Five Key Matchups: Broncos-Ravens

The season opener pits one Pro Bowl C.J. against another. Anderson enters the season as the Broncos' starter for the first time in his career, and he'll be looking to pick up where he left off from his 2014 season in which he became a Pro Bowl running back after a stunning late-season rise. A new zone-blocking scheme hopes to give Anderson more opportunities to break out and get downfield. Mosley is also coming off a Pro Bowl season, the Ravens' first rookie Pro Bowler in franchise history. He had 133 total tackles (89 solo), three sacks, eight passes defensed, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

With Derek Wolfe suspended for the season opener, the rest of the Broncos' defensive line will have to step up in his absence. With the battle of the trenches on defense, Jackson's combination of strength and agility could be a disruptive force, but Yanda is a stout opponent. Yanda is a four-time Pro Bowler, a 2014 first-team All-Pro guard and a Super Bowl champion. In the Ravens' efforts to establish a rushing attack and to give QB Joe Flacco the protection he'll need against the Broncos' pass rushers, Yanda's skills are vital.

After bouncing around from team to team, RB Justin Forsett finally found a landing spot in Baltimore. With current Broncos Head Coach Gary Kubiak as the Ravens offensive coordinator in 2014, Forsett had a Pro Bowl season with 1,266 rushing yards just one season after totaling 31 in a minor role for the Jaguars. ILB Brandon Marshall will be just one of the Broncos' defenders to be tasked with making sure he can't go far, but his role will be key in that assignment. With three down linemen in the defense's new scheme, Marshall will have to find room to disengage from blocks and pinpoint Forsett.

Rookie left tackle Ty Sambrailo has a tough first task going up against the Ravens' defensive front and their pass rush between Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil tied his season-best sack total in 2014 with 17, and in combination with Suggs, the Ravens had 29 between the two outside linebackers. Sambrailo has come along quickly at left tackle and now has veteran reinforcement next to him with the late-August signing of Evan Mathis.

The Broncos' cornerbacks will split time facing the Ravens' wide receivers, who are led by 15-year veteran Steve Smith Sr. With first-round pick Breshad Perriman injured, Kamar Aiken and Marlon Brown are expected to step up in the second wide receiver spot. "They're going to be a big part of what we're doing," Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said. "Obviously, those guys are going to be playing, we have a lot of confidence in those guys and they're ability to make plays. They're a big part of what we do." Doing their best to stop the Baltimore wide receivers will be Broncos cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris, Jr. Both have played Smith before, but Smith will look to start his final NFL season with a bang so the matchup should be a difficult one.