The Denver Broncos (2-0) face their storied rival, the Oakland Raiders (1-1), for a record 17th time on Monday Night Football as Peyton Manning looks to keep his team atop the AFC West division.
"Guys get geeked up for it," Broncos coach John Fox. "It's a night game. It's the last game on TV for the week. All your peers are watching, so guys get excited about it."
Denver's offense has gotten off to a hot start, dismantling the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens 49-27 on Opening Day, and rolling over his brother Eli and the New York Giants 41-23 on Week 2. Manning passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns on last Sunday, going 3-0 against his younger brother.
The Broncos, however, will have to play without All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady - who protects Manning's blindside in the pocket - for the rest of the season after suffering a Lisfranc foot injury last weekend.
"It's unfortunate," said Fox. "I mean, he's a Pro Bowl player for us. So it's a blow. But again, it's cliche, but it's next man up."
Oakland is coming off a Week 2 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, with K Sebastian Janikowski kicking four field goals and RB Darren McFadden gaining 129 yards rushing, 157 yards from scrimmage. QB Terrelle Pryor threw for 126 yards on 15-of-24 passing against the Jaguars.
Pryor has also been a huge part of the Raiders NFL top-ranked rushing attacking with the QB third in the AFC with 162 yards rushing.
"Pryor, he's, in my mind, he's made leaps and bounds from last year, from the time I spent with him," said Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie. "He's done a good job."
Oakland's defense will have their hands full against Manning - who threw seven a record-tying seven touchdowns against the Ravens and two against the Giants - and have to find a way to keep the ball away from Manning despite failing to force a single turnover to start off the season.
"We have to get the ball," said Oakland CB Charles Woodson. "Not to have any fumbles, not to have any interceptions has been tough. That's something we've got to start doing. That's especially true against a guy like Peyton Manning."
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Monday Night Football's Denver Broncos - Oakland Raiders coverage can be seen on ESPN with coverage beginning 8:30 p.m. EST.
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