The Broncos seem to like primetime games and more specifically comebacks in primetime games. The Broncos clinched a playoff spot with a thrilling 20-17 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. The Broncos trailed 14-0 early in the second quarter, then mounted a slow comeback to take a 17-14 lead early in the 4th quarter, and then with the game tied at 17, Brandon McManus shanked a potential game-winning 45 yard field goal. The Broncos and Brock Osweiler drove back down the field in overtime and set up McManus with a 37 yard field goal and a 20-17 lead. From there, the Broncos defense got a fumble by Bengals QB A.J. McCarron and Demarcus Ware recovered to win the game for the Broncos and clinch the playoff spot. It was a great atmosphere and the game felt like a playoff game. It was intense, hard-hitting, and an overall really good game. The Broncos are in the playoffs and now at 11-4 can clinch the AFC West and a first round bye with a win over the Chargers on Sunday. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....
1) This game started terrible for the Broncos. The Bengals went 80 yards on the first drive and McCarron completed a five yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green for an early 7-0 lead. The next drive, the Bengals drove 95 yards and capped off the drive with a Mohammed Sanu with a 6 yard run on a wildcat package run to give the Bengals the 14-0 lead. The Bengals were dominating the Broncos in the beginning of this game. Give A.J. McCarron credit because he was really good in the beginning of this game. He made some really sick throws on this Broncos defense, and he was in the zone at one point.
2) This game turned on a missed field goal by Mike Nugent in the 2nd quarter. This kick would have put the Bengals up 17-0 but instead the Broncos took advantage of the miss and converted it into a field goal and cut the lead to 14-3 right before the half.
3) Denver got the ball back and they went no-huddle, shotgun, and spread out the Cincy defense, and Osweiler went right down the field and hit Emmanuel Sanders for 8 yard touchdown to cut the lead to 14-10.
4) Give Wade Phillips and the Broncos defense credit for adjusting in the second half. They were getting killed in man-to-man situations in the first half, and they played more zone coverage in the second half, and they were able to get more pressure on McCarron and made him dropback and make the right read on each throw. It was a very good adjustment, and the Broncos only gave up one field goal in the entire second half.
5) You also have to give credit to Gary Kubiak. The offense couldn't get going at all in the first half, and Kubiak went to a high tempo offense, spread out the Bengals, and let Osweiler try to win it with his arm. Early in the 4th quarter, C.J. Anderson broke a run on a zone run out of the shotgun and he rambled 39 yards to give the Broncos a 17-14 lead with 11 minutes left to play in the game. It was a very good coaching move by Kubiak.
6) Brock Osweiler played really well in another primetime game. He was able to put the game on his shoulders and made some really big throws in the second half and in overtime. He finished 27-39for 299 yards and 1 TD and 0 INT. He rallied his team, and he proved once again that the moment was not too big for him. He has now beaten the Pats and Bengals in two primetime games in overtime this year. Osweiler definitely showed some guts in this one.
7) The 4th quarter of this game was a classic. After Denver took the 17-14 lead, the Bengals tied the game after McCarron made two huge throws on 3rd down to move the chains. At 17-17, the Broncos answered with a big drive inside the Bengals 30 yard line, only to see it end on a C.J. Anderson fumble that was recovered by Cincy. After another big 3rd down conversion by McCarron, the Broncos defense stiffened. A big tackle by Chris Harris on first down, and a huge sack by Derek Wolfe on 2nd down throttled the drive by Cincy, and after a Bengals punt, Osweiler went to work late in the game. Two big throws to Owen Daniels and a big completion to Bennie Fowler to set up McManus for a 45 yarder to win the game. The McManus miss was the worst kick I have ever seen. It was so bad and so wide left that it looked like a high school JV kicker. It was so bad and so awful. At that point, I didn't think the Broncos were going to win the game. I was in shock. He has missed five kicks the last five games, and I am a little worried about him going forward.
8) The Broncos won the toss and received the ball in overtime. Osweiler continued his hot hand and he hit Daniels on a huge 3rd and 10 for a first down, and then after a completion to Virgil Green, Vontaze Burfict pushed him out of bounds to give the Broncos another 15 yards. A big completion to Demaryius Thomas put the ball at the Cincy 20, and Thomas made an incredible one-handed catch on a 3rd and 3 to keep the drive going. McManus hit the short field goal to give Denver the 20-17 lead.
9) McCarron fumbled on the first play of their possession, but the refs called it an incomplete pass. The replay showed that the ball was definitely coming out of his hand before it was going forward after Von Miller crushed his arm, but somehow the refs called it an incomplete pass. Give Kubiak credit for calling a timeout to give the booth a chance to review it. They did, but it didn't work out in Denver's favor which was pretty terrible, but justice was served the next play when McCarron dropped a shotgun snap and Ware recovered it to clinch the playoffs for the Broncos.
10) This was a really great game-even with two backup QBs playing the game. The game was the third coldest home game in Broncos history falling just behind the famous 2012 Divisional Playoff against the Ravens. The atmosphere was a playoff feel, the game was in primetime, and the crowd was just fired up the entire night. It was a really physical game featuring two really good teams and two really good defenses. It just felt like a big game and it was a fun one to watch. The Broncos also game back from a 14-point deficit to win a game for the third time this year (at KC, NE, and Cincy).
11) Congrats to the Broncos for making the playoffs for a 5th consecutive year. It will be their 4th straight year with at least 11 wins, which is a franchise record. If you would have told me that Peyton Manning would only played 9 games this year, then I think I would have said that Denver would have won maybe 5 games. They also lost both of their starting tackles, and they were working in a new offensive line and a new coaching staff. I think John Elway should get credit for assembling a really good roster outside of Manning. I have to give Kubiak some credit because it was a tough situation to take a team that won 13,13, and 12 games the last three years, and not screw the whole thing up. Now, the Broncos have a chance to get a first round bye and clinch their 5th straight AFC West title by beating the lowly Chargers in Denver on Sunday. Monday night made me proud to be a Broncos fan and I am pumped that this team is going to get a chance to get into the playoffs and get a shot at the Super Bowl.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Monday, December 28, 2015
Broncos-Bengals Preview
Cincy (+3.5) over DENVER:
The Bengals come to Denver for a huge matchup in the AFC, but after the results from Sunday, the impact of this game changes. Cincy has already locked up the AFC North, so they are playing for seeding and a bye. The Broncos still need a win to lock up a playoff berth, and they will probably need 2 wins to win the AFC West. For Denver, the loss by Pittsburgh on Sunday at Baltimore was huge because if Denver loses tonight, then they can still get a playoff spot by beating San Diego at home in Week 17. But, they need to take care of things tonight. The only advantage I see Denver having in this game is the fact that A.J. McCarron is making only his second career start as he subs for the injured Andy Dalton. The Broncos do have a superior defense, so you would assume that their defense should give the young QB trouble. Everywhere else on the roster, the Bengals are more talented than Denver. I think the Broncos offense will have a tough time moving the ball at all against the Bengals defense, and I just don't trust Brock Osweiler enough to win this game on his own. I think it will come down to Week 17 for the Broncos just to make the playoffs.
