Broncos-Ravens Preview

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• Countdown Daily Recap: Broncos-Ravens

SCOUTING REPORT

Broncos-Ravens: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Broncos-Ravens matchup. 1. Denver RB Knowshon Moreno: Although Denver has had some success running the ball between the tackles, it has yet to face a run defense as stout as the Ravens' up the middle. Look for Denver to adjust this week by trying to run the ball wide and versus a Ravens defense that has been out of position often this season.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
DEN	6-4	170	183	3-2	3-2	2-1	5-3
BAL	5-5	237	171	3-2	2-3	2-2	5-4
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Denver Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Orton 62.0 2202 11 5 Simms 29.4 23 0 1

Baltimore Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Flacco 65.4 2455 12 8 Smith 50.0 4 0 0

Denver Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Moreno 142 600 4.2 2 Buckha... 73 399 5.5 1

Baltimore Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Rice 148 733 5.0 6 McGahe... 66 261 4.0 5

Denver Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Marsha... 52 628 12.1 6 Gaffne... 26 346 13.3 0

Baltimore Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Mason 45 672 14.9 4 Rice 56 515 9.2 1

Full Player Stats: Denver | Baltimore

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	DEN	323.0
	BAL	349.0
Yards Passing	DEN	210.6
	BAL	233.9
Yards Rushing	DEN	112.4
	BAL	115.5
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	DEN	297.8
	BAL	310.0
Pass Yds Allowed	DEN	182.5
	BAL	217.9
Rush Yds Allowed	DEN	115.3
	BAL	92.1

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Baltimore leads 4-2
Oct 9, 2006	DEN 13, @BAL 3
Dec 11, 2005	DEN 12, @BAL 10
Oct 26, 2003	DEN 6, BAL 26
Sep 30, 2002	DEN 23, BAL 34
Sep 30, 2001	DEN 13, @BAL 20

While the Baltimore Ravens opening 3-0 wasn't much of a surprise, some felt the Denver Broncos getting off to the same start was a product of their weak opposition.

Three games later, Denver still hasn't lost -- and that's all Baltimore has done.

The Broncos come off their bye week looking to extend their best start in 11 years Sunday afternoon at Baltimore, where the Ravens spent their week off reflecting on three close games that got away.

Denver (6-0) spent its offseason in turmoil after firing Mike Shanahan, who was its coach for 14 years and had won Super Bowls following the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

The Broncos hired young New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who didn't endear himself to franchise quarterback Jay Cutler. McDaniels tried to trade for New England starter Matt Cassel, a move that angered Cutler and eventually led to the Pro Bowl passer being dealt to Chicago for Kyle Orton and two No. 1 draft picks.

So even after a miraculous last-second win at Cincinnati and victories over bottom-feeders Cleveland and Oakland in which Denver allowed 16 total points, few were ready to praise McDaniels. But since Orton has thrown for six touchdowns and completed 70 percent of his passes in victories over Dallas, New England and San Diego, the Broncos are the talk of the AFC.

"Now we are a target," outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who leads the NFL with 10 sacks, told the Broncos' official Web site. "We are not under the radar. ... Everyone is going to give us our best shot, so we've got to be prepared for it."

Denver has been 7-0 once before -- when it started 13-0 in 1998 en route to winning the Super Bowl.

Dumervil has led the way for the Broncos' suffocating defense, which is first in points allowed (11.0 per game) and second in total defense (262.5 yards per game). They're tied for the AFC lead with 21 sacks and 10 forced fumbles -- two by Dumervil.

McDaniels is one of five rookie coaches to start 6-0, though none have won their first seven games. He'll have that chance Sunday along with Indianapolis' Jim Caldwell, whose team faces San Francisco while the Broncos visit Baltimore (3-3) for the first time since 2003.

Orton, meanwhile, has a higher passer rating (100.1) than Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Donovan McNabb -- among others -- and he's thrown one interception. Cutler averaged one per game in 32 starts over the past two seasons.

To McDaniels, though, only one statistic matters. Orton is 27-12 as a starter.

"A quarterback ultimately gets judged by that and wins and losses," McDaniels said. "So, Kyle obviously has done a nice job so far."

Orton will be facing a Ravens defense that's looked little like the unit that was second in the league in total defense a year ago. This season, Baltimore is 19th in scoring defense (21.7 ppg) and has given up an average of 382.7 yards in consecutive losses to New England, Denver and Minnesota.

