>> cris: montee ball is going to give this broncos' offense some power they haven't had in the past. those advocates came around. with montee ball around the goal line for short yardage, he's the guy who knows how to do it for division i touchdowns scored back in college. >> al: 77 rushing tds. one year with russell wilson. he throws it and it's dropped. eric decker was there off his fingertips. jimmy smith was the one-on-one coverage. second and goal. >> cris: great play. he sees the blitz coming. >> al: second and goal. rolling right. wide open. wes welker.

five touchdown passes from manning tonight. >> cris: didn't even have to pick on that one. that was an auto pick. come down here and everybody gives up. these two guys just quit. they don't even try to follow wes welker. don't know if there's confusion or what, but that looks like a tired defense out there right now for the ravens. first game of the year, no huddle, altitude. it is about to get ugly. >> al: manning's last game with more than 4 touchdown passes was years ago. the denver broncos, 6:30 to go in the third quarter have assumed command on opening night, 35-17. ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ waiting all day for sunday night ♪ >> al: carrie underwood is our first sunday night game will be down in texas. giants/cowboys. another manning. eli. and then in the week and a half it's eli and peyton as denver goes to take on the giants at the meadowlands. the kickoff resulting in yet another touch back and the ball comes out to the 20 yard line. the baltimore ravens have dug an 18-point hole. >> cris: probably couldn't have had a tougher assignment than peyton manning when you've got this remade defense on the other side. no ray lewis.

no ed reed. no bernard pollard. no donnell ellerby. trying to fit all of the pieces back together. i'm sure it's going to be better later, but tonight peyton manning is putting on a clinic for them. >> al: flacco chased. almost sacked. he'll have to sling it away. second and 10. >> cris: kevin vicker son looking for intentional grounding. he's outside the tight end box there and you're allowed to throw it away. that guy there has done a job. once you get outside the area in red and you reach the line of scrimmage, you can throw it

away. >> al: flacco to the outside. brandon stokely. pick up of about 8 setting up the third down and 2. >> cris: joe flacco and for any quarterback, there's just a comfort level. he established something with anquan boldin. the whole idea of throwing it to a receiver. that's when anquan boldin was his best. we kind of get the feeling for flacco looking for who is that guy going deep for me. >> al: meanwhile, the defense has done a pretty good job oncor resmith tonight. he's minus his running mate in jacoby jones. ray rice gets stopped. the question is did he get to the 30 yard line. a skirmish breaks out.

they're going to spots it just shy of the 30 yard line. jack dell rios has had a few skirmishes of his own. >> cris: he's going to hit ray rice solidly in the backfield. >> al: sam koch to punt. sixth of the gram. brachb holliday. holliday gets a block. holliday gets spun around and knocked down to the 26 yard line. less than 5:00 to go in the third quarter with the broncos up by 18. [ rumbling ] ♪

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(clapping) ♪ >> al: peyton manning chasing brett favre. manning in pursuit. his season averages are there. if he maintains his averages he would break the passing record

in the 15th game of 2015 and the 6th game in touchdown passes of 2015. he's on that kind of a pace right now. the ball is at the 26 yard line. on the gas peddle hits welker at the 40 yard line. a flag is down. >> referee: holding, number 27, offense. 10-yard penalty. still first down. >> al: that's moreno. i'm thinking about manning. we go back a year. it was opening night against pittsburgh. there was so much mystery. he had missed a year. he had missed so much time. four neck surgeries. the questions answered. >> cris: they didn't start very fast last year. i think it was the second game of the year, threw three

interceptions in that game. everybody going, oh, he can't drive the ball down the field anymore. >> al: moreno picks up the first down. on a first and 20 after he cost them the 10 yards for the holding penalty, he nets them the first down on the gain of 23. >> cris: if you're a tight end, you're eventually going to have to block. there's julius thomas working against elvis dumervil. that's good enough. knowshon moreno is sneaking out of the backfield. this is just a clinic. >> al: moreno gets knocked down. there's gase. >> cris: you can't get to him fast enough. you have to leave a little camera in the corner of your screen. he is calling those plays as

fast as that microphone turns on. >> al: sometimes you jump the gun a little bit. chris canty, former giant, runs him down. >> cris: they are really excited about the play of chris canty. we were talking to terrell suggs. he said, i know everybody is talking about others but chris canty is healthy. >> al: third and 14 from the 35 yard line. peyton manning running away. thrown on the run and it's incomplete. welker had actually got poging and gotten behind webb. the pass behind both of them and it's fourth down.

