ranking second in the NFL in sacks. There’s a chance that the Ravens will be without their best lineman, right guard Marshal Yanda, who has a significant ankle sprain. The Ravens could reshuffle the line and put Michael Oher at right tackle (he has allowed two sacks that have led to fumbles the past two games) or stick with rookie second-round pick Kelechi Osemele (who has allowed eight sacks). Miller has dominated right tackles this year, so Baltimore needs someone to step up at that spot. In an effort to slow down the pass rush, look for new offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell to use more no-huddle (to wear down the Denver linemen), go with more maximum protection schemes and get the ball to Ray Rice on screens.

WILLIAMSON: You are right, Jamison, I think the Broncos will be squarely focused on stopping Rice. The AFC West has seen this season how Rice can ruin an afternoon. Fourth-and-29 anyone? The Broncos are well coached on defense and they adjust well. What impresses me most about this defense is that it improves as the game goes on. Like Manning and the offense, this defense gets better in the second half. So, yes, Baltimore may have some success with Rice both running the ball and on screen plays, but I’m not sure it will be able to sustain it all game long. Baltimore will have to get more varied in its offensive attack throughout the course of the game to put pressure on Denver. That will be a lot to ask from Caldwell in the first game he has called strictly on offense since 2000, when he was at Wake Forest.

HENSLEY: I think Rice is the Ravens' X factor on offense. But, Bill, I have to admit I think Rice is always the X factor when it comes to the Ravens. When they get him 20 touches, it usually results in a win. On defense, it's safety Ed Reed. He has been quiet lately with one interception in his past five games. But Reed is going to be a free agent at the end of this season, and going against the top quarterbacks brings the best out of him. Reed picked off Manning three times in a playoff game three years ago, but two of them were taken away because of penalties on other Ravens players. I remember talking to Reed a few years ago when he talked about why he deserved a new contract. "Peyton Manning doesn't sleep when he sees No. 20 going to Indy," Reed said. Let's see if he'll be Manning's nightmare Sunday.

WILLIAMSON: Look, I’m a big Reed fan. I always enjoy watching him. I love how players like him have helped change the importance of the safety position in today’s NFL. If the Ravens are going to pull out of their collective doldrums, they will need a player like Reed to make a big play or two Sunday. He is fully capable. Denver will have to account for him. But it all goes back to my original take: Denver is the hotter team and has the hotter players. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Ravens rise up. They are great at home and good teams like this rarely lose three straight games. But I do know that Denver, which has been playing at a high level in all phases, will not go into this game with a lack of confidence. The Broncos believe in themselves and they know eight-game win streaks don’t happen in the NFL by accident. Denver will be a team with a purpose Sunday.

Will Shields is going into a hall of fame this year, after all.

Four weeks after being a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Chiefs announced the guard will go into their hall of fame this season.

Shields played for the Chiefs from 1993-2006. He played in 224 games, the most in team history. He played in 12 Pro Bowls.

“On behalf of my family and the entire Chiefs organization, we are extremely proud to announce Will Shields’ election into the Chiefs Hall of Fame,” Kansas City owner Clark Hunt said. “Will was a true ‘iron man’ -- never missing a game in 14 seasons -- and his career and character place him among the greatest in Chiefs history.”

Shields has a strong chance to make it in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the next couple of years.

In other AFC West notes:

If the Raiders do cut pass-rusher Kamerion Wimbley in a salary-cap move, keep an eye on the Chiefs. They could use another pass-rusher and Wimbley played for Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel in Cleveland. Crennel was not with the Browns when they traded him to Oakland two years ago. Plus, Wimbley and Crennel have the same agent.

Baltimore cut cornerback Chris Carr. He could be an inexpensive role player for the Raiders, who have a big need at cornerback. He also has previously played for Oakland.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery has been hired as the Chicago Bears’ general manager.

The Chiefs had been preparing for Emery’s potential departure. He had been considered a leading candidate in Chicago. He formerly was a scout for the Bears.

This won’t be a crippling loss for the Chiefs, but they will need to quickly adjust. Losing your college scouting director on the day of the Senior Bowl and four weeks before the NFL combine is not ideal. I’m sure Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli has a plan to replace Emery, since the Chicago process was lengthy.

In other AFC West-related news, NFL offensive coordinator opportunities are shrinking for former Oakland coach Hue Jackson. Baltimore didn’t replace Cam Cameron and Schefter reports the Colts are hiring former Steelers coordinator Bruce Arians. Jackson was considered a potential candidate for both jobs.

New San Diego defensive coordinator John Pagano expressed his delight in the fact that his brother, Chuck, became the head coach in Indianapolis on Wednesday. Yet, John Pagano made it clear he has no designs on leaving the Chargers to join the Colts’ staff.

