Ravens billboards put up around Denver to promote NFL season opener
The Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens are set to kick off the 2013 NFL season next Thursday in a game that will be nationally televised on NBC. As a way of promoting both teams and hyping up the first official game of the year, the NFL has put up signs and billboards around Sports Authority Field and downtown Denver that feature Ravens players in addition to Broncos players.
Makes sense, right? The only issue is that Broncos fans still have a heartbreaking loss to the Ravens in the 2012 playoffs fresh on their minds. Baltimore stunned Denver with an amazing comeback that included a 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. Now, Broncos fans have to look at Flacco’s face while they’re walking around town:
seeing Joe flacco's poster in Denver makes me pretty upset. pic.twitter.com/E8aNQIXmsQ
— Woody Roseland (@WoodyRoseland) August 24, 2013
Since the promotions are a mandate from the league, there is nothing the Broncos can do about it. However, Mike Klis of The Denver Post pointed out that the team did try to explain itself via its official Twitter account:
Because the NFL promotes both teams playing in its annual Kickoff Game, fans will notice signage outside @SportsAuthField and around town…
— Denver Broncos (@DenverBroncos) August 26, 2013
…that features the Broncos and Ravens. But regardless of league guidelines, this will always be #BroncosCountry…
— Denver Broncos (@DenverBroncos) August 26, 2013
…and we can’t wait to see all the orange in the stands a week from Thursday!
— Denver Broncos (@DenverBroncos) August 26, 2013
Billboards or no billboards, my money is on Peyton Manning at home with what should be the best receiving corps in the NFL. Plus, I’d hate to see what this Ravens fan would do if his team pulled off another improbable upset.
H/T Reddit