Editor’s note: NFL reporter Jeff Legwold analyzes the Broncos’ 23-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Monday night and looks ahead:
It’s one of the rites of football summer. No matter the record, the turmoil, the question marks, optimism grows in the heat of August.
The Broncos were no different. They exited the preseason believing they were a playoff team despite their wafer-thin depth, a defensive line constructed after the start of training camp and the difficult conversion from a pass-first offense to one that wants to run.
The Broncos’ belief in themselves and their resolve to change the past will be tested.
After losing to the Raiders in Denver, there was more than the usual frustration of an opening-night loss hanging in the air. There was tangible disappointment in the locker room that things may not be what the Broncos had hoped they were.
That will be their challenge now. In 2009 they had two four-game losing streaks. Last season they had losing streaks of four and five games when they lost their way.
When he coached the Broncos, Josh McDaniels said he wanted a tough, smart team. He never got it.
New coach John Fox has used almost the same words — and his team didn’t play that way the first time out. It doesn’t take talent to play tough and smart, but it does take resolve. Now the Broncos get to show if they have more of that.
Key matchup
Last season seven running backs had eight 100-yard games against the Broncos. The Raiders’ Darren McFadden turned the trick twice.
It was a bad luck of the draw for the Broncos to get McFadden in this year’s season opener. The Broncos allowed another 100-yard game, with McFadden getting 150 on Monday. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry.
The Bengals won their opener in large part because Cedric Benson pounded out 121 yards rushing on a day when rookie Andy Dalton was the starting quarterback and Cincinnati had to replace him at halftime because of a forearm injury.
Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden has plenty of pass-happy Arena Football League action on his coaching resume, but called 33 running plays against the Browns.
The Broncos are struggling to control the middle of the field. Gruden no doubt will notice that this week.
Comparison shopping
If there is one number that doesn’t bode well in the Broncos’ defensive makeover, it’s the 190 yards rushing the team allowed Monday. After the opening week of the season, the Broncos rank 31st in run defense. Only the St. Louis Rams are behind them. Last season, when the Broncos finished 31st in run defense, they allowed 154.6 yards rushing per game.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
