The Oakland Raiders must focus on two particular motives against a Denver Broncos team led by their defense and a conservative passing attack.
The Broncos have the No. 25 passing offense and No. 29 rushing attack, but their defense compensates for a less explosive offense. Denver only allows 17.2 points per game while averaging 24.2 points per contest.
A 39-year-old Peyton Manning on the decline behind a makeshift offensive line creates advantageous matchups for the Raiders in the trenches. Bleacher Report's Cecil Lammey elaborates on the struggles in Denver:
Manning is certainly not the same player he used to be. He was never known as a scrambling quarterback, but he used to be able to buy more time with his feet. Now, Manning is more immobile than ever before and needs his feet set to throw with proper velocity.
In the Week 4 win, Manning was only sacked two times and hit three times. However, there were more than a few snaps where Manning was hit while releasing the ball. Those type of hits can add up over the course of the season.
Manning stands in a pocket that's constantly shrinking and the Raiders must attack in full throttle.
Pressure and Pound Peyton
The motive sounds easy, but there are some layers to frustrating Manning under center.
A weak offensive line usually leads analysts to believe a constant blitz scheme should keep the quarterback under fire. On the contrary, Manning has been erratic when facing non-blitz schemes through the first four games:
Three of his five interceptions were forced without a blitz. Manning found ways to beat the blitz, as noted by his increasing pass-completion percentage throughout the season.
A successful four-man rush adds flexibility for the linebackers to drop into coverage and defend short throws, which Manning relies on in the passing game. The...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