Final Score: Bengals-23 Broncos-16
The Bengals come to Denver for a huge matchup in the AFC, but after the results from Sunday, the impact of this game changes. Cincy has already locked up the AFC North, so they are playing for seeding and a bye. The Broncos still need a win to lock up a playoff berth, and they will probably need 2 wins to win the AFC West. For Denver, the loss by Pittsburgh on Sunday at Baltimore was huge because if Denver loses tonight, then they can still get a playoff spot by beating San Diego at home in Week 17. But, they need to take care of things tonight. The only advantage I see Denver having in this game is the fact that A.J. McCarron is making only his second career start as he subs for the injured Andy Dalton. The Broncos do have a superior defense, so you would assume that their defense should give the young QB trouble. Everywhere else on the roster, the Bengals are more talented than Denver. I think the Broncos offense will have a tough time moving the ball at all against the Bengals defense, and I just don't trust Brock Osweiler enough to win this game on his own. I think it will come down to Week 17 for the Broncos just to make the playoffs.
Final Score: Bengals-23 Broncos-16
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Week 16 Picks!
Last Week's Record: 7-8-1
Overall Record: 105-111-11
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Washington (+3) over PHILLY: The Skins are in the driver's seat in the NFC East, and I think they will take the drama out of this race with a win over the Eagles on Saturday night.
MINNESOTA (-5) over New York Giants: I think the Vikings take the drama out of wild card picture by taking down the Giants on SNF.
TAMPA BAY (-3) over Chicago: The Bucs are heading into the right direction, and Lovie Smith will get revenge on his former team in this meaningless game.
ATLANTA (+8) over Carolina: The Panthers probably will go 16-0, but they will get a challenge here on the road. The Falcons can salvage their season if they can knock off the undefeated Panthers.
BUFFALO (-5) over Dallas: The Bills are out of playoff contention, but they finish with back-to-back games at home, and I think they will try to finish strong and get to 8-8.
Jacksonville (+4) over NEW ORLEANS: The Jags are somehow still alive in the AFC South, so they actually have something to play for. The Saints do not and are about to blow this thing up next year.
San Francisco (+9) over DETROIT: There are really no stakes in this meaningless game.
Cleveland (+13) over KANSAS CITY: I am pulling hard for the Browns to knock off the Chiefs, so I will pick the Browns to find a way to pull off the upset in Arrowhead. Come on Johnny Football! Work some of your magic here!!!
MIAMI (-1) over Indy: The Colts are on life support in the AFC South, and they are not going to get Andrew Luck back for this game. They are headed for a regime change as well. Who knows what happens in this game?
NY JETS (+3) over New England: The game of the day features these two AFC East rivals. The Patriots are still going for homefield advantage and the Jets are fighting for the wild card spot. The Broncos need the Jets to start losing, but the Pats are still banged up and will be without Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. The Pats can still wrap up the #1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Dolphins next week. I'll take the Jets at home.
Houston (PICK) over TENNESSEE: The Texans only need 1 win in their final 2 games to lock up the AFC South. This game will feature Brandon Weeden going against Zach Mettenberger. Enjoy.
ARIZONA (-3) over Green Bay: The other game of the day features two teams that have locked up playoff spots. The Cardinals are the better team overall, and Green Bay knows it can still clinch the division with a win over the Vikings in Lambeau in Week 17.
SEATTLE (-11) over St. Louis: Seattle is on fire, but they won't catch the Cards for the division, so they will firmly supplant themselves as the #5 seed in the NFC with a convincing win over the Rams in Seattle.
Pittsburgh (-9) over BALTIMORE: No way the Ravens and their battered lineup will give much of a fight against the red-hot Steelers. Look for a blowout Pittsburgh win.
Overall Record: 105-111-11
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Washington (+3) over PHILLY: The Skins are in the driver's seat in the NFC East, and I think they will take the drama out of this race with a win over the Eagles on Saturday night.
MINNESOTA (-5) over New York Giants: I think the Vikings take the drama out of wild card picture by taking down the Giants on SNF.
TAMPA BAY (-3) over Chicago: The Bucs are heading into the right direction, and Lovie Smith will get revenge on his former team in this meaningless game.
ATLANTA (+8) over Carolina: The Panthers probably will go 16-0, but they will get a challenge here on the road. The Falcons can salvage their season if they can knock off the undefeated Panthers.
BUFFALO (-5) over Dallas: The Bills are out of playoff contention, but they finish with back-to-back games at home, and I think they will try to finish strong and get to 8-8.
Jacksonville (+4) over NEW ORLEANS: The Jags are somehow still alive in the AFC South, so they actually have something to play for. The Saints do not and are about to blow this thing up next year.
San Francisco (+9) over DETROIT: There are really no stakes in this meaningless game.
Cleveland (+13) over KANSAS CITY: I am pulling hard for the Browns to knock off the Chiefs, so I will pick the Browns to find a way to pull off the upset in Arrowhead. Come on Johnny Football! Work some of your magic here!!!
MIAMI (-1) over Indy: The Colts are on life support in the AFC South, and they are not going to get Andrew Luck back for this game. They are headed for a regime change as well. Who knows what happens in this game?
NY JETS (+3) over New England: The game of the day features these two AFC East rivals. The Patriots are still going for homefield advantage and the Jets are fighting for the wild card spot. The Broncos need the Jets to start losing, but the Pats are still banged up and will be without Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. The Pats can still wrap up the #1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Dolphins next week. I'll take the Jets at home.
Houston (PICK) over TENNESSEE: The Texans only need 1 win in their final 2 games to lock up the AFC South. This game will feature Brandon Weeden going against Zach Mettenberger. Enjoy.
ARIZONA (-3) over Green Bay: The other game of the day features two teams that have locked up playoff spots. The Cardinals are the better team overall, and Green Bay knows it can still clinch the division with a win over the Vikings in Lambeau in Week 17.
SEATTLE (-11) over St. Louis: Seattle is on fire, but they won't catch the Cards for the division, so they will firmly supplant themselves as the #5 seed in the NFC with a convincing win over the Rams in Seattle.
Pittsburgh (-9) over BALTIMORE: No way the Ravens and their battered lineup will give much of a fight against the red-hot Steelers. Look for a blowout Pittsburgh win.