All three defeats were by six points or less.

The Ravens secondary, even with the presence of All-Pro safety Ed Reed, has been a major issue. Baltimore has given up six pass plays of 40 or more yards, already equaling last season's total.

Three of those came in the second half of a 33-31 defeat at Minnesota on Oct. 18. Coach John Harbaugh promised those issues would be addressed during Baltimore's bye week.

"Big plays are the problem," Harbaugh said. "If we continue to give up big plays, we're going to continue to struggle."

On the bright side, the Ravens offense has taken a big step forward. Second-year quarterback Joe Flacco has provided stability under center that it's rarely -- if ever -- seen, and his career-high 385 yards passing helped generate 21 fourth-quarter points in Minnesota.

Rookie Michael Oher has helped anchor a solid offensive line, originally beginning at right tackle before being moved to the left side when Jared Gaither went down with a scary neck injury in a Week 4 loss at New England.

Gaither, however, will play Sunday, while Oher will almost certainly move back to the right side.

"The Broncos are going to test everybody's pass protection, for sure," Harbaugh said. "What makes them good is they beat blocks one-on-one. They do a nice job of bull-rushing, and they do a nice job of getting on edges. They're relentless, they never stop and they've got some talented, fast guys."

Baltimore's best chance to catch Denver's speedy defense off guard may be to get the ball to Ray Rice, who's averaging 6.0 yards per carry and has a team-high 33 receptions. He caught a career-high 10 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Vikings, and his 766 yards from scrimmage are fourth-most in the NFL.

The Broncos have lost all three meetings with the Ravens in Baltimore, including a 21-3 wild-card playoff loss in 2000.

Denver is an AFC-best 15-5 coming off a bye, while the Ravens have won six of their last seven.

Ravens CB Washington (knee) done for season

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Fabian Washington is expected to miss the remainder of the season after hurting his knee during Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Slumping Broncos fighting among themselves

The Broncos have shown very little fight during their month of misery -- except on their own sideline.

FBO: Week 11 Quick Reads

Football Outsiders apply their metrics to Week 11. Findings: Even when Wes Welker doesn't find the end zone, he's historic; Mark Sanchez isn't ready; DeAngelo Williams needs the rock more; and T.J. Houshmandzadeh may have saved Minny's season.

Chargers drub Broncos, grab AFC West lead

Philip Rivers and a dominant defense led the Chargers into sole possession of first place in the AFC West with a 32-3 drubbing of the Denver Broncos, who couldn't move the ball effectively behind either QB.

League won't punish Marshall

Brandon Marshall Issues remain for Brandon Marshall, but he no longer has to worry about a possible NFL suspension.

Broncos' Marshall has quick trip

As the Broncos restart their passing camp today at their Dove Valley headquarters, receiver Brandon Marshall will be in Orlando, Fla., where he will continue to rehabilitate after hip surgery.

Broncos' Marshall denies ever abusing ex-girlfriend

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall defended himself Sunday on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," which detailed seven reported incidents of domestic violence.

Scheffler on board with Broncos' plan

A year after hobbling around Dove Valley with a foot injury, tight end Tony Scheffler is part of the Broncos' passing minicamp this season.

No Bronco escaped new coach's scrutiny

The old regime brought them in for a reason. They fit in specific offensive or defensive schemes, or had attributes the organization craved.

Ravens' Figurs out until training camp after surgery

The Ravens' Yamon Figurs will be sidelined for the rest of the offseason minicamps because he recently had surgery on his foot.

Troy Smith gets work as receiver

With several wide receivers excused from voluntary minicamp, backup quarterback Troy Smith made a temporary position change to wide-out, running routes and making some impressive catches Tuesday.

McGahee Heads Sparse List of Vets at OTA

The Ravens have had a solid turnout of veterans at all of their voluntary Organized Team Activities this offseason, but running back Willis McGahee was the most notable of those players that opted to attend this week.

Smith Running Routes as Receiver

On one of the final drills of todaya s OTAs, the Ravens faced fourth-and-8 at midfield, and backup quarterback Troy Smith joined a four-receiver set.

Birk Bustling in Baltimore

Matt Birk , the Ravens' newly-acquired center, brings 11 years of NFL experience, six Pro Bowl invites and a reputable charitable foundation to the team.