Stealing signs

Tight end Daniel Graham, a member of the New England Patriots from 2002-06, has been getting grief in the Denver Broncos’ locker room this week over the sign-stealing scandal the Patriots are involved in.

“We’re giving Daniel Graham a lot of heat about it, tainted championships and calling them the ‘Big Asterisks’ and things like that,” safety John Lynch said. “Ultimately, that’s a good football team whether they’re seeing signs or not.”

Lynch said every team tries to steal signs, to some extent. Lynch said the problem with New England is that it was videotaping it, which crosses the line when it comes to cheating.

“Every team has guys on the sidelines looking for things like that,” Lynch said about stealing signs. “But I do think you cross the line when you bring that technology into the field.”

Lynch said thwarting informal attempts to steal signs is the team’s responsibility. The Broncos use multiple people on the sideline signaling in plays to the defense, but only one is making the actual call.

And Lynch said he has been in games where the opponent has cracked the code.

“I’ve played other teams where you know they’ve got your signals,” Lynch said. “You’re not showing anything, and every time you blitz they’re checking or sight adjusting, and you know they’ve got you.”

Scouting the Raiders

The only reason the Raiders might be better this season is because they couldn’t be much worse.

Oakland won only two games last year and earned the first overall pick. The Raiders won’t even get much help this season from that first pick, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, because he just agreed to a contract this week.

Offensively, the Raiders do appear to be improved. Quarterback Josh McCown looked competent against Detroit with 313 yards, but hurt his right throwing hand. Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said McCown will be held out of Wednesday’s practice as a precaution but could practice Thursday. Daunte Culpepper would start if McCown can’t.

There are a few dangerous players on Oakland’s offense. Ronald Curry had 10 catches for 133 yards last week and running back LaMont Jordan had 159 total yards.

“Their offense is much better,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.

Defensively, the Raiders didn’t allow many yards last year. They also weren’t in many close games, which kept the opponent’s statistics down. For example, at Denver last year, the Broncos took a 13-0 lead in the first half and sat on the lead. The Broncos had 35 passing yards in the final three quarters. Last week the Raiders were in a shootout against Detroit, and the Lions gained 392 yards.

“I think Detroit has some really good players on offense but it wasn’t about them, it was about us not executing and miscommunication and coverage issues,” Kiffin said. “We hope we have those corrected.”

Winning despite change

Javon Walker. Tom Nalen. Matt Lepsis. Champ Bailey. John Lynch. Nick Ferguson. Ian Gold. That’s the list of players who were in the same starting position for the season openers in 2006 and 2007.

That’s a lot of change for the Broncos, which is why every win early this season -- including Sunday’s win at Buffalo -- will be important.

Denver is still breaking in a relatively new quarterback in Jay Cutler and a new scheme on defense. But with Sunday’s comeback win, the Broncos should start the season 3-0. The Raiders, this week’s opponent, probably aren’t good enough to come to Denver and win. Denver’s third game is at home against Jacksonville. The Jaguars lost their first game to Tennessee, which has quarterback Vince Young and not much else.

Denver’s fourth and fifth games are at Indianpolis and against San Diego. Those games will be the real test of how well the Broncos have meshed early in the season.

Week 1 prediction

Recent history shouldn’t indicate a Denver Broncos win on Sunday. They’re coming off two straight regular-season opening losses and didn’t look that good this preseason, especially on defense. But a few things are working in Denver’s favor.

The Bills, which were 7-9 last year, lost a lot in the offseason. As good as rookie running back Marshawn Lynch and rookie linebacker Paul Posluszny might be, they’ll still be playing their first game at difficult positions.

As long as Travis Henry is full speed and has about 100 yards, the Broncos should be able to control the tempo of the game. That will also help the defense. It’s impossible to think Denver’s defense will be completely ready for the season opener. They’re still learning a new scheme. But Buffalo isn’t an offensive machine, and the Broncos should be able to force some turnovers with their cornerback tandem.

