Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will be more potent this season because of a much stronger arm, his teammate and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas told ESPN on Wednesday ahead of the NFL 2013 season curtain-raiser showdown between the Broncos and the defending Super Bowl champ Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field.
In an interview with ESPN, Thomas said he expects Manning to have better production than last season, which saw the four-time NFL MVP completing 68 percent of his passes for 4,659 yards with 37 TDs and 11 interceptions after coming off a neck surgery.
The biggest difference is his arm strength," Thomas told ESPN. "I never thought anything was wrong with him my first year, but coming back to OTAs and minicamp and seeing the strength he's got, the zip that's on the ball, it's a big difference. I think he got a lot of strength back that he didn't have last year."
Meanwhile, Manning and his new wideout Wes Welker are just developing chemistry on the field, but many expected the duo to inflict damage on opposing teams once they find their groove as a tandem.
In an interview with Denver Post, Welker said he feels everything is new for him, given that it's his first season with the Broncos after spending six season with the New England Patriots.
"I still feel like the new kid in school," Welker told the Denver Post. "I don't think you ever really arrive. That's the way you have to look at it. The moment you think you've arrived, that's when you're going to have a bad year, or have a bad game. You've got to keep that edge."
On Thursday, the Broncos have a good opportunity to unleash their true strength as they take on the team that broke their hearts in last season's playoffs - the Broncos.
Ray Lewis won't be around anymore to inspire them, but quarterback Joe Flacco is expected to lead the charge for an entirely different Ravens team, especially on the defensive end.
Schedule & Live Streaming
NFL Season Opener: Broncos vs. Ravens telecast will start at 8:00 a.m. on NBC Sports while live streaming is available on ESPNWatch. This link also provides free live streaming information.