Denver Broncos

Baltimore Sun reporters, columnists and editors analyze the Denver Broncos' reported acquisition of former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Jeff Zrebiec (Ravens/NFL reporter): The Denver Broncos got Peyton Manning's first visit and they seemed to be the most logical landing spot for the quarterback all along. They have a young group of wide receivers, a strong defense and one of the better quarterbacks in NFL history as a top executive. Is there any doubt that the Broncos' visit to Baltimore will be a prime-time game?

Elvis Dumervil had just settled in to meet the media after the Ravens' workout Wednesday when a voice rang out behind the semi-circle of TV cameras, tape recorders and notebooks. "What the hell, Elvis?!" Joe Flacco yelled in mock outrage. The Ravens' quarterback was pretending to be upset that Dumervil was going before him at the podium, even though talking to reporters is something Flacco enjoys about as much as heartburn. Dumervil just shrugged and smiled. There are perks for being a three-time Pro Bowl passrusher and the Ravens' biggest offseason acquisition, too. And maybe he was getting his first taste of that in Baltimore with a breeze to the podium.

When the best game that almost every Ravens' player had ever been a part of was finally over, Joe Flacco threw his hands in the air, Justin Tucker emphatically pumped his fist and Ray Lewis dropped to his knees, reduced to tears. Tucker's 47-yard field goal 1 minute and 42 seconds into the second overtime ended a thrilling and exhausting divisional round playoff game and sent the Ravens into the AFC championship game for the second straight year. The 38-35 victory over the Denver Broncos earns the Ravens a date with the winner of Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Houston Texans.

Elvis Dumervil had just settled in to meet the media after the Ravens' workout Wednesday when a voice rang out behind the semi-circle of TV cameras, tape recorders and notebooks. "What the hell, Elvis?!" Joe Flacco yelled in mock outrage. The Ravens' quarterback was pretending to be upset that Dumervil was going before him at the podium, even though talking to reporters is something Flacco enjoys about as much as heartburn. Dumervil just shrugged and smiled. There are perks for being a three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher and the Ravens' biggest offseason acquisition, too. And maybe he was getting his first taste of that in Baltimore with a breeze to the podium.

If you looked at the Ravens' schedule a few weeks ago, it seemed like little more than an intriguing late-season test against a fellow divisional leader, a chance to glimpse the revived Peyton Manning in his unfamiliar orange uniform. But after a tumultuous week in Ravenstown, Sunday's home game against Denver Broncos shapes up as something far bigger - a potential pivot point in the uncertain plot of the 2012 season. The Ravens hope to end a streak of dispiriting losses in which their wounded defense has failed to hold late-game leads.

Two time zones and a few thousand miles didn't prevent Eli Manning from seeking some advice about the Ravens defense from a trusted source: his older brother. The New York Giants quarterback admitted that he has already talked to Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning about the Ravens, who absorbed a 34-17 defeat at the hands of the Broncos last Sunday. “I talked to him a little bit and watched the game,” Eli Manning said during a conference call with Baltimore media Wednesday.

How the Ravens plan to attack Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is the dominant storyline surrounding Saturday's AFC Divisional playoff contest. But another concern revolves around Knowshon Moreno. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back gashed the defense for 118 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries in the Ravens' 34-17 loss to Denver on Dec. 16. Moreno became the fourth opponent to rush for more than 100 yards against the defense in the regular season, and several members of the run unit said they are looking forward to getting another crack at him. “It hurt,” outside linebacker Albert McClellan said.

It had been a long time since David Reed had done something productive on the football field. It had been even longer since the last time he did something on offense. But in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, the wide receiver and return specialist caught both balls thrown in his direction - one for 12 yards in the third quarter and the other for 10 yards in the final frame. The receptions were Reed's first since the Ravens selected him in the fifth round of the NFL draft in 2010.

Cindy Cummings Wheeler: How does it feel to be the only Sun writer (probably the only sports writer anywhere) to pick the Ravens to beat the Broncos? Thanks for having faith in our team! It wasn't about faith. Few good teams get blown out by the same team twice in one season and a little birdie got in my ear and told me about the law of averages. They were on the Ravens side going in against Peyton Manning because he had beaten them often.  Fran in Baltimore: I know you have been hard on Joe Flacco and at times you were right.

During the Ravens' recent 15-game regular-season win streak at M&T Bank Stadium, boos from the fans were a rare occurrence. Even the 16-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 2 that snapped that run didn't elicit that kind of negative response from the crowd. But the team was the target of fans' frustration during Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. The offense was lustily booed after cornerback Chris Harris intercepted quarterback Joe Flacco's pass intended for wide receiver Anquan Boldin and returned it 98 yards to give Denver a 17-0 advantage, and the catcalls cascaded from the stands when the Ravens elected to take a knee in the final 15 seconds before halftime.