With a couple of interceptions by J.P. Losman, a quiet day from Lynch and an efficient day from the offense, the Broncos will reverse a trend.

Prediction: Broncos 21, Bills 17

Captains chatter

Assuming Broncos safety John Lynch is named a team captain this season, he’ll have more responsibility and perhaps a uniform addition this season.

The NFL is putting a greater emphasis on team captains this season through an initiative by commissioner Roger Goodell. Some teams will have their captains wear a “C” patch on their jersey to recognize the captains.

“That’s usually in hockey, eh?” Lynch said.

The decision to wear the patch is optional among teams, according to a league spokesman, and it’s not known if the Broncos captains will wear it.

The initiative also suggested that captains have regular meetings with the team and coach, and also act in on-field communication with officials. Hockey captains act as the team’s representative with officials on the ice during games.

The Broncos haven’t voted on captains yet but will in the next couple of days. Lynch, who was defensive co-captain with since departed linebacker Al Wilson the past few years, is an obvious candidate. Rod Smith has been Denver’s offensive captain for years, but he will miss at least of the first five games of the season because he is on the physically unable to perform list.

Scouting the Bills

After two straight opening-day losses, the Denver Broncos aren’t going to take anyone lightly. The Bills went 7-9 but lost five games by three points or less last year, giving the coaches a way to get the players’ attention this week.

“They came on strong,” Broncos assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates said.

The offseason wasn’t as kind to the Bills. They lost four key players: running back Willis McGahee, cornerback Nate Clements and linebackers London Fletcher-Baker and Takeo Spikes. They did draft two potential impact rookies: running back Marshawn Lynch and linebacker Paul Posluszny.

Buffalo’s reason for optimism this season is quarterback J.P. Losman, who made strides last season, and receiver Lee Evans, who had 1,292 yards last season. Losman threw 13 touchdown passes in 232 attempts in Buffalo’s last nine games last year, the second best touchdown percentage in the NFL over that span.

“Last year he improved tremendously,” Bates said.

The Bills also have some of the best special teams in the NFL, which has been a weakness for the Broncos.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan doesn’t plan on an easy opener this year.

“That record is not indicative of the type of team they are,” Shanahan said.

2007 NFL predictions

A disclaimer: I’ve lost the weekly picks to David Ramsey two straight years, so take these picks with an enormous grain of salt. But for what it’s worth:

AFC division winners -- New England, Baltimore, Indianapolis, San Diego
AFC wild cards -- Denver, Cincinnati

Thoughts: The AFC is tough, but top heavy. Denver might have a better team this year and still finish second in the division. If I have a super sleeper playoff team, it’s Houston. They’ll surprise some teams this year. All those high draft picks have to eventually pay off, right?

NFC division winners -- Dallas, Chicago, New Orleans, San Francisco
NFC wild cards -- Arizona, Washington

Thoughts: Finding six decent teams in the NFC was tough. And I fully expect Arizona to disappoint once again, even as I’m picking them to make the playoffs. But, once again, they look pretty good on paper. Washington’s another shaky pick, but I think Jason Campbell will be a solid quarterback and they have a great running back duo with Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts. I really wanted to pick someone other than Chicago to win the NFC North, because I think they’re in for a fall this year, but who else in that division would you trust?

Super Bowl -- San Diego over Dallas

Thoughts: Look, I know everyone thinks Norv Turner is a bad head coach, and his record shows it. But he can’t screw up the Chargers. They have a tremendous roster and will win the Super Bowl. This is like Barry Switzer taking over the Cowboys from Jimmy Johnson. The Chargers are winning, no matter who their coach is.

Other picks
MVP: QB Tom Brady, New England
Defensive player of the year: LB Shawne Merriman, San Diego
Offensive rookie of the year: WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit
Defensive rookie of the year: LB Paul Posluszny, Buffalo