Winners of their last nine AFC West openers, the Denver Broncos (2-0) visit the Oakland Raiders (1-1) on Sunday for their first divisional game of 2009. Kickoff at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is set for 1:15 p.m. PDT.
QUICKLY:
- The Broncos are the only team in the NFL to start each of the last three seasons 2-0. Denver joins Baltimore, Indianapolis and the New York Jets as AFC squads with a perfect record after Week 2.
- Denver's +26 scoring differential (39-13) is the third-best mark in the NFL. The club also is tied for second in the league in turnover ratio (+4), posting five takeaways and one giveaway.
OFFENSE:
- The Broncos' offense is the only one in the NFL to not commit a turnover this season.
- QB Kyle Orton is 5-1 in his last six starts dating back to last year- Only the Colts' Peyton Manning (6-0) has a better record among NFL starting QBs during that time. This season, Orton has thrown the second-most 25-yard completions (7) in the NFL and is the only AFC quarterback with at least 50 pass attempts and no interceptions.
- RB Correll Buckhalter is averaging 7.2 yards per rush (17-122, 1 TD) in two starts this year. Since 2007, he owns the NFL's third-best yards per rush average (5.2, 155-804, 7 TDs.
DEFENSE:
- Coached by long-time NFL defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, the Broncos lead the league in scoring defense (6.5 ppg.) and have given up only three scores (1 TD, 2 FGs) in 23 opponent possessions.
- Denver ranks first in the NFL in first downs allowed (27), second in yards per game (253.5) and third in yards per play (4.3).
- OLB/DE Elvis Dumervil tied the Broncos' single-game club record with four sacks last week against Cleveland. His four sacks came in the second half, marking the highest half sack total by an NFL LB in eight years.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
- The Broncos rank fifth in the NFL in average opponent drive start after kickoffs (21.0-yard line).
- RB Peyton Hillis is tied for third in the league with a team-high four special teams tackles.