What We Learned: Ravens vs. Broncos

Photo Courtesy of USA Today

The season opened...then it was delay...then it started again much to the delight of fans of football fans all over the world.

Despite a short lightning delay, the storm that held off the NFL season opener paled in comparison to the way Peyton Manning made it rain against the Baltimore Ravens defense. Manning finished the game going 27-of-42 passing for only 462 yards and seven (yep, seven) touchdown passes with zero (that's right, zero) interceptions. A game like that has the other 31 starting quarterback in the NFL just drooling. It's essentially a dream game for anyone who has played quarterback at any level from the NFL guys who get paid to do it to the wannabes like me who used to chuck it around the front yard.

So what did we learn from this performance? A lot. Let's break down the Broncos perspective of it first.

DENVER BRONCOS
Needless for me to reiterate, but I'll say it again just for fun. Peyton Manning came to play today. For a quarterback to complete 64 percent of his passes in the opening game is probably an expectation among NFL offensive coordinator. But seven touchdowns? No interceptions? Well...to be frank, you've probably earned yourself and your offensive coordinator a steak dinner this weekend. The numbers that Manning put up were Madden-esque. They're the kind of numbers that you see following a game like this:

It's an older version of Madden...don't judge me. The point is pretty clear.

For an individual performance, Manning came out and made the statement that, once again, he will be the guy to beat for the MVP award this year. Sure, it's far too early to consider that award, but that's the statement that Manning made tonight. He set the bar...and he set it pretty high.

Peyton Manning is currently on pace to throw 112 TDs this season. #BALvsDEN
— NFL (@nfl) September 6, 2013

I'd say that's pretty high. But here's the problem. The rest of the Denver offense didn't show up. While Manning is on pace to put up ridiculous numbers, the Broncos running backs are on pace to be...well, a blip on the radar.  No Bronco rusher had over 10 carries or 30 yards. If I'm John Fox, that's pretty alarming. If you're going to win games in the NFL, you've got to run the football...wait, I'm sorry for that. I channeled my inner Ron Jaworski. But it's true. The Broncos can't expect to hoist the Lombardi Trophy by having Peyton Manning throw the ball 24,745 times this season. It's not going to work. His arm would fall off.

Like his days in Indy, Manning was able to mask a clear weakness in the Broncos and it might just be their running game right now.  It's hard to say what the Denver defense will be like. They were missing Von Miller (suspension) and Champ Bailey (foot) among a couple of other guys. So, the jury is still out on them.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Photo Courtesy of BaltimoreRavens.com

While Peyton Manning was out having a field day, it looked as if the Ravens defense was pinching themselves thinking they were having a bad dream where Ray Lewis and Ed Reed weren't playing. Well, the truth is that nightmare is a harsh reality that the Super Bowl champs are going to have to live with as Ed Reed now plays for another AFC contender in Houston while Ray Lewis will be proviiding inspiration...err, analysis as member of ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown crew. Sorry, Baltimore, but #52 and #30 aren't walking through that door. This young defense is going to have to step up and make plays.

Again, to give them the benefit of the doubt, they played one of the greatest quarterbacks that the NFL has ever seen in Peyton Manning tonight. Still, to allow those type of numbers is cause for concern...and it will be an even greater cause for concern if Brandon Weeden plays lights out against this Ravens defense.

The NBC announce team essentially said that the Ravens were Joe Flacco's team. And it's true. They are...but he's not going to be able to do it all. Somebody is going to have to light a fire under these guys when needs be (Terrell Suggs). The Ravens seemed to miss that emotional pick-me-up provided by Lewis and the luxury of having Reed roaming the secondary with unparalled ball hawking skills. So, what's next? Where does John Harbaugh and company go from here? Welll, they certainly don't go to the panic room to hit the button to tank the season. That's for sure, but they definitely have their work cut out for them.

For starters, they cannot...without question...cannot have Flacco tossing it arounda2 times in a game. Ray Rice has to get quality touches. 12 carries and eight receptions for a whopping 71 yards isn't going to get it done. Also, having Rice lead your team in receptions won't work either. Veteran Brandon Stokley was targeted 10 times and caught just four passes for 34 yards. I just losing Jacoby Jones didn't help.

Shoutout to SBNation for this GIF

Maybe it's the playcalling. Maybe the Broncos secondary is what we think they are...even without Bailey. What we know for certain is the Ravens offense has to be better...and they will be...I think.