Broncos Blow Big Lead, Fall to Steelers 34-27
The Broncos held a 27-10 lead at one point in the first half on Sunday against the Steelers, and at that point you would expect them to close the game out and take a huge step towards their playoff destiny. Unfortunately, the Broncos could not hold that lead and the Steelers made a valiant comeback to win the game 34-27. It was a crushing blow for the Broncos because of the dominance of their offense in the first half. The Broncos scored on four possessions of the first half and Brock Osweiler threw three touchdown passes and ran for another to give the Broncos that big lead. The defense held the Steelers in check and even produced an interception to help them take the lead, but the game turned in the second half. The Broncos offense went stale and couldn't move the chains and keep their defense off the field, and the Broncos defense simply wore down and couldn't contain Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and the rest of that passing attack. The result was a Steelers comeback capped off by a Big Ben to Brown laser touchdown pass with over three minutes to go in the game and that proved to be the game winning play. The Broncos are left to ponder what could have been, and now they have to fight for their playoff lives and the AFC West crown the last two weeks. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....
1) You can't ask for a better first half, with the exception of Ronnie Hillman's fumble on Denver's first possession, than the one that Brock Osweiler and the Broncos produced. Four touchdown drives, three Osweiler touchdown passes, and a 27-10 lead. Osweiler was sensational in the first half. He was very efficient on third down and was constantly moving the ball down the field with big-time throws. Emmanuel Sanders had a great game overall (10 receptions for 181 yards) and he caught a 61-yard touchdown catch to make it 14-7. Demaryius Thomas also had a strong first half and added two touchdown receptions to add to the lead. It was about as good of a first half as you can get.
2) It felt like early on the Broncos defense had the advantage on the Steelers up front in the first half. They were getting pressure on Big Ben, and they were able to disrupt the Steelers enough to get some stops, force an interception, and keep Pittsburgh to only 13 points. The only touchdown that Pittsburgh scored was when they converted after an early Ronnie Hillman fumble deep in Denver territory. The only part that I didn't like in the first half on the behalf of Denver's defense was when they gave up a field goal towards the end of the half to make it 27-13. You would have liked it if Denver's defense gave up no points in that spot.
3) This game is really the tale of two halves. Once again, the Broncos offense got shutout in the second half, and I don't think it was Pittsburgh's defense that adjusted so well. I think it was a combination of lack of execution, penalties/mistakes, and play-calling that doomed the Broncos in the second half. Where were some boots and rollouts? It just seemed like they were playing from their heels in the second half instead of attacking.
4) You can't kill the Broncos defense for giving up 21 second half points to the Steelers. They were on the field constantly, and with the offense going three and out, there was no rest for them and they simply wore down. The Steelers didn't even attempt to run the ball, and the Broncos just couldn't keep up with Antonio Brown and the rest of those receivers. You could just see it coming each drive the second half. The Broncos defense even forced three punts in the second half, but the combination of bad punting buy Britton Colquitt, inept offense, and a late Osweiler pick but the defense in a bind and they couldn't hold on.
5) The Broncos almost got bailed out when Big Ben threw an inexplicable interception with 2:01 left in the game. Brandon Marshall was covering the back out of the backfield when Big Ben threw it right to him. Eventhough the defense made that big play to keep their hopes alive, the Broncos offense couldn't even get a first down and the game ended.
6) It was a disappointing loss because of how dominant the Broncos looked in the first half. If you would have told me that the Broncos were going to score 27 points in the first half, I would have really liked our chances. I had a feeling that Denver was going to lose this game, but they way they lost really hurts. At 10-4, the Broncos now have only a one game lead over the 9-5 Chiefs for the AFC West title, and there is a possibility that if the Chiefs, Jets, and Steelers all win out, then the Broncos could miss the playoffs all together. The Broncos need to win their last two games at home against Cincy and San Diego to win the West and clinch a #2 seed. They certainly control things if they win out, but it is very interesting and very nerve-wracking as they head into these last two games. Nothing will be easy here down the stretch.
1) You can't ask for a better first half, with the exception of Ronnie Hillman's fumble on Denver's first possession, than the one that Brock Osweiler and the Broncos produced. Four touchdown drives, three Osweiler touchdown passes, and a 27-10 lead. Osweiler was sensational in the first half. He was very efficient on third down and was constantly moving the ball down the field with big-time throws. Emmanuel Sanders had a great game overall (10 receptions for 181 yards) and he caught a 61-yard touchdown catch to make it 14-7. Demaryius Thomas also had a strong first half and added two touchdown receptions to add to the lead. It was about as good of a first half as you can get.
2) It felt like early on the Broncos defense had the advantage on the Steelers up front in the first half. They were getting pressure on Big Ben, and they were able to disrupt the Steelers enough to get some stops, force an interception, and keep Pittsburgh to only 13 points. The only touchdown that Pittsburgh scored was when they converted after an early Ronnie Hillman fumble deep in Denver territory. The only part that I didn't like in the first half on the behalf of Denver's defense was when they gave up a field goal towards the end of the half to make it 27-13. You would have liked it if Denver's defense gave up no points in that spot.
3) This game is really the tale of two halves. Once again, the Broncos offense got shutout in the second half, and I don't think it was Pittsburgh's defense that adjusted so well. I think it was a combination of lack of execution, penalties/mistakes, and play-calling that doomed the Broncos in the second half. Where were some boots and rollouts? It just seemed like they were playing from their heels in the second half instead of attacking.
4) You can't kill the Broncos defense for giving up 21 second half points to the Steelers. They were on the field constantly, and with the offense going three and out, there was no rest for them and they simply wore down. The Steelers didn't even attempt to run the ball, and the Broncos just couldn't keep up with Antonio Brown and the rest of those receivers. You could just see it coming each drive the second half. The Broncos defense even forced three punts in the second half, but the combination of bad punting buy Britton Colquitt, inept offense, and a late Osweiler pick but the defense in a bind and they couldn't hold on.
5) The Broncos almost got bailed out when Big Ben threw an inexplicable interception with 2:01 left in the game. Brandon Marshall was covering the back out of the backfield when Big Ben threw it right to him. Eventhough the defense made that big play to keep their hopes alive, the Broncos offense couldn't even get a first down and the game ended.
6) It was a disappointing loss because of how dominant the Broncos looked in the first half. If you would have told me that the Broncos were going to score 27 points in the first half, I would have really liked our chances. I had a feeling that Denver was going to lose this game, but they way they lost really hurts. At 10-4, the Broncos now have only a one game lead over the 9-5 Chiefs for the AFC West title, and there is a possibility that if the Chiefs, Jets, and Steelers all win out, then the Broncos could miss the playoffs all together. The Broncos need to win their last two games at home against Cincy and San Diego to win the West and clinch a #2 seed. They certainly control things if they win out, but it is very interesting and very nerve-wracking as they head into these last two games. Nothing will be easy here down the stretch.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Broncos-Steelers Preview and Week 15 Picks!!!
