The last time we saw the Oakland Raiders at Mile High, the Denver Broncos were on the wrong end of a 59-14 contest. They took nearly a full two quarters to score their first touchdown and then scored early in the third quarter. Most of the Broncos' offense has stayed the same, but that doesn't mean it things will stay the same.
Here are five things to watch when the Broncos have the ball:
1. How well does Kyle Orton perform?
Orton has been the team's starting quarterback ever since the start of August, when the team was unable to reach a trade with the Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow were the talk of training camp for their performances, which landed the former the third-string role at points. But they are co-backups to Orton, and there's sure to be substantial discussion on the matter should Orton falter.
2. Is the rushing game back?
Head coach John Fox is bringing the running game back to Denver after two years of Josh McDaniels throwing the ball. The team is sticking with Knowshon Moreno as its starter, but Willis McGahee was brought in to be the goal line back, roles we saw take shape during the preseason. But let's see how the playing time is shared. Moreno struggled and was injured last season, but can he rebound?
3. Will any of the tight ends have an impact?
Last season, tight end was a black hole for the Broncos with Daniel Graham, Richard Quinn and Dan Gronkowski barely involved. All three are gone, replaced by tight ends who are ready to catch the ball. Daniel Fells signed as a free agent and is the starter, but rookies Julius Thomas and Virgil Green are also ready to contribute.
For more on the Raiders head over to Silver and Black Pride. For more on the Broncos, check out Mile High Report. Catch up on Week 1 of the regular season at SB Nation NFL.