Broncos At the Bye and Week 8 Picks!

Watching the San Francisco Giants and the Detroit Tigers battle in the World Series this week made me start to think about the Broncos. Why? Here's why? The Giants were always a solid franchise but never seemed like a championship contender until the early 2000s. They made the World Series in 2002 but lost to the Angels. They suffered a brutal loss to the Marlins in the 2003 playoffs, and it looked like they were going to fade away for a while. They come back and win the World Series in 2010, and all of sudden they are back in the World Series in 2012. It seemed like it would take a really long time for them to ever get back to their run in 2002 and 2003, but sure enough here are the Giants on the cusp of their second championship in three years. The Broncos are one of the most successful franchises in the NFL. They went to three Super Bowls in four years from 1986-1989. They returned in 1997 and 1998 and won back-to-back Super Bowls to establish themselves as one of the model franchises. Since 1998, it has featured a few highs and a lot of lows. They have won only two playoff games since that 1998 season. One featured an overachieving team led by Jake Plummer that knocked off the defending champion Patriots in 2005, and the Tim Tebow led 8-8 Broncos that upset the heavily favored Steelers last year in the Wild Card round. Both wins were followed by crushing blowouts. The '05 team fell at home to the Steelers 34-17 in the AFC Championship, and last year's Broncos got killed 45-10 at New England in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. Instead of standing pat, the Broncos went after and subsequently acquired Peyton Manning and the goal was simple: It is time to get back to talking Super Bowls in Denver. Tim Tebow was a great story for this franchise, but it was hard to see the Broncos making a Super Bowl run with him at the helm in 2012. Now that Manning is in the fold, the Broncos have one focus: Make a run at the Super Bowl this year. After a 3-3 start, the Broncos come off the bye week with a 10 game schedule ahead of them. Their first six games were a very difficult challenge. They have beaten the Steelers and Raiders at home, lost to Atlanta and New England on the road, got beat soundly at home by the Texans and pulled off a comeback for the ages at San Diego. Losing to the Falcons, Texans, and Patriots is nothing to be ashamed of, but it showed that the Broncos are not in the elite class of those teams yet. They took care of business at home against the Steelers and Raiders, and the win at San Diego could be the turning point in the season. At 3-3, their schedule seems to lighten up a bit. You would think-and hope- that this team will start to click and put together solid play for four full quarters. Manning looks great and with the exception of a few bad plays, he has been well worth the risk and the investment. The time is now for the Broncos. The World Series has taken center stage this week. Watching the Giants and the Tigers battle for the championship reminded me that it has been a really long time since the Broncos were really playing for a championship. The time is now for the Broncos, and the second part of their season begins on Sunday. 10 games left to get the Broncos and their fans back to the place they so desperately want to be: Playing for a championship. Onto the picks for Week 8.....

Last Week's Record: 5-7-1
Overall Record: 46-52-5
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

New England (-7) over ST.LOUIS (In London): Anytime the Pats are criticized and bashed, they respond with a vengeance. I would be shocked if you didn't get a classic "A" game out of the Pats in London this week.

TENNESSEE (-3) over Indy: The Titans might be on to something. At 3-4, they suddenly have life in the AFC. This is the week for them. They have to take care of business at home against the Colts. I'll take my chances with the Titans this week at home.

GREEN BAY (-14) over Jacksonville: The Packers have looked really good the last two weeks. They will continue that trend this week at home to the lowly Jags.

San Diego (-3) over CLEVELAND: Anytime their is an ownership change, then there are going to be some residual effects. When the ownership happens at midseason, then you really have some issues to deal with. That is what is going on with the Browns this year. Everyone in the organization could be a lame duck, and it is hard to see the Browns putting up a fight this year. The Chargers aren't dead yet in the AFC West-they never are dead- and they will put it on the Browns this week in the Dawg Pound.

PHILLY (-3) over Atlanta: The Falcons are better, but they are due for loss at 6-0. This is the perfect week for the Eagles because they need to win this game. Go with the desperate team at home.

Seattle (+3) over DETROIT: Did you watch the Lions on Monday Night Football against the Bears? How could anyone have any confidence in that team right now? The Seahawks pull off the upset on the road in a game that just feels like a 19-16 kind of game.

Miami (+3) over NY JETS: The Jets have played well the last three weeks after the debacle against the Niners. They should have beaten the Pats on the road last week. With that said, the Dolphins might be just a better team right now. Miami's defense is really good and look for the Fish to pull one out late on the road this week.

CHICAGO (-7) over Carolina: I thought Cam Newton would be a bust when he was drafted #1 overall last year. Then, he looks fantastic in his rookie season, and I decide to jump on the bandwagon, and he made me believe that the Panthers will be a surprise playoff team in 2012. At 1-5, Newton and the Panthers have been a disappointment, and it won't get any easier this week on the road at Chicago. The Bears are quietly putting up an impressive season, and they could be the frontrunners to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Washington (+4) over PITTSBURGH: The Steelers will win this one late, but look for RG III to put a scare into the Steelers late. Last team to get the ball wins, and I'll take Big Ben and the Stillers at home.

KANSAS CITY (-1) over Oakland: When a fanbase is flying a plane during the game with a sign asking for the GM to get fired, then you know that things are pretty bad. Apparently, the Chiefs fans will be wearing black in protest of their team as well. It is pretty safe to say that things aren't going as planned in KC this year. Despite those incidents, take the Chiefs at Arrowhead.

New York Giants (-2) over Dallas: The Giants have never lost to the Cowboys in their new stadium (Jerry World), and I think the G-Men upend Dallas in Big D once again.

San Francisco (-7) over ARIZONA: The Cards will keep it close for awhile, but the Niners are simply too good for them. Take the Niners to get to 6-2.

New Orleans (+6) over DENVER: In 2008, these two teams played a classic shootout with Jay Cutler outdueling Drew Brees on that day. Fast forward to 2012 and the Broncos and Peyton Manning host the Brees and the Saints on Sunday night. This is huge game for the Saints, and they have won two in a row to stabilize their season at 2-4. A win here, and the Saints might be on the way to making a run in the NFC playoff picture. The Broncos need a win here at 3-3. As great as their comeback was over San Diego, it won't mean anything if the Broncos can't put together a stretch of victories at this point in the season. Sunday night's game is tricky, and both offenses should be able to move the ball and score points. It will come down to someone's defense making a big stop late in the game. I just don't trust Denver's defense at this point.

Final Score: Saints-34 Broncos-30