The Broncos travel to Pittsburgh this week for a huge game in the AFC. The Broncos come in at 10-3 but reeling after an awful loss at home to the Raiders last week. The Steelers are coming in on fire at 8-5 and they have scored over 30 points the last four games. Normally, I would think the Broncos would be a good choice to pull off the upset here, but there are few problems for them in this game. First, Brock Osweiler and this offense has really struggled the last two games. They only have 1 touchdown in two games. It seems like Brock is starting to go through some of the troubles that young QBs deal with in their first few starts. Secondly, the Broncos defense, which would best be equipped to handle this Steeler passing attack, is all banged up in the secondary. T.J. Ward is out, and it looks like the other safety Darian Stewart could be out too. That is not going to help at all against this offense. This game just feels like a game where nothing will go right for the Broncos. In the words of Star Wars hero Obi Wan Kenobi, "I have a bad feeling about this."
PITTSBURGH (-6) over Denver:
Final Score: Steelers-31 Broncos-17
Last Week's Record: 8-8
Overall Record: 98-103-10
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Chicago(+6) over MINNESOTA: At 8-5, the Vikings are in a good shape of being the #6 seed in the NFC, but they need a win here desperately at home. The Bears will keep it close, but the Vikes will get the win.
Atlanta (+4) over JACKSONVILLE: At 5-8, the Jags think they can run the table and win the AFC South. I certainly think that they have a chance, but I have a feeling they will stub their toe here on Sunday. The 6-7 Falcons have been in a nosedive, but I think they find a way here on Sunday.
INDY (PICK) over Houston: I'll take Indy at home based on the fact that Matt Hasselback is going to play, and the Texans have to go with T.J. Yates.
Kansas City (-7) over BALTIMORE: The Chiefs just keep winning and winning and they have won seven straight games to put themselves at 8-5, and they still have a chance at winning the AFC West. The Ravens are too banged up at this point to do anything and pull the upset.
WASHINGTON (+1) over Buffalo: This game can go either way for these two 6-7 teams, but we know how solid the Redskins have been at home, so I think they will get the win in a game that seems like a three point game either way.
Tennessee (+15) over NEW ENGLAND: The Patriots will win this game easily, but I'm just banking on the backdoor cover by Marcus Mariota.
Arizona (-3) over PHILLY: Look for the Cardinals to continue their winning ways as they look to secure a first round bye in the NFC. They will go on the road and get the win in Philly on Sunday night.
Carolina (-4) over NY GIANTS: A lot of people are talking about how the Giants will pull the upset and stop the Panthers undefeated streak. It certainly is a possibility, but I just think that Cam Newton will make the plays necessary to win this game and get the Panthers to 14-0.
Cleveland (+14) over SEATTLE: The Seahawks will roll in this one, but once again I'm banking on a backdoor cover from Johnny Football.
OAKLAND (+4) over Green Bay: The Packers will win this game on the road, but this feels like a three point game either way. Look for a close game and a late Aaron Rodgers drive to decide it at the end.
SAN DIEGO (-2) over Miami: A meaningless game in San Diego. This could be the last game ever in SD for the Chargers, so it will be interesting to see how the crowd handles it. I think they go out with a win over the pitiful Dolphins.
Cincy (-4) over SAN FRANCISCO: The loss of Andy Dalton will hurt the Bengals chances of winning a Super Bowl. In the short term, A.J. McCarron has enough talent around him to probably win a couple of games here down the stretch. I think that is how it plays out on Sunday in San Francisco.
NEW ORLEANS (-3) over Detroit: I'll be at the movies watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens during this game, so I couldn't care less.
PITTSBURGH (-6) over Denver:
Final Score: Steelers-31 Broncos-17
Last Week's Record: 8-8
Overall Record: 98-103-10
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Chicago(+6) over MINNESOTA: At 8-5, the Vikings are in a good shape of being the #6 seed in the NFC, but they need a win here desperately at home. The Bears will keep it close, but the Vikes will get the win.
Atlanta (+4) over JACKSONVILLE: At 5-8, the Jags think they can run the table and win the AFC South. I certainly think that they have a chance, but I have a feeling they will stub their toe here on Sunday. The 6-7 Falcons have been in a nosedive, but I think they find a way here on Sunday.
INDY (PICK) over Houston: I'll take Indy at home based on the fact that Matt Hasselback is going to play, and the Texans have to go with T.J. Yates.
Kansas City (-7) over BALTIMORE: The Chiefs just keep winning and winning and they have won seven straight games to put themselves at 8-5, and they still have a chance at winning the AFC West. The Ravens are too banged up at this point to do anything and pull the upset.
WASHINGTON (+1) over Buffalo: This game can go either way for these two 6-7 teams, but we know how solid the Redskins have been at home, so I think they will get the win in a game that seems like a three point game either way.
Tennessee (+15) over NEW ENGLAND: The Patriots will win this game easily, but I'm just banking on the backdoor cover by Marcus Mariota.
Arizona (-3) over PHILLY: Look for the Cardinals to continue their winning ways as they look to secure a first round bye in the NFC. They will go on the road and get the win in Philly on Sunday night.
Carolina (-4) over NY GIANTS: A lot of people are talking about how the Giants will pull the upset and stop the Panthers undefeated streak. It certainly is a possibility, but I just think that Cam Newton will make the plays necessary to win this game and get the Panthers to 14-0.
Cleveland (+14) over SEATTLE: The Seahawks will roll in this one, but once again I'm banking on a backdoor cover from Johnny Football.
OAKLAND (+4) over Green Bay: The Packers will win this game on the road, but this feels like a three point game either way. Look for a close game and a late Aaron Rodgers drive to decide it at the end.
SAN DIEGO (-2) over Miami: A meaningless game in San Diego. This could be the last game ever in SD for the Chargers, so it will be interesting to see how the crowd handles it. I think they go out with a win over the pitiful Dolphins.
Cincy (-4) over SAN FRANCISCO: The loss of Andy Dalton will hurt the Bengals chances of winning a Super Bowl. In the short term, A.J. McCarron has enough talent around him to probably win a couple of games here down the stretch. I think that is how it plays out on Sunday in San Francisco.
NEW ORLEANS (-3) over Detroit: I'll be at the movies watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens during this game, so I couldn't care less.