>> cris: i'll tell you, it has helped than lardarius webb has lost sight of the ball. since they've moved him it hasn't been quite as brutal. welker, let me have the play. >> al: there's web bab back to return the kick. >> al: made at the 17 yard line and if that comes in, there's contact. i think at this particular point in the game jimmy smith was involved. he's the guy who's going to wind up with the penalty call. >> cris: yes.

well after the fair catch was made. wasn't a brutal hit. probably lost track of where the ball is. >> after the play is over, personal foul, number 22 of the return team. half the distance to the goal. first down. >> cris: you know, it's at a moment like that you wonder what would ray lewis have to say on the sidelines. there's going to have to be people that fulfill the role. they're going to have to play smarter this year and not lead the league in penalties again. >> al: six total yards in the second half. flacco airs one out from the left side.

that's incomplete intending for torrey smith. covered by dinique rodgers-cromartie. they did a nice job to mr. smith limiting him to three tasks. champ bailey got burned repeatedly last year by torrey smith. now dominique rodgers-cromartie comes over here and jack del rio said if you are not ready to be coached, don't come here. you did not play well last year in philadelphia. i can fix it if you're willing to be coached hard. that's what he's done. >> al: dlals claallas clark. third and seven next. i'll tell you, it's been a coverage to watch. there's identified backers.

after champ returns. >> cris: he throws and that's caught. the first down as dallas clark made the catch outside the 20 yard lines. 2 1/2 to go, 2/14. >> did a good job of working back. the only thing that saves you, you see some of the infighting. it's all undercut. >> al: ravens first down. getting there simultaneously with the ball was duke ihenacho making contact with dallas. an illegal second down. when you watch a film of him he comes out of nowhere.

think of guys like john lynch that could start 15 minutes off the ball and make it a play. >> al: mike adams. second down and 10. incomplete. intended for marlon brown. covered by toby carter. >> cris: one of the things they wanted to do this year that they did not do last year is bang them. last year they let torrey smith get a free release. he tore them up. they're trying to be more physical with the ravens receivers torre 5'9". walking off the field slightly shaking. third and 10. and that's batted up in the air

and incomplete. delayed blitz. david boothe comes in there. balance batted. it's fourth down. >> cris: all kinds of stuff going on on that one. they did have torrey smith wide open and flacco said they were unsettles. i hadcris cris the pressure for quick decisions. >> referee: after the play was over, personal foul, number 66 of the offense. half the distance of the goal. fourth down. >> al: we'll take a look where torrey smith was.

>> cris: coverage gets blown. he's absolutely wide open. again, the pressure. you have to give credit to jack del rio taking a chance and it did, it paid off. sam koch's seventh punt of the night. holiday back to receive it. to the 29. brings it back out to the 42 yard line. bruton is down on the play. >> cris: bruton has had a big night. >> yeah, very active. watch, koch punts earlier. now he's demanding he needs the

staff's attention. so sunday night for the league opening up sunday and monday. we go to at&t stadium in arlington. eli manning/tony romo. we get the -- it started. they play in jersey world. >> cris: tony romo is sick of hearing about it. this year it's on both offensive lines. you have to get it settled quickly. >> al: and the ravens need to get a couple of things settled quickly. whether it's jacoby jones and whether he can come back in

short order. opening a week from sunday. >> cris: opening night is always the toughest night, al. it really is. you're exhausted. in preseason you never play more than maybe 2 1/2 quarters in this no offense going both ways. it's a hot night. >> al: brutal. >> cris: the ravens should have been playing in baltimore. tough assignment. >> al: the ravens did not want to move. the schedule came out before they won the super bowl. the first team since they won during the day. the baseball schedule had come out. the orioles had a game tonight.

