March 29, 2024

Ravens open regular season at Broncos

NEW YORK (AP) — Are you ready for some Peyton Manning?

This year’s NFL schedule is filled with return visits and intriguing matchups, and some of the best involve the Denver Broncos’ quarterback.

The former Colts star will make his first trip back to Indianapolis, will play younger brother Eli in another Manning Bowl, and will face the defending Super Bowl champions in the season opener.

The Baltimore Ravens travel to Denver for the now-traditional Thursday night opener on Sept. 5. The Orioles are home that night and Major League Baseball could not move their game.

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, who spent 10 years as an assistant in Baltimore, seemed most interested in — and annoyed by — the Ravens being forced to kick off the season on the road.

“I think that the world champs can open up at home and that’s where I think they should open, at home,” Ryan said. “I think it is common courtesy. I don’t know what gets involved in that. I am not in charge of it, but if I would have been, the Ravens would be opening at home.

“If baseball had only 16 games, I might understand it. But just as common courtesy maybe (the Orioles) say, ‘I’ll play this one on the road.” Just from a fan perspective of sports.”

In Week 2, Peyton visits Eli’s house.

Both Manning brothers often have said it’s uncomfortable yet memorable playing each other; it’s only happened twice, with Peyton and the Colts winning. Even though Peyton now is a Bronco, the dynamic is unchanged for the star quarterbacks.

The folks in Indy cherished having Peyton Manning as their record-setting quarterback for 13 seasons; he sat out 2011 after several neck surgeries, then was released by the Colts and signed with Denver. The reception he almost certainly will receive at Lucas Oil Stadium will be warm and loud.

Peyton Manning isn’t the only one returning to a city indelibly linked to his name. Andy Reid is going back to Philadelphia, as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, and it’s unlikely Eagles fans will give him the friendly reception Manning is sure to receive in Indy.

Reid jokingly acted surprised about the Chiefs’ Week 3 trip to the City of Brotherly Love — and, at times, venom for the coach of the Eagles, which Reid was for 14 seasons. Reid and the rest of the Chiefs knew about it long ago, and they got the Thursday night spotlight.

“We’re playing Philly?” said Reid, hired by Kansas City days after being fired in Philly. “Nah, it’ll be an exciting atmosphere. It always is at Lincoln Financial Field there. But right now, I’m a Chief, so we’re going to get ourselves ready to play, whenever and wherever we have to play this season.”