Saturday Night Football Week 15 Pick
New York Jets (-3) over DALLAS: The NFL Network has a Saturday night special this week as the Jets head to Dallas to take on the 4-9 Cowboys. The Jets have won three straight and are in the AFC Playoffs at this moment. This line seems way to low, and I can see this game being close for a little bit, but I just see the Jets defense suffocating Matt Cassel and the Cowboys offense. The Jets will get to 9-5
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Broncos Choke One Up To The Raiders, Lose 15-12
Sunday's loss by the Broncos was one of the worst losses in recent memory. I don't even think that this game would relate to a game in the Josh McDaniels-Kyle Orton era. This feels like a end of the career Mike Shanahan/Jay Cutler 2007/2008 loss. The Broncos were up 12-0 after the first half on the heels of four field goals, and the Denver defense held the Raiders to -14 total yards in the first half. The Raiders, with the help of the bumbling Broncos, came back in the second half and took a 15-12 lead early in the 4th quarter. More Denver miscues helped the Raiders finish them off, and the Broncos went quietly into the night in a stunning home loss that drops them to 10-3. The worst part of the game is that the Raiders didn't even earn this victory. The Broncos completely gagged it up, and it was about as ugly as you can imagine. This was definitely the most frustrating game in a long, long time for Broncos fans. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game...
1) The Broncos and Brock Osweiler started really well. They put together four really nice drives in the first half, and each drive Denver moved the ball inside the Raiders 25 yard line, but they only came away with field goals and a 12-0 lead instead of something like 24-0 or 20-0. You just know that if you settle for field goals, then it will come back to bite you at some point and naturally, that is what happened. The play calling was suspect at the end of each of those drives, but execution was lacking as well. Osweiler missed a wide open Virgil Green in the end zone that would have made it 16-0 before the half. Also, a key drop by Demaryius Thomas took another touchdown off the board. Just bad football all around.
2) You can't fault the defense in this game. They did their job once again. The Raiders has 126 yards of TOTAL OFFENSE FOR THE ENTIRE GAME!!!!! Think about that for a second. And the Raiders somehow won this fucking game!!! They were 3-15 on third down and they punted 10 times. The Broncos defense was sensational, and they only made two errors. Bradley Roby got beat for a touchdown for Oakland's first touchdown early in the third quarter, and the lack of depth in the secondary due to injuries hurt them on Oakland's game-winning score early in the fourth quarter. When you have Shiloh Keo playing meaningful snaps at safety because of injuries in the secondary, then you know you have problems. Other than that, the Broncos defense should be steaming because they played lights out. Just sad
3) Here is a list of the Broncos mistakes that they made in the second half alone: Demaryius Thomas fumbled after gaining a first down early in the second half. The Broncos defense held but it turned field position, backed the Broncos up, and it led to a safety after Khalil Mack sacked Osweiler in the end zone to make it 12-9 Denver. Next, the Broncos muffed a punt by Emmanuel Sanders early in the 4th quarter at the Broncos 10 that lead to the Raiders game-winning touchdown from Derek Carr to Michael Rivera to make it 15-12. Jack Del Rio went for two because they said his long snapper was hurt, but let's not buy too much into that for big old Jack. Then, the Broncos missed a field goal by Brandon McManus that would have tied the game midway through the fourth. Then, Thomas dropped a wide open pass on a 3rd down that would have kept a drive alive late it the fourth quarter. Finally, in what was the most awful of all of the mistakes, the Vernon Davis dropped a wide open pass on a 4th down with over four minutes to go in the game at the Raider 40 yard line with nothing but open field ahead of him. You can't get any worse than that in a second half performance. It was like watching a JV game. The Broncos simply gave it away. Incredible how awful this was to witness.
4) Brock Osweiler finished with his first 300 yard game of his career and he started the game 22-25, but I thought he really struggled in the second half. The problem with Osweiler is that he is holding onto the ball too long, and he is taking too many sacks as a result. This is expected of a rookie QB, but look at the numbers: This team hasn't scored an offensive touchdown since the first drive of the game at San Diego. That is almost eight full quarters without a touchdown. In Osweiler's four starts, his offense has score 17,17, and 12 in three of those games. That is just not good enough. I think Osweiler has some ability and can play pretty well, but in my opinion if/when Peyton Manning is healthy, then he should be the starter. The bottom line is that this offense has been really poor all year long. Their offensive line is weak, their running game is weak, and they drop so many balls and make so many mistakes. It is just a very below average offensive team.
5) Speaking of the offensive line, they couldn't get holes open for the Broncos running game, and they watched as Khalil Mack just destroyed them on the way to five sacks for him. It was a dominating performance, but the Broncos should have done a better job at containing him. Bad coaching and bad execution in that regard.
6) The Broncos fall to 10-3 and before we pour dirt on their season and push the apocalyptic button, let's take a step back and look at the big picture. This week they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the red-hot 8-5 Steelers. This will be a very tough spot for the Broncos and Osweiler will have to go on the road again and get a big win. If the Broncos win this week, they are big underdogs for the first time in four years, then they are in good shape. If they lose, there still is hope because they will host the Bengals, who will be without the injured Andy Dalton, in Week 16 on MNF, and then they host the 3-10 Chargers in Week 17. At 12-4, they would get a bye and the 2 seed. This week will be tough, but if they lose they can still rebound and get into the playoffs, win the division, and get a bye. Plus, Peyton Manning started practicing on a limited basis this week and you know his return could be on the horizon.
1) The Broncos and Brock Osweiler started really well. They put together four really nice drives in the first half, and each drive Denver moved the ball inside the Raiders 25 yard line, but they only came away with field goals and a 12-0 lead instead of something like 24-0 or 20-0. You just know that if you settle for field goals, then it will come back to bite you at some point and naturally, that is what happened. The play calling was suspect at the end of each of those drives, but execution was lacking as well. Osweiler missed a wide open Virgil Green in the end zone that would have made it 16-0 before the half. Also, a key drop by Demaryius Thomas took another touchdown off the board. Just bad football all around.
2) You can't fault the defense in this game. They did their job once again. The Raiders has 126 yards of TOTAL OFFENSE FOR THE ENTIRE GAME!!!!! Think about that for a second. And the Raiders somehow won this fucking game!!! They were 3-15 on third down and they punted 10 times. The Broncos defense was sensational, and they only made two errors. Bradley Roby got beat for a touchdown for Oakland's first touchdown early in the third quarter, and the lack of depth in the secondary due to injuries hurt them on Oakland's game-winning score early in the fourth quarter. When you have Shiloh Keo playing meaningful snaps at safety because of injuries in the secondary, then you know you have problems. Other than that, the Broncos defense should be steaming because they played lights out. Just sad
3) Here is a list of the Broncos mistakes that they made in the second half alone: Demaryius Thomas fumbled after gaining a first down early in the second half. The Broncos defense held but it turned field position, backed the Broncos up, and it led to a safety after Khalil Mack sacked Osweiler in the end zone to make it 12-9 Denver. Next, the Broncos muffed a punt by Emmanuel Sanders early in the 4th quarter at the Broncos 10 that lead to the Raiders game-winning touchdown from Derek Carr to Michael Rivera to make it 15-12. Jack Del Rio went for two because they said his long snapper was hurt, but let's not buy too much into that for big old Jack. Then, the Broncos missed a field goal by Brandon McManus that would have tied the game midway through the fourth. Then, Thomas dropped a wide open pass on a 3rd down that would have kept a drive alive late it the fourth quarter. Finally, in what was the most awful of all of the mistakes, the Vernon Davis dropped a wide open pass on a 4th down with over four minutes to go in the game at the Raider 40 yard line with nothing but open field ahead of him. You can't get any worse than that in a second half performance. It was like watching a JV game. The Broncos simply gave it away. Incredible how awful this was to witness.