the ravens tried to get them to move it and the orioles said no. second and 6. once they take care of the parking lot and the facility next to each other. it would have been new england at baltimore i'm guessing. those are the two logical choices. >> cris: harbaugh was actually mad. he said, i'm glad we don't have all the ser knowny. we get to the -- you ask him after the game, he might have different answers. >> al: third down and 6. jason manning and knocks him down as he gets rid of it. it's incomplete and a flag is down. >> referee: holding, number 74, offense.

that penalty is declined. >> so with 1:00 to go in the third quarter a change of possession of your -- >> cris: i will say this, baltimore with back to back stops, now it's up to the audience. it's a team in transition. they are geared around their quarterback more than it's ever been. now it's involved in the leadership roll is big. sweb back there. >> calling to make the fair catch at the 12 yard line. broncos with the defense and the changes and the last two years, 30 sacks from von miller, 18 1/2

coming last year. 20 1/2 with those last year. 42 it is 1 for the rest of the team. over two years. so far so good tonight. they look good in the second. trying to keep it going against the ravens trying to get back into the game with 1:00 left to play in the period. underneath the pass for marlon brown. the 6'5" brown takes the ball out to the 35 yard line for a first down. >> cris: when you get linebackers that like to chase tight ends and bang them around a little bit, sometimes you can catch them with those underneath rouds. that time this is exactly what happened. dallas clark, the guy went by him.

>> al: the 34 going down. incomplete. dennis smith. it will be second and ten. >> cris: tony has had a good game. dominique rodgers-cromartie has been sfe nominal. he tore him up. tonight he has had answers all night. >> al: downfield, incomplete. brandon stokely trying to get through but couldn't. third down. >> cris: basically now joe flacco only has three wide receivers to deal with. he looked tired on that one. he was unable to hit that extra gear. it's stokely, marlon brown and

they're trying to go no huddle. >> al: third and 10. sacked. joe flacco calling for action. >> al: with the clock winding down, that will take us to the end of the quarter where the denver broncos outscore the ravens 21-0. at the end of three it's 35-17. we went out and asked people a simple question: how old is the oldest person you've known? we gave people a sticker and had them show us. we learned a lot of us have known someone

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>> al: high above the colorado state capitol. tonight's ariel coverage brought to you by geico. looking down at denver on this thursday night. al michaels, cris collinsworth, michele tafoya. 35-17 denver. start with a punt. sam koch. welker is the intended receiver. this time he hauls it in at the 17 yard line and welker out past

the 40 and his own man helps to knock them down as he crosses the 45 yard line. robinson running into them. >> cris: a lot of great plays tonight for peyton manning and company. here's the biggest play of the night, dropped pass by wes welker. would have sent on the punt team if it was challenged. demaryius thomas brought it in. wonder what happened to that communication. corey graham imimmediately went to the bench. not that coaches play heed to play e playe players. >> cris: absolutely. >> al: false start. >> referee: false start, number 83, offense.

5 yard penalty. >> cris: wes welker's been in the news a lot. sometimes the no huddle and the pace of peyton manning. on that one there was time. there was an opportunity. >> al: right. pistol first and 15. and to the outside to welker again. assisting. ihedigbo making a tackle on the play. welker with two touchdowns tonight and he's caught 9 passes for 67 yards. >> cris: it looks dangerous. it looks like one of those years where julius thomas plays like he's playing, wes welker working

inside, lots of stuff. >> al: second and nine. over the middle and it will be caught by eric decker who loses the ball and fortunately for denver, they retain possession. knocked away by jimmy smith. >> cris: the big guy, orlando franklin working against elvis dumervil. reflex from wrestling or something. eric decker got away with the ball bouncing the right way for you. >> al: manning going for the score for welker. it's incomplete. covered on the play by la darius web. decker and demaryius thomas.

