Opening Night

Since 2004 the NFL has opened its season at the home stadium of the Super Bowl Champion.  Tonight’s game is in Denver matching the Champion Broncos against the Baltimore Ravens.   Wait, that’s not correct?  The Ravens beat the Broncos in the AFC Championship game.  It took a miracle comeback and two overtimes to do it but the Ravens won.  They then went on to win the Super Bowl become the NFL Champion.   As Champions they should have the opportunity to begin the defense of their title before home fans.  However a schedule dispute with the Baltimore Orioles baseball team forced the game to be moved to Denver.  Sad for the fans but the show must go on. 

The game has lots of story lines.  Denver’s new receiver, Baltimore has lost some starters.   Apart from that, it should be a close contest that very well may be determined by the play of each Quarterback.  Payton Manning, the pure passer, looking to show he is still the NFL’s top QB and Joe Flacco, the mad chucker,  looking to show he is worth the huge contract he just signed.  I look for Manning and his Bronco’s to win the game and show Flacco that money alone does not make an elite quarterback....