Broncos primed for payback

If a guy keeps getting his teeth kicked in, he eventually stops smiling. With that in mind, coach John Fox and his new team, the Denver Broncos, should be an angry and motivated mob.

Fox went 2-14 in Carolina last year, while Denver's debacle resulted in four wins.

The Broncos turned to Fox in the offseason and threatened to rebuild behind one-trick pony Tim Tebow before coming to their senses. The offense again follows Kyle Orton's lead, Fox has fortified the defense, and it's time to get some revenge.

No opponent embarrassed the Broncos last season quite like the Oakland Raiders, who were used to being the butt of jokes before running the table in the AFC West en route to a magical 8-8 finish. But that got Tom Cable fired as coach.

In steps Hue Jackson, and it's time for the Raiders to resume their losing ways.

San Diego is set to reclaim supremacy in the division, but the surprise will be Denver rising to runner-up status. Look for Oakland and Kansas City to get knocked a couple steps down the ladder.

It would be great if the NFL scheduled more Monday night doubleheaders, but we have to settle for the one in Week 1. So after a New England-Miami opener, the Broncos host the Raiders in a payback game.

Last October in Denver, Darren McFadden rolled up 165 of Oakland's 328 rushing yards in a 59-14 crushing of the Broncos. If it's possible, the mauling looked worse than the final score.

But Fox has retooled the front seven and switched to a 4-3 scheme that features pass rushers Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller. Denver's defense will start eight players who were not in the lineup in the Raiders' memorable rout.

Fox is also adjusting the offensive attitude. Orton is proven as a passer, but some of the burden will be taken off the quarterback. The offensive line is built to be more physical, and Fox, who prefers the ground attack, will call more running plays for Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno.

I bet the Broncos early as 2½-point favorites in this game, but I'll still lay the current number of 3. Fox should be smiling again soon.

Four more plays for Week 1 (Home team in CAPS):

■ Steelers (+2) over RAVENS: Ben Roethlisberger normally gets the better of the QB duel with Joe Flacco, who is often rattled into weak throws by Pittsburgh's defensive pressure. The past seven regular-season meetings were decided by a total of 25 points, with the underdog covering six times.

■ Titans (+2) over JAGUARS: With running back Chris Johnson finally ready to go and veteran Matt Hasselbeck in charge of the passing game, Tennessee is more reliable. Jacksonville, which had failed to cover 10 straight as a home favorite going into last season, made an odd move this week by dumping veteran quarterback David Garrard.

■ REDSKINS (+3) over Giants: The New York defense appears depleted with ends Justin Tuck (doubtful) and Osi Umenyiora (out) sidelined by injuries. That should make things easier for Washington's erratic quarterback, Rex Grossman, who can expect help from improvements in the running attack and defense.

■ Cowboys (+5) over JETS: The quarterback who makes more big plays will cover this one, and a big edge goes to Tony Romo over Mark Sanchez. The Dallas offense surrounds Romo with pass-catching weapons Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Sanchez needs lots of help from the Jets' defense.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting columnist Matt Youmans can be reached at 702-387-2907 or myoumans@reviewjournal.com.