he's over 1,000 last year. you get the -- he almost got away with the receivers and go balk to the day of the three amigos. you need elway here. >> cris: what difference would it be? now he's coming on to blitz web at the end of that play was back in the end of the end zone. you can see him say, oh, i've got to almost run back up there and do things right. >> referee: false start, number 65, offense, 5-yard penalty. first down. >> al: proud of the replay.

he was the head coach of miami who he tie owe when that was playing. you have to being back a long way. >> al: he also gave a job to him when he was in college. they gave him computer work and next thing you know he's offensive coordinator for the broncos. coaches, there's gase, who's father-in-law is joe vick. let's see who is the interim head coach. >> al: good football background for adam. working on john fox. the two coordinators have the head coaching jobs.

third and nine. manning tearing out and demaryius thomas, touchdown! >> cris: well, we talked about it earlier. you beat them up on the inside and then your outside guys get a chance. there's no help whatsoever. beautiful relief off the line of scrimmage. i went up to demaryius before the game. tell me, is peyton throwing it harder and longer than last year? he said, no doubt about it. he's been throwing them great. >> al: six touchdown passes. tying a career high.

prater the extra point. what a night for peyton. what a night for the broncos who actually trail by 3 at the half. [off screen] give me a kiss! [speaking mandarin] what do you think? do you like it? [off screen] happy birthday! can you see that? [speaking polish] [off screen] did he apologize? [off screen] thanks, micah! [off screen] bye, guys. bye. see ya. oh my god! every day, more people connect face to face on the iphone than any other phone.

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>> cris: that is the man right there. i knew him back in the day. went to many a golf tournaments with him. always the show. boy, is he loved around here. >> al: sanford. he was a bronco. bouncing baby boy. pretty good executive. 42-17, broncs. using stereoscopic cameras... ♪ ...and even stop itself if it has to. the technology may be hard to imagine... but why you would want it is not. ♪ the 2014 e-class,

it doesn't just see the future, it is the future. after what you pulled at the super bowl? it's a miracle stain. a super bowl miracle. you washed it? it had a stain on it. go, ravens. i'm watching the bronco's game. something's up. what are you doing? got a few old jerseys off the internet for every team the ravens play. those are nasty. yeah, well, tide will clean these right up. but you're a niners fan. true, but if i'm going to cheer against the ravens all season, i'm going to need a few extra clean...jerseys!

so childish. ha ha. go, broncos! [ male announcer ] tide, start the season clean. that is out there on a night when it started out as 86 degrees. 75 degrees now. 33-minute weather delay in the

mile high altitude taking it toll. >> cris: peyton manning taking his toll. >> al: incompletion. fingertip play not make by dickson. second down and 10. >> cris: well, it would not have been an easy catch by any means, but the ravens tonight have had opportunities to make great plays, great plays they made in the playoffs a year ago, and they have not been able to make them. they have had real struggles from the tight end position tonight. it's been a factor. >> al: pierce takes the inside handoff. >> cris: defensively now you've got to think this ravens defense is going, guys, at least one first down. give me one first down so i can get a little gatorade over here so peyton can't do that 20 second thing on me. they are exhausted. i played in the no huddle offense in cincinnati. there are points in the game where you look across the line

and you go, these guys are done. i'm not sure they haven't started to reach that point for the ravens. >> al: a yard shy of the first down so they still won't get that first down. brandon stiekly makes the catch. interesting decision. >> cris: you're down by 25 points. if you're going to get back into this thing, you pretty much have to take your shot right here. i agree with this. >> al: me too. why not. fourth and 1. >> cris: ordinarily you say the ravens, the way they play, they pick it up. the running game hasn't been that effective tonight either. >> al: on the clock. they're going to go all the way down. and baltimore will take a time-out. time-out, fourth and 1 when we come back. pretty snazzy phone you got there.

oh yeah, it's the new gs4. i had this one about four years now. wow. yeah. that is vintage. 3 button doesn't work but other than that, she's a trooper. right. i like to keep it simple. well if you want it simple, this has an easy mode. it puts uh, only the things you use on your home screen. makes your contacts easy to get to. i like it. got a birthday coming up, you know. yeah, i'll get right on that. now, for a limited time at t-mobile, get the samsung galaxy s4 for $99.99 down at activation.