4) Brock Osweiler finished with his first 300 yard game of his career and he started the game 22-25, but I thought he really struggled in the second half. The problem with Osweiler is that he is holding onto the ball too long, and he is taking too many sacks as a result. This is expected of a rookie QB, but look at the numbers: This team hasn't scored an offensive touchdown since the first drive of the game at San Diego. That is almost eight full quarters without a touchdown. In Osweiler's four starts, his offense has score 17,17, and 12 in three of those games. That is just not good enough. I think Osweiler has some ability and can play pretty well, but in my opinion if/when Peyton Manning is healthy, then he should be the starter. The bottom line is that this offense has been really poor all year long. Their offensive line is weak, their running game is weak, and they drop so many balls and make so many mistakes. It is just a very below average offensive team.
5) Speaking of the offensive line, they couldn't get holes open for the Broncos running game, and they watched as Khalil Mack just destroyed them on the way to five sacks for him. It was a dominating performance, but the Broncos should have done a better job at containing him. Bad coaching and bad execution in that regard.
6) The Broncos fall to 10-3 and before we pour dirt on their season and push the apocalyptic button, let's take a step back and look at the big picture. This week they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the red-hot 8-5 Steelers. This will be a very tough spot for the Broncos and Osweiler will have to go on the road again and get a big win. If the Broncos win this week, they are big underdogs for the first time in four years, then they are in good shape. If they lose, there still is hope because they will host the Bengals, who will be without the injured Andy Dalton, in Week 16 on MNF, and then they host the 3-10 Chargers in Week 17. At 12-4, they would get a bye and the 2 seed. This week will be tough, but if they lose they can still rebound and get into the playoffs, win the division, and get a bye. Plus, Peyton Manning started practicing on a limited basis this week and you know his return could be on the horizon.
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Broncos-Raiders Preview and Week 14 Picks!
The Broncos host the Raiders on Sunday and with a 10-2, they are still in play for a bye week and possibly homefield advantage. A win over this week in imperative because the next two weeks feature a trip to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers and a home game on a Monday night against the Bengals. So why is this game a tricky one for the Broncos? For starters, the Broncos are down a bunch of starters and key players. On offense, C.J. Anderson is questionable to play with an ankle injury, and Vernon Davis is questionable with a concussion. Obviously, Peyton Manning is out, but Ronnie Hillman was limited all week with a sore foot. Defensively, the Broncos are really depleted and banged up. LB Danny Trevathan is out with a concussion, T.J. Ward is still out with an ankle injury, and David Bruton, his replacement, is out with a knee injury. Demarcus Ware is a game-time decision, and if he plays it will be very limited. Sylvester Williams is questionable as well. The Broncos are beat up physically, and now they host a Raiders team that is 5-7 but playing better than they have played over the last few years. The Broncos have to get enough for it knowing that they have Pittsburgh next week and Cincy in two weeks. The only way this game is a blowout for the Broncos is if Brock Osweiler has a career day, and the defense gets a couple of defensive touchdowns. Otherwise, this game will be close throughout because that is how the Broncos play this year. I think this one will come down to the wire.
Oakland (+7) over DENVER:
Final Score: Raiders-24 Broncos-17
Last Week's Record: 10-4-2
Overall Record: 90-95-10
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
CINCY (-3) over Pittsburgh: The Bengals are the best team in the AFC at this point, and now they get the Steelers coming to town in a huge game in mid December. This is a statement game for the Bengals, and the last time these two teams played it was a close game decided by a few Big Ben interceptions. This game is at home and I think the Bengals will come out fired up, and they will stake their claim as the team to beat with an emotional win over Pittsburgh.
Buffalo (-1) over PHILLY: Can you trust the 5-7 Eagles? Somehow they are tied for first in the NFC East. The Bills come to Philly at 6-6 and in the thick of the AFC Wild Card race. The media is billing this game as Chip Kelly vs. LeSean McCoy. This game is more important than that. I just think the Bills are the better team and find a way to win a tough game on the road.
Atlanta (+8) over CAROLINA: I'm going on a hunch here because I do believe that Carolina is for real, but at 12-0 the pressure will mount to see if they can go undefeated. I just have a feeling that he free-falling Falcons will keep this game close.
San Francisco (+2) over CLEVELAND: Johnny Manziel is back starting for the Browns, but at this point they just need to lose every game and get the #1 pick in the draft next spring. I'll take the Niners as a road dog.
Washington (+3) over CHICAGO: The Skins are also tied for first place in the NFC East, but they are awful on the road. The Bears are on playoff life support and they are terrible at home. Something has to give. I'll take the Skins to break their road stigma.
Detroit (PICK) over ST. LOUIS: The Rams are a disaster and Jeff Fisher may be on his way out and the franchise might be moving back to Los Angeles. The Lions have played better the last month, despite their gut-wrenching loss to the Packers last Thursday night.
San Diego (+10) over KANSAS CITY: The Chiefs have to trip up at some point? Are they really going to win 10 in a row after a 1-5 start? It looks that way, but they are due for a trip up at some point.
TAMPA BAY (-3) over New Orleans: The Bucs are 6-6 and they are in the thick of the Wild Card chase in the NFC playoff picture. They will get the job done at home over the imploding Saints.
Indy (+2) over JACKSONVILLE: I just trust Matt Hasselback at this point to find a way to win this game on the road. Jacksonville will play well, but look for a Colts win in an ugly type of game.
NY JETS (-7) over Tennessee: At 7-5, the Jets are in the AFC Playoffs at this point, and they get an easy home game against the 3-9 Titans. Look for Todd Bowles and his defense to give Marcus Mariota fits in this one.
GREEN BAY (-7) over Dallas: Dallas' dream of winning the NFC East will be extinguished this week in Lambeau. The Packers should roll in this one and use their momentum from their crazy win over the Lions, and they will take care of business this week.