“It would be an honor to work with my brother, but I have the job I’ve always dreamed of,” Pagano said in a statement released by the Chargers. He was promoted to defensive coordinator from linebackers coach earlier this month. Chuck Pagano was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator prior to being hired by the Colts.

Meanwhile, it wouldn’t be a surprise if former Oakland coach Hue Jackson was a candidate to be offensive coordinator in Indianapolis. He worked with Chuck Pagano in Baltimore. Jackson interviewed for the quarterback coaching job in Arizona on Monday.

Meanwhile, new Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie confirmed the inevitable.

There was an AFC West connection to one of the biggest plays of championship Sunday.

Sterling Moore’s short NFL career started in Oakland.

Moore put himself in the NFL spotlight Sunday when he knocked the ball out of the hands of Baltimore’s Lee Evans in the end zone in the final moments of a New England win. Had Moore, who was beaten on the play, not made the second effort, the Ravens very likely would be playing in the Super Bowl.

Yet, it will be Moore and the Patriots who will face the New York Giants on Sunday.

It will be a wild end to a strange six months for Moore. The SMU product signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent. Moore was a training camp star for the Raiders, who were and who still are in need of cornerback help. Yet, Moore ended up on Oakland’s practice squad only to be released from the eight-man squad in September.

New England signed Moore to the practice squad in October and he made his NFL debut in November and has seen a lot of action at both safety and cornerback.

It would be easy to say the Raiders made a mistake with Moore, but he won’t be the last NFL player to find success after being cut. Still, if Oakland had a chance to revisit the Moore decision perhaps it would have kept him.

Philip Rivers will have two more familiar weapons at his disposal in the Pro Bowl on Sunday.

San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson and running back Ryan Mathews have been named to the AFC Pro Bowl team. Jackson replaces New England’s Wes Welker and Mathews is subbing for Baltimore’s Ray Rice.

Jackson had 60 catches for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns. Mathews had 1,091 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

San Diego safety Eric Weddle and tight end Antonio Gates are also on the team. It will be interesting to see how many times Rivers, Mathews, Jackson and Gates will be on the field at the same.

There’s Winston Moss.

The Green Bay linebackers coach had been considered the frontrunner to be the next coach of the Oakland Raiders since fellow former Raiders linebacker Reggie McKenzie took over as Oakland’s general manager earlier this month.

However, Moss’ name has been absent from the interview list in Oakland – until now. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Moss actually interviewed last Saturday, the day before the Packers lost to the New York Giants.

There have been several reported interviews or planned interviews in Oakland. Joining Moss on the list are New Orleans offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, Philadelphia offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, former Miami interim coach Todd Bowles and Chicago offensive coordinator Mike Tice. Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy backed out to concentrate on the Miami job he ended up not getting.

Schefter reports that Mornhinweg is a candidate to keep an eye on. The Bay Area native was the head coach in Detroit early last decade.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen is reporting that Baltimore offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is not expected back. A natural replacement could be former Oakland coach Hue Jackson. He is a former Baltimore assistant.

When Willis McGahee was cut by Baltimore this past summer, he was simply looking for a situation where he could contribute.

He found a perfect situation in Denver, where the Broncos were looking for a veteran complementary back. McGahee said in camp he was looking forward to a new start and he joked that he had so few carries in recent years that not only did he have plenty of tread on his tires as he neared his 30th birthday, he didn’t even need a "tire rotation."

Fast-forward five months later and McGahee -- who turned 30 in October -- has been the driving force in the Broncos’ surprising playoff push.

With quarterback Tim Tebow struggling to provide a consistent passing game in recent weeks, Denver’s primary chance to move the ball Sunday against visiting Pittsburgh in an AFC wild-card matchup will be on the ground. Denver had the No. 1-ranked run game in the NFL this season.

It all starts with McGahee.

McGahee has been one of the best free-agent acquisitions in the NFL this year. He has easily been Denver’s MVP in a surprise turnaround season for the franchise. A first alternate to the Pro Bowl, he had 1,199 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. In 2010, he had 380 yards on 100 carries for the Ravens.

McGahee’s resurgence has been stunning. In the two previous seasons, he had a combined 209 carries for the Ravens. Usually, running backs slow down when they turn 30. McGahee has been revitalized.

McGahee has been the best running back in Denver since training camp started. He was signed to help 2009 first-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno. However, McGahee performed better than Moreno from the start of camp and was soon the No. 1 back. And when Moreno was lost for the season with a torn ACL, the Broncos didn’t look back.

It was McGahee who sparked the offense when Tebow took over. McGahee adjusted to the option offense with Tebow at quarterback and had seven 100-plus-yard games this season.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, McGahee has been especially dominant up the middle. He is averaging 5.3 yards per carry up the middle, which is the fourth-best average in the NFL. He converted 26 first downs and had five carries of 20-plus yards.