>> al: ravens led by 3 at the half. 15 first downs. the second half it has been

entirely the broncos. 13 first downs. now it's fourth and 1 as the ravens try to keep any hope minimally alive. and instead it's an interception and it will be run back for a pick six. >> cris: one of the most difficult backs that there is to cover in the nfl. tre va than had no problem. >> cris: they're saying touch back. >> al: look at this. >> referee: out of the back of the end zone. it is a touch back.

first down, baltimore. >> al: you've seen this so much in the nfl and college, guys are celebrating beforehand. meanwhile, on top of it you have wesley woodyard who's down at the goal line. needs a little assistance from the long-time trainer steve antonopolous. >> cris: right here, you have rice. i talked about the coverage ability of these linebackers earlier in the game and they have to really hope that this isn't -- forget the touchdown at this point. wesley woodyard is the heart and soul of the defense. that is way out. >> al: then it goes out of the back of the end zone as well. and so much for that pick six.

cris cris i think wesley woodyard was hurt going for the ball so the mistake amplified.32 son las cusas que ciegan a >> al: woodyard was chasing him down for the goal line. a report on him as quickly as we can. the ball on the 20 yard line. that's one way for the ravens to get a first down. out towards the 10. swing it out to the right. gets bounced out to the right after a gain of eight. >> cris: see if we can go back and look at -- right there. woodyard tried to get it.

then the ravens -- oh, my goodness. comes in and tries to get it and then gets undercut. so a huge mistake has become even larger. >> al: second and 2. that was a nice catch made on the outside by dickson, the tight end, for a first down. >> cris: the game for the broncos, stewart bradley was going to be the middle linebacker. he's out with wrist surgery. wesley woodyard is out. >> al: 12 years in the league. caught, caught, caught. flag is down. orange shirts all over the place. and a penalty marker is down back at the 32 yard line. so clark coughs it up again

after a big gain. webster comes up with it. that was good for 28 yards and then the fumble and now the flag. >> cris: let's see if there's a facemask by rahim moore on the tail end of this play. >> al: here he comes. >> cris: head turns. >> referee: personal foul, grabbing the facemask, number 26 on the defense. 15 yards from the spot of the foul. first down. >> cris: finally something going right for dallas clark tonight. >> al: and the ravens -- >> cris: hey, they're going after paris lennon. you take an outstanding cover linebacker out of the game,

things are getting a little bit strange now. golden opportunity. still plenty of time. >> al: over 11:00 to go for the ravens. over the middle. rice will be dragged down from behind. nate irving. second down. >> cris: now joe flacco goes into his version here of the no huddle, but with only three wide receivers out there, we really have an issue. as much as you want to hustle and play hard, it's really hard. it really is. no other relief in sight. >> al: 51st pass of the night is caught by marlon brown but a flag is down. for the moment he's into the end zone but another penalty. >> cris: i think it's off sides

on the broncos pre-snap. >> referee: off sides, the penalty is declined. touchdown. >> al: so it was going to be 49-17 and now all of a sudden we're an extra point away from 42-24. >> cris: marlon brown, one of the few times the ravens have won one of the juan on one battles. takes advantage. here's the mistake. can't get any sillier than that. >> al: no. that would have been a 32 point lead with 11 minutes to go. >> cris: your job is -- it's not your football, it's our football. you hand the ball to the official. it's ridiculous to make that kind of mistake. >> al: barry sanders and everyone will love it. act like you've been there before.

extra point is good by tucker and it's 42-24. ravens still alive. [ male announcer ] every inch, every minute, every second -- we chip away. at redefining capability. for whatever days may come. like beach days... rainy days... even vacation days. made with pride. crafted with passion. this is the new 2014 jeep grand cherokee. it is the best of what we're made of. well-qualified lessees can lease the 2014 grand cherokee laredo 4x4 for $359 a month. ♪ chuh. wendy's monterey ranch. also a buck buck! winner. it's back! wendy's monterey ranch crispy chicken.

