Denver Broncos (3-1) at New York Jets (1-4)

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. – TV: CBS

*TV announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

*Keys to the game: Peyton Manning returns to the site of February’s Super Bowl beatdown, but the Broncos will not see anything resembling Seattle’s dominant defense. The Jets lead the NFL in sacks, but are 30th in interceptions and minus-seven in turnover ratio. Denver works in a new starting running back – Ronnie Hillman, who was benched last season due to fumbling issues – added to Manning’s ability to strike from any angle.

Manning says he’s not eager to prove the Broncos are fine without WR Eric Decker – who missed last week but is expected to play Sunday against his former team – but the numbers speak volumes. WR Emmanuel Sanders is on pace for a 128-reception, 1,740-yard season through four games. The offense is fine without Decker, and Manning is on pace for 48 touchdown passes.

The Jets were the first NFL team to be shut out last week when Geno Smith was benched for the second half and the admittedly unprepared Michael Vick fanned the flame rather than sparking a rally at San Diego. If Denver builds a two-score lead, white flags could fly from the Mean Green huddle.

Smith has eight turnovers (two fumbles) and has been sacked eight times with an average of 4.69 yards per pass in the team’s four losses. The Broncos are willing to lock up with the Jets’ receivers in man coverage with a single-high safety to stop the run, and the strategy that wins in that scenario takes the game.

*Matchup to watch – Jets RB Chris Ivory vs. Broncos linebackers: Ivory averages 5.4 yards per carry and Chris Johnson stands at 4.0. As a team, the Jets have averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry in every game this season. The linebackers will be responsible for preventing Ivory and Johnson from doing any damage at the second level, which will gradually suffocate the Jets’ wheezing offense.

*Player spotlight – Jets S Antonio Allen vs. Broncos TE Julius Thomas: Allen has flip-flopped positions because of his versatility but struggled badly against San Diego TE Antonio Gates last week. Thomas, the NFL leader in touchdowns, is more athletic and faster than Allen, who will likely work almost exclusively in single coverage as he did last week against Gates.

*Fast facts: Smith is 7-4 at home as a starter. … The last team to rebound from a 1-4 start to reach the playoffs was the Tim Tebow-led Broncos in 2011. … Denver last played at the Jets in 2008.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

Manning should fling it at will and any type of lead will unleash a hellish pass rush on sitting duck Smith, who is powerless to rally the Jets from any real deficit.

*Our pick: Broncos 34-12