Another great playoff game is upon on us and it takes place at Mile High Stadium in Denver. This can only mean a huge performance by the talented Denver Broncos. Not only in this case is it a home turf advantage, but the 2 million pizza dude himself Peyton Manning is a legend (a relatively unarguable statement). He has monster numbers with 4659 yards and 37 touchdowns to his name in 2012. It’s always a rarity to see a quarterback acting as a coach most of the time. You could never hate on Manning.
When you have players like Brandon Stokley and Knowshon Moreno helping someone as great as Peyton, you’re going to do great things, a record of 13-3 proves that alone. Probably should let you know Manning has won nine straight games versus the Ravens and the Broncos have yielded 237.3 total yards and 13.5 points during a six-game home winning streak. It isn’t going to be easy for the Ravens, however it won’t be impossible.
They face a hot Baltimore Ravens team coming off a confidence-boosting win against the Indianapolis Colts where they made Andrew Luck look like a baby in a 24-9 victory on Sunday which was also Ray Lewis final home game before his retirement. In Baltimore’s favor Manning is 0-3 in playoff games and can’t stand the cold weather. He also has a combined 64 for 120 yards for 612 yards with one touchdown and seven interceptions in those games. Let’s not forget the huge game Paul Kruger had against Manning’s former team last week with 2.5 sacks. He turned into Mark Ruffalo minus the green skin. It was breathtaking.
Hopefully Ray Rice does a little more diddle diddle and a lot less fumble fumble this week. He lost two carries last week and was held to 38 yards on 12 carries against the Broncos the last time they met. In addition, Joe Flacco was 20 of 40 for 254 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the loss to Denver.
I’m a Baltimore born girl. A Baltimore household raised girl and it pains me to say, I believe it will be a tough one for the Broncos to win, but they will take the win this time around. Baltimore will hopefully prove me wrong, since this is the playoffs and anything can happen, but the stars are pointing to Manning and the Broncos to continue in postseason play. If not, I really hope this is not Lewis’ last game. How many football players can you say dance well? Besides Victor Cruz. Didn’t think so.