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>> al: beginning this monday right here on nbc, ryan seacrest hosting "million second quiz" premiering monday night 8:00 eastern and pacific. a break with jack del rio. getting on trevathan who had salted the game away and then drops the ball at the 1 yard line. the next thing you know the ravens go 80 yards and at least kept them alive. 10:30 to go in the fourth quarter on opening night in denver, colorado. [ thinking ] ugh.

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♪ actually, don't read that. ♪ >> al: peyton manning by the time he is done, he'll have just about everything. 17, 5 or more. 6 td passness a game. that's a broncos record. if you're wondering about the nfl record, it is 7 held by five different quarterbacks, most recently joe cassidy in 1969. hand the ball off to montee ball

in a situation where peyton now might take some time off the clock and we go to michele. >> michele: well, an update on wesley woodyard he is questionable with a right ankle. i watched him getting taped up on the training table. he gave me a thumbs up and smiled. he seems to be fine. he was running around the field cutting, getting a feel for how that ankle felt. giving everyone high fives. he's officially questionable. >> al: thank you, michele. he has time to get ready for the next game. they take on the giants in the meadowlands. second and 8. peyton starting to use the clock. the rookie out of wisconsin to the 28 yard line, montee ball. so ball has a chance to emerge, but for the moment he's the rookie. hillman, knowshon moreno. magahee is gone.

sooner or later you would think he will be the ace back. >> cris: as soon as he learns the protections. the most important thing is protecting peyton manning. that's always the thing that rookies struggle with, trying to figure out how to block. now that they're in this run mode at least temporarily here he's in the game. >> al: third and 1. manning. >> cris: very interesting. >> al: three and out cris cris with three runs. >> al: with haloti gnat ngata. >> cris: i don't know about this. here's haloti ngata. you start to run on this team, don't forget now, the ravens defense got a much needed rest by their offense. they come out and peyton goes three straight runs. we saw that a little bit at the end of the playoff game a year

ago and it didn't work out so well then. >> al: sending it down to lardarius webb. webb has to back up. 18 yard line. cuts it back. tackled at the 31 with 8:08 to play in the fourth. you go back to the injuries tonight for the ravens. this is jones calling for the fair catch getting run into by his own man. be then you've got oher, the right tackle getting rolled up on by his own man,ian da. he's out. the rookie, rick wagner, is in there. now the baltimore ravens, woodyard is back in the game. tre vai than is in the game. >> cris: now you have to challenge woodyard. you have to see where he is.

>> al: goes. caught. 35 yard line. dallas clark. if baltimore won this game, that would be the all-time capper. that would be the capper. >> cris: they'd never recover around here. remember, he is the signal caller. he is the cornerback on the defense. it looks like they might be going into a little more zone. we'll see if that continues. >> al: halfway through the fourth quarter. the safety valve is pierce, but it's behind him. third down and 6. >> cris: pretty good work out of robert aer. one sack already. no von miller. other guys have to step up. that time got good pressure against brian mckinney.

he needs to be big. >> al: flacco airing it outgoing deep and it's one-handed and caught by torrey smith on a big third down conversion all the way down to the denver 29 yard line. 34 yards over tony carter on flacco's 54th pass of the game. >> cris: i'll tell you, i thought this was pass interference. that should have been pass interference anyway. a tremendous catch by torrey smith with one hand. >> al: four man rush. flacco breaks a tackle. he's going to get the first down. it will be first down inside the 20 yard line. >> cris: all of a sudden it's starting to work the other way