As part of Denver’s varied offense with Tebow running the show, McGahee also has been effective out of the shotgun formation. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he has the second-most rushing yards out of the shotgun this season with 388.

Expect the Broncos to force a heavy dose of McGahee against Pittsburgh in all running situations as they try to build a comfort level for Tebow and try to kill the clock.

McGahee’s teammates know what a key he has been and how important he will be against the Steelers. The nine-season veteran has earned his teammates' respect for being a grinder.

“He rarely gets tackled by one person,” Broncos tight end Dante Rosario said. “You always see his legs churning and he’s always trying to get that extra yard.”

McGahee has dealt with several nagging injuries this season. He did miss one game, but he has kept coming back for much more work than he was originally tabbed for this season.

“The guy works hard,” rookie tackle Orlando Franklin said. “He’s always here; he’s doing rehab all the time. He’s doing treatment. He’s always looking to get better, whether it’s in the ice tub, whether it’s watching film, whether it’s running extra gassers. He definitely works hard, and he proves it on the field. It’s definitely paying off for him.”

The Broncos’ top-ranked run game will face off against the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense (and the No. 8-ranked run defense). Pittsburgh allowed an average of 99.8 yards per game. McGahee has often said he feels that he gets stronger as the game progresses. That will need to happen Sunday if the heavy-underdog Broncos (8-8) are to have a chance of beating the Steelers (12-4).

Broncos coach John Fox hopes McGahee can win a battle of attrition against the Steelers.

“There’s a wear-down effect on your opponent, as well,” Fox said of McGahee’s impact on opponents earlier in the season. “It’s like body blows in a heavyweight fight. They might take their toll, maybe not in the first five rounds but in the last five rounds. Part of that’s just a culmination of sticking to it and pounding it until you open it up.”

That has been the story of McGahee’s unexpected success all season.

Denver kicker Matt Prater was named the AFC special teams player of the month for December.

He was 5-of-6 on field-goal tries in the month and he made both of his attempts from 50-plus yards. Both of those field goals came late in an overtime win over Chicago. He made all four of his attempts in the fourth quarter or in overtime. He is 28-for-29 in those kicks in his career.

In other AFC West nuggets:

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. ranks the 12 offenses and defenses in the playoffs in an Insider piece. The Broncos didn’t do real well.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter looks at some of the obstacles the Raiders may be facing. The San Francisco Chronicle looks at whether the Raiders improved in 2011 after another 8-8 season in 2010.

The San Diego Union Tribune looks at the chances of the Chargers signing free-agent receiver Vincent Jackson to a long-term deal instead of giving him the franchise tag.

San Diego returner Richard Goodman was named the AFC special teams player of the week. He had a kick return for a score over Oakland on Sunday.

San Diego general manager A.J. Smith discusses the recent turn of events in San Diego.

Denver receiver Demaryius Thomas talks about the Broncos’ challenge Sunday against Pittsburgh in a radio interview.

The Raiders likely asked permission to talk to the Ravens’ Eric DeCosta about their general manger opening. Green Bay’s Reggie McKenzie reportedly interviewed Wednesday. Oakland is expected to interview several other candidates.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he suffered “a little setback” in his recovery from an ankle injury when he played against Cleveland on Sunday.

"I had a little setback early in the third quarter," Roethlisberger told reporters in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. "We’re working really hard with the trainers and doctors to get back to even where we were before the Cleveland game. I felt pretty good going in and moved a little bit at the beginning of that game. It’s a little setback but we’ll get moving."

Roethlisberger and the Steelers play at Denver in a wild-card game Sunday. The 12-4 Steelers are heavy favorites against the 8-8 Broncos, who have lost three straight games. Yet, the Steelers are already playing without running back Rashard Mendenhall and safety Ryan Clark. With Roethlisberger still gimpy, perhaps the home team has some hope.

There’s no doubt Roethlisberger's play has been affected by the injury. Since the injury he has completed 56 of 96 passes (58.3 percent) for 729 yards. He has thrown one touchdown and four interceptions for a 68.4 passer rating.

In other AFC West news:

• Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs takes some shots at Denver quarterback Tim Tebow and the Raiders.
• ESPN’s John Clayton looks at the potential quarterback options for Denver in 2012 if the team moves away from the struggling Tebow after the playoffs.
• There wasn’t a big AFC West representation on Clayton’s All-Pro team.
• ESPN columnist Ashley Fox looks at the Chargers’ decision to keep Norv Turner as coach.
• Denver linebacker Von Miller has dropped on ESPN.com’s rookie watch. Miller has been essentially playing with one arm because he is wearing a cast after undergoing thumb surgery in late November.