Seattle (-8) over BALTIMORE: Seattle looks like they are about to get on a roll into the playoffs, and this one shouldn't provide too much of an obstacle over an injury riddled Ravens team.
New England (-3) over HOUSTON: SNF features the banged up Pats, losers of two in a row, traveling to Houston to take on the 6-6 Texans. Tough game to call, but are the Pats really going to lose three in a row? I didn't think so.
New York Giants (-1) over MIAMI: The Giants are 5-7 and they could easily be 9-3 and ready to clinch the NFC East. Instead they are in a dogfight to try and win the division. I think they will right the ship here and take care of the Dolphins on Monday Night Football and get to 6-7.
Oakland (+7) over DENVER:
Final Score: Raiders-24 Broncos-17
Last Week's Record: 10-4-2
Overall Record: 90-95-10
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
CINCY (-3) over Pittsburgh: The Bengals are the best team in the AFC at this point, and now they get the Steelers coming to town in a huge game in mid December. This is a statement game for the Bengals, and the last time these two teams played it was a close game decided by a few Big Ben interceptions. This game is at home and I think the Bengals will come out fired up, and they will stake their claim as the team to beat with an emotional win over Pittsburgh.
Buffalo (-1) over PHILLY: Can you trust the 5-7 Eagles? Somehow they are tied for first in the NFC East. The Bills come to Philly at 6-6 and in the thick of the AFC Wild Card race. The media is billing this game as Chip Kelly vs. LeSean McCoy. This game is more important than that. I just think the Bills are the better team and find a way to win a tough game on the road.
Atlanta (+8) over CAROLINA: I'm going on a hunch here because I do believe that Carolina is for real, but at 12-0 the pressure will mount to see if they can go undefeated. I just have a feeling that he free-falling Falcons will keep this game close.
San Francisco (+2) over CLEVELAND: Johnny Manziel is back starting for the Browns, but at this point they just need to lose every game and get the #1 pick in the draft next spring. I'll take the Niners as a road dog.
Washington (+3) over CHICAGO: The Skins are also tied for first place in the NFC East, but they are awful on the road. The Bears are on playoff life support and they are terrible at home. Something has to give. I'll take the Skins to break their road stigma.
Detroit (PICK) over ST. LOUIS: The Rams are a disaster and Jeff Fisher may be on his way out and the franchise might be moving back to Los Angeles. The Lions have played better the last month, despite their gut-wrenching loss to the Packers last Thursday night.
San Diego (+10) over KANSAS CITY: The Chiefs have to trip up at some point? Are they really going to win 10 in a row after a 1-5 start? It looks that way, but they are due for a trip up at some point.
TAMPA BAY (-3) over New Orleans: The Bucs are 6-6 and they are in the thick of the Wild Card chase in the NFC playoff picture. They will get the job done at home over the imploding Saints.
Indy (+2) over JACKSONVILLE: I just trust Matt Hasselback at this point to find a way to win this game on the road. Jacksonville will play well, but look for a Colts win in an ugly type of game.
NY JETS (-7) over Tennessee: At 7-5, the Jets are in the AFC Playoffs at this point, and they get an easy home game against the 3-9 Titans. Look for Todd Bowles and his defense to give Marcus Mariota fits in this one.
GREEN BAY (-7) over Dallas: Dallas' dream of winning the NFC East will be extinguished this week in Lambeau. The Packers should roll in this one and use their momentum from their crazy win over the Lions, and they will take care of business this week.
Seattle (-8) over BALTIMORE: Seattle looks like they are about to get on a roll into the playoffs, and this one shouldn't provide too much of an obstacle over an injury riddled Ravens team.
New England (-3) over HOUSTON: SNF features the banged up Pats, losers of two in a row, traveling to Houston to take on the 6-6 Texans. Tough game to call, but are the Pats really going to lose three in a row? I didn't think so.
New York Giants (-1) over MIAMI: The Giants are 5-7 and they could easily be 9-3 and ready to clinch the NFC East. Instead they are in a dogfight to try and win the division. I think they will right the ship here and take care of the Dolphins on Monday Night Football and get to 6-7.
Week 14 TNF Pick
ARIZONA (-7) OVER Minnesota: A short week for the Vikings who come to Arizona after getting pounded at home by the Seahawks. The Cardinals are 10-2 and looking to secure a first round bye, and they have been a very good home team. The Vikings are all beat up as well coming into the game, and it just looks like Arizona will be able to handle this one on Thursday night.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Broncos Bust Up Chargers, Improve to 10-2
The Broncos dominated the Chargers in San Diego on Sunday in route to a 17-3 win and advancing their record to 10-2. The Broncos jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and that would be all that they needed as their defense demolished, harassed, and dominated the rest of the game to cruise to a 17-3 lead. There were bumps in the second half and missed opportunities by the offense to extend the lead, but the defense took care of it and the game was never in doubt. It was a another big win for the Broncos as they are now tied with New England and Cincy for the best record in the AFC.
Here are my thoughts and observations on the game.....
1) Great first drive capped off by a Brock Osweiler to Demaryius Thomas touchdown to make it 7-0. Great drive and great way to start the game. The drive featured some good play-action and runs by C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman.
2) This game was about Denver's defense. What a dominating performance. Von Miller and Malik Jackson dominated up front. Miller had his best game of the year. Jackson was basically in the backfield all game long. I also like the way Derek Wolfe played and Shane Ray even stepped up his game in the second half. The pass rush continues to pressure and disrupt opposing offenses into submission.
3) Darian Stewart was a beast on Sunday. He blew up Antonio Gates on the sideline on the first drive, and he crushed another Chargers receiver to end the Chargers first drive of the game. He was so physical it was scary at one point. The whole defense in general was physical. They flat out beat up the Chargers
4) The defense forced Phillip Rivers to throw a pick-six to Danny Trevathan in the 1st quarter to make it 14-0. They forced the fumbles by Melvin Gordon and Malcolm Floyd in the second half. Bradley Roby crushed Floyd over the middle with a solid, textbook tackle to jar the ball loose and force a big turnover in the third quarter.
5) It was like giving a dominating starting pitcher a 1-0 lead in the first inning and then not worrying about it the rest of the way. Once Denver got up 7-0 and 14-0, their defense took over and the Broncos just had to avoid screwing it up. You just had a feeling that there was no way that the Chargers were going to comeback in this game.
6) Osweiler made some really nice throws but mainly stayed in the confines of the offense and that is all that he needed to do in this game. He had a bad pick in the endzone in third quarter, and the offense had some miscues that they should have capitalized on, but they really didn't need to do anything else but not turn the ball over and that is what they did. They played complimentary football with a defense that was absolutely dominant. Brandon McManus missed a field goal, and Osweiler's pick in the end zone took points off the board because this game felt like a 23-3 or a 27-3 game instead of a 17-23 final. Brock's numbers were pedestrian (16-26 166 yards 1 TD and 1 INT) but he didn't make too many mistakes, didn't take too many chances, and played within the offense. The running game was effective enough to keep drives alive and take time off the clock.
