demaryius thomas

We knew the Ravens would be in the nickel a lot against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. They probably had to use it even more than expected as the Broncos went three-wide on more than 75 percent of their plays. As a result, Jimmy Smith, Corey Graham and Lardarius Webb played significant snaps.

The first of three Peyton Manning third-quarter touchdown passes came on a drive that should have been stopped on an incompletion, but John Harbaugh didn't challenge the play.

Denver QB Peyton Manning passed for 7 touchdowns in leading the Broncos to a 49-27 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Defensive coordinator Dean Pees reaffirmed that $50 million cornerback Lardarius Webb is healthy and ready heading into the Ravens' season opener Thursday night against the Denver Broncos.

Ravens cornerback Corey Graham shed the relative obscurity of being a former Chicago Bears Pro Bowl special-teams ace to becoming a key defender for the Ravens last postseason.

With a formidable pair of edge rushers in Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, nose tackle Haloti Ngata and a handful of other pass rushers, the Baltimore Ravens appear to have what it takes to harass quarterbacks. But time won't be on their side Thursday night against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Based on measurements alone, there was a lot to like about Tommy Streeter when the Ravens drafted him in the sixth round of the 2012 draft.

Three-receiver sets were by far the most commonly used personnel grouping in the NFL last season. Even the Ravens used them on nearly half of their snaps. By putting an extra wide receiver on the field, the Ravens are able to stretch defenses and take full advantage of Flacco's strong arm. They are still trying to determine which three wideouts are their best combination, but the three-receiver sets are here to stay in Baltimore and in the NFL as a whole.

Regardless of who starts at cornerback opposite Lardarius Webb, Corey Graham and Jimmy Smith will be on the field together more often than not.

In eager anticipation of the 2013 NFL season, Matt Vensel of The Baltimore Sun will take a daily look at one of the 13 opponents on the Baltimore Ravens' schedule. Today's team is the Denver Broncos.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree might not have the wow factor and name value of some of the league's elite receivers, but it will take a team effort from the Ravens secondary to limit the damage in the Super Bowl.

This week, Baltimore Sun reporters Aaron Wilson and Matt Vensel looks back at the Ravens' previous game and that of their next of opponent.

Justin Tucker's 47-yard field goal in second overtime period sends Ravens into AFC championship

Breaking down wach aspect of the Baltimore Ravens' AFC divisional playoff game at the Denver Broncos.

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston predicts Ravens upset Saturday of Denver Broncos

Even though Peyton Manning arrived at M&T Bank Stadium in new colors with a new organization, Sunday's game sure felt familiar to the Baltimore Ravens. With Manning pointing at their defenders before the snap, then picking them apart once the ball was in his hands, the Denver Broncos rolled to a 34-17 win.

In this game-day staple, blogger Matt Vensel makes four sometimes-courageous predictions for the game. All he asks is that you don't hold it against him whenever those predictions end up being embarrassingly wrong.

Baltimore Sun reporter Jeff Zrebiec breaks down Sunday's game between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium.

Right guard Marshal Yanda and safety Bernard Pollard did not practice all week, and they were among seven Ravens listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium.

It is not Demaryius Thomas, the Broncos¿ No. 1 receiver. Nor is it Eric Decker, one of the best No. 2 receivers across the land.

The Ravens remain mum on whether Ray Lewis will play Sunday against the Denver Broncos, but the middle linebacker was present at the early portion of practice open to the media.

The breakthrough season of imposing Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas hasn't gone unnoticed in Baltimore.

The Ravens will play without Jameel McClain on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. The team's starting middle linebacker has a significant neck injury that he sustained against the Washington Redskins, coach John Harbaugh said today.

In his last day on the job before being fired Monday morning, Cam Cameron called one of his more effective games even though mounting behind-the-scenes discord led to his dismissal. With Vonta Leach plowing defenders and Ray Rice dancing upfield, the Ravens used its running game to pile up a season-high 186 yards.

There has been all this hype about the Broncos and their pursuit of the No. 2 playoff seed, perhaps for no other reason than it's there. Recent Super Bowl history, though, suggests playoff seeding may be among the most overrated of NFL's accomplishments.

Each day this week leading up to Thursday's NFL draft, we will highlight one prospect whom the Ravens could draft with the 29th overall pick. Today's player is Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill, who will likely parlay an eye-popping performance at the NFL scouting combine into being a late first-round draft pick.

Tebow-mania bigger than ever this week

Fantasy Fodder: Fantasy All-Stars for the 2011 NFL season

We are into the nitty-gritty of the fantasy playoffs, so let's get down to business with injury updates, some waiver-wire pickups if you're desperate, and more. If your squad needs help, shoot me a note. And feel free to leave your horror story in the comments section if you have already been dismissed.

Every season, a few surprise studs come out of fantasy Siberia to reward savvy owners who had the foresight to select them in the later rounds of the draft. A season ago, Adrian Foster, Peyton Hillis and Brandon Lloyd come to mind. Ray Rice, Miles Austin and Sidney Rice were unlikely heroes in 2009. And so on and so forth. Midway through the 2011 season, let's take a look at this year's biggest fantasy surprises.