As you probably know by now, the NFL will release its regular season schedule tonight at 8 p.m. on the NFL Network. You most certainly know by now that the Ravens will open up on the road on Sept. 5 after they failed to work out a scheduling conflict with the Orioles for that night. Their opponent for the opener has not been announced but I think it would be a huge surprise to everybody at the Ravens' facility if it's not the Denver Broncos. Maybe, it was just a coincidence but the Ravens' Torrey Smith and the Broncos' Von Miller were even the live guests on a scheduling show last night on NFL Network.

The NFL released the schedule for the 2013 season and the Ravens open up on the road at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 5 against the Denver Broncos. Here are a few thoughts from the staff at The Baltimore Sun on the challenges facing the Ravens.   Matt Vensel, blogger/reporter I don't fully grasp the fascination with the release of the NFL schedule as we have known for months whom the Ravens would play. But tonight, we found out when they will play, so I guess that means I can start making bye week vacation plans.

The Ravens won't get their season-opening home game, like reigning Super Bowl champions have for the last decade. But they will play four prime-time games, including a Thanksgiving night showdown at home against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, and a much-anticipated rematch with the Denver Broncos to kick off their Super Bowl XLVII title defense. The NFL released its regular-season schedule Thursday and it's highlighted by the Ravens' Sept. 5 matchup against the Broncos, a pairing that produced one of the league's most memorable games from the 2012-13 campaign.

The NFL will release its regular-schedule tonight at 8 p.m. during an NFL Network special which is expected to confirm what the Ravens have suspected for weeks: They'll open the season on Sept. 5 against the Denver Broncos. The league is holding off on the announcement until tonight and the Ravens haven't been told definitively where they'll begin defense of the Super Bowl XLVII title. However, CBS Sports reported today that there will be no surprises for the NFL's Sept.

An offseason of losses gave way to a big Ravens gain Sunday night as they announced that they have agreed in principle on a five-year deal with former Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil, a three-time Pro Bowl selection who had 63 ½ sacks and 16 forced fumbles in six seasons with the Broncos, will be at the Ravens' facility Tuesday to take a physical and - if all goes well - to sign a contract. “I think this move is awesome,” Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs told The Baltimore Sun. “It shows we're still in the business of winning and we have the best [general manager]

That big collective sigh you heard late Sunday came from Ravens Nation, which was in full-scale panic mode and exhausting the region's supply of Xanax until the news of Elvis Dumervil's deal came down. What a heist Ozzie Newsome pulled off, something on the scale of "Ocean's 11," only without a casino involved. Let's see, the Ravens get one of the best pass rushers in the league to replace Paul Kruger, who pulled off his own heist when he got the Cleveland Browns to pay him $40 million over five years.

Joe Flacco will sign his new six-year, $120.6 million contract extension Monday afternoon, a deal which will make the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player the NFL's highest-paid player while also giving the Ravens salary cap wiggle room. Since the news of Flacco's new deal broke Friday night, many national reporters and analysts have pointed to Flacco's game-tying touchdown pass in the playoff win over the Denver Broncos and said that Flacco would not be as rich as he is today had Broncos safety Rahim Moore not allowed Jacoby Jones to get in behind him. True, the Ravens caught a break there as Moore misplayed the ball and tumbled to the turf as Jones caught one of the biggest touchdown passes in Baltimore sports history.

Good morning --Denver Broncos fans-- Maybe you can all sign a big "We're sorry" card and send it to Jake Plummer.

Now that the Orioles and Ravens have announced they could not reach a compromise on the Sept. 5 date, and the NFL says the Ravens will start the season on the road, it's fair to say that nobody won this debacle. It's a losing proposition all around. The Orioles lose because they're going to get ripped for not finding a way to move the game, and subsequently having a crowd of about 5,000 for the Sept. 5 night game against the Chicago White Sox. The Ravens lose because they have to open the season on the road, probably against the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos or Pittsburgh Steelers.

Joe Flacco will sign his new six-year, $120.6 million contract extension Monday afternoon, a deal which will make the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player the NFL's highest-paid player while also giving the Ravens salary cap wiggle room. Since the news of Flacco's new deal broke Friday night, many national reporters and analysts have pointed to Flacco's game-tying touchdown pass in the playoff win over the Denver Broncos and said that Flacco would not be as rich as he is today had Broncos safety Rahim Moore not allowed Jacoby Jones to get in behind him. True, the Ravens caught a break there as Moore misplayed the ball and tumbled to the turf as Jones caught one of the biggest touchdown passes in Baltimore sports history.