ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Try as they might, the Baltimore Ravens just couldn't get under the skin or into the heads of the Denver Broncos, who were more concerned about talking up their opponents than trash-talking them.

Most of the Ravens were exceedingly complimentary of the Broncos this week, but some spent time excusing their 34-17 home loss to Denver last month with dismissals ranging from the soon-to-retire Ray Lewis and several others being out of the lineup to the Broncos' receivers pushing off too much.

Ravens receiver Anquan Boldin said after Baltimore's emotional wild-card win that the Ravens were glad to get another shot at Denver.

Asked how it will be any different than last time, he declared, "We'll make it different."

"I wanted Denver, because they beat us," said Boldin, who was shut out in the first meeting, a game in which the Broncos breezed to a 31-3 lead and cruised to the finish.

The Broncos, not big on bravado all season, shrugged it all off.

"We beat them, so of course they want to play us again," cornerback Chris Harris said. "We're up for the challenge."

Those were about the brashest statements that came out of the Broncos' locker room all week.

Not exactly a Pacquiao-Marquez pre-fight smackdown.

"It's going to be a tough game," running back Knowshon Moreno said. "It's not going to be easy."

Fans aren't buying it, and oddsmakers have installed the top-seeded Broncos (13-3) as more than a touchdown favorite in Saturday's 1:30 p.m. game. They haven't lost in three months, are coming off a bye and playing at altitude against a team playing on a short week.

Cowboys hire

Monte Kiffin

IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys hired former Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin as the replacement for Rob Ryan on Friday.

The move signals a switch back to the 4-3 alignment eight years after Bill Parcells implemented the 3-4.

Dallas coach Jason Garrett said he had two days of discussions with the 72-year-old Kiffin and came away believing the Cowboys have the personnel to make the switch work.

"Monte Kiffin's level of experience and track record of success as an NFL defensive coordinator are unmatched," Garrett said.

Kiffin hasn't coached in the NFL since ending a 13-year run in Tampa in 2008. He spent the past four years coaching in college with his son, Lane Kiffin, at Tennessee and USC.

Notes

• The Eagles are scheduled to meet with Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden on Monday, continuing their slow search to replace Andy Reid.

Philadelphia has interviewed seven candidates since firing Reid on Dec. 31, and have permission to speak to two others.

• Reid, the new Kansas City coach, announced that former Eagles coach Doug Pederson would be his offensive coordinator and longtime Jets assistant Bob Sutton the defensive coordinator.

Reid also announced that Matt Nagy will coach quarterbacks after two seasons as the Eagles' offensive quality control coach. Eric Bieniemy will work with running backs, Tom Melvin the tight ends, and David Culley will work with wide receivers.

• Mark Trestman, a longtime NFL assistant and current CFL coach, is denying a rumor that the Chicago Bears are set to hire him.

• Tennessee coach Mike Munchak is parting ways with special-teams coach Alan Lowry, the designer of the Music City Miracle play that spurred Tennessee's lone Super Bowl run in 2000.