7) If nobody has noticed, this Broncos defense has pretty dominant all year long, but this might have been their best game of the year. Phillip Rivers has been putting up big numbers all year long, and the defense held him to just 202 yards. The defense got a pick-six, two forced fumbles, and four sacks (2 by Von Miller).
8) Phillip Rivers was a nemesis for the Broncos for most of his early career, but Denver has dominated him since 2012. He just doesn't scare them anymore, and every time they play it seems like Denver's defense just buries him down after down like they did in this game.
9) The Broncos continued their road dominance of the AFC West. They extended their NFL record with their 15th straight divisional road win on Sunday. They haven't lost an AFC West road game since December of 2011 when Josh McDaniels was the head coach and Kyle Orton was the QB in a loss at Kansas City. That is a pretty remarkable streak that has spanned Tim Tebow, Peyton Manning, and now Brock Osweiler.
Here are my thoughts and observations on the game.....
1) Great first drive capped off by a Brock Osweiler to Demaryius Thomas touchdown to make it 7-0. Great drive and great way to start the game. The drive featured some good play-action and runs by C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman.
2) This game was about Denver's defense. What a dominating performance. Von Miller and Malik Jackson dominated up front. Miller had his best game of the year. Jackson was basically in the backfield all game long. I also like the way Derek Wolfe played and Shane Ray even stepped up his game in the second half. The pass rush continues to pressure and disrupt opposing offenses into submission.
3) Darian Stewart was a beast on Sunday. He blew up Antonio Gates on the sideline on the first drive, and he crushed another Chargers receiver to end the Chargers first drive of the game. He was so physical it was scary at one point. The whole defense in general was physical. They flat out beat up the Chargers
4) The defense forced Phillip Rivers to throw a pick-six to Danny Trevathan in the 1st quarter to make it 14-0. They forced the fumbles by Melvin Gordon and Malcolm Floyd in the second half. Bradley Roby crushed Floyd over the middle with a solid, textbook tackle to jar the ball loose and force a big turnover in the third quarter.
5) It was like giving a dominating starting pitcher a 1-0 lead in the first inning and then not worrying about it the rest of the way. Once Denver got up 7-0 and 14-0, their defense took over and the Broncos just had to avoid screwing it up. You just had a feeling that there was no way that the Chargers were going to comeback in this game.
6) Osweiler made some really nice throws but mainly stayed in the confines of the offense and that is all that he needed to do in this game. He had a bad pick in the endzone in third quarter, and the offense had some miscues that they should have capitalized on, but they really didn't need to do anything else but not turn the ball over and that is what they did. They played complimentary football with a defense that was absolutely dominant. Brandon McManus missed a field goal, and Osweiler's pick in the end zone took points off the board because this game felt like a 23-3 or a 27-3 game instead of a 17-23 final. Brock's numbers were pedestrian (16-26 166 yards 1 TD and 1 INT) but he didn't make too many mistakes, didn't take too many chances, and played within the offense. The running game was effective enough to keep drives alive and take time off the clock.
7) If nobody has noticed, this Broncos defense has pretty dominant all year long, but this might have been their best game of the year. Phillip Rivers has been putting up big numbers all year long, and the defense held him to just 202 yards. The defense got a pick-six, two forced fumbles, and four sacks (2 by Von Miller).
8) Phillip Rivers was a nemesis for the Broncos for most of his early career, but Denver has dominated him since 2012. He just doesn't scare them anymore, and every time they play it seems like Denver's defense just buries him down after down like they did in this game.
9) The Broncos continued their road dominance of the AFC West. They extended their NFL record with their 15th straight divisional road win on Sunday. They haven't lost an AFC West road game since December of 2011 when Josh McDaniels was the head coach and Kyle Orton was the QB in a loss at Kansas City. That is a pretty remarkable streak that has spanned Tim Tebow, Peyton Manning, and now Brock Osweiler.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Broncos-Chargers Preview and Week 13 Picks!
The Broncos head to San Diego this Sunday to take on their division rival the Chargers in a game that they are favored to win. Coming off the huge overtime win over the Patriots on Sunday night, and a week where Brock Osweiler made the regional cover of Sports Illustrated, Denver now has to regroup and go into San Diego and take care of business over the 3-8 Chargers. Although the Broncos won't say they are overlooking the Chargers this week, there are multiple reasons why this game is a classic trap for the Bronx. First, Phillip Rivers is always a thorn in the Broncos side and he can single handedly beat them on his own. Also, Denver's defense is going to be without Demarcus Ware, Sylvester Williams, and T.J. Ward. As well as Osweiler has played the last two weeks, you have to worry he could have a tough time and play like a guy who is only making his third start. The Chargers are going nowhere and would like nothing else but to spoil the Broncos and the momentum they have built the last two weeks. The Broncos haven't lost a road divisional game since 2010, so they are due for a loss. I just feel like this is a very dangerous game. The Broncos have not blown out anyone all season long, with the exception of the Packers, and I don't see why this game won't be a close one as well.
SAN DIEGO (+4) over Denver
Final Score: Chargers-23 Broncos-20
Now, onto the picks for Week 13....
Last Week's Record: 7-9
Overall Record: 80-91-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
San Francisco (+7) over CHICAGO: The Bears will win the game, but the Niners will keep it closer than people expect.
Cincy (-8) over CLEVELAND: Only the Browns would lose a game on a blocked field goal return as time expires like they did last Monday night. This should be a blowout in Cincy's favor.
TENNESSEE (-2) over Jacksonville: The Titans will finally get a home win under rookie Marcus Mariota.
BUFFALO (-3) over Houston: Huge game between the 5-6 Bills and the 6-5 Texans. The Bills will get back on track and the get the important win at home to get to 6-6.
Baltimore (+4) over MIAMI: The Ravens will always play hard for John Harbaugh no matter how bad their season is, and the Dolphins are the opposite. They rarely show heart. I could see the Dolphins winning the game, but look for the Ravens to keep it tight all the way.
NEW ORLEANS (+7) over Carolina: I'll take the Saints because I think that Drew Brees and Sean Payton will have their last great moment in New Orleans on Sunday as they take down the previously undefeated Carolina Panthers.
Seattle (-1) over MINNESOTA: I have no idea where this game goes, but I'll take the Seahawks because I still believe that Russell Wilson and this offense will find a way go get themselves into the playoffs even without Marshawn Lynch and Jimmy Graham. I don't think the