Washington @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 15, 2009 ) Denver 17, Washington 27

Peyton Manning has built a reputation for his legendary preparedness, but he will be in somewhat unfamiliar territory when the Denver Broncos look to rebound from their first loss in more than a year against the visiting Washington Redskins on Sunday. The Broncos were upended at Indianapolis 39-33 last week to snap a franchise-record 17-game winning streak dating to Oct. 7, 2012. The defeat also dropped Denver one game behind first-place Kansas City in the AFC West.

The Redskins are trying to dig themselves out of a hole for the second straight season, winning for the second time in three games after prevailing in a wild 45-41 shootout with Chicago last week. It marked a season high in points allowed by Washington, which has surrendered more than 30 four times and is yielding an averaging of 30.7 per contest. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan returns to the city where he coached for 14 seasons and led Denver to back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox. LINE: Broncos -13. O/U: 58.5.

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (2-4): Washington's success last season was built around a punishing ground game, one which produced its second straight 200-yard effort last week. Quarterback Robert Griffin III appeared tentative to run last month in his comeback from a torn ACL, but he has piled up 161 yards rushing in his last two and posted a season-best 105.2 passer rating while throwing for 298 yards and two scores against Chicago. Alfred Morris, who amassed 1,613 yards rushing last season as a rookie, had 95 yards on a season-high 19 carries last week and backup Roy Helu added 41 yards and three scores.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (6-1): Denver is on a record-setting pace with 298 points scored - the most in history through the first seven games of the season - but was unable to come all the way back from a 19-point deficit against the Colts. Manning leads the league in scoring passes (25) and yards (2,565) after throwing for three touchdowns and 386 yards against his former team, but the Broncos are also permitting a league-worst 319.9 passing yards per game and will likely be without star cornerback Champ Bailey (foot). Manning was back at practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a sore ankle.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Manning is 11-1 with 38 TDs and four interceptions at home since joining the Broncos.

2. Redskins S Brandon Meriweather will serve a one-game suspension for repeated hits to the head of opponents.

3. Denver's margin of victory in its four home games is 21.5 points.

PREDICTION: Broncos 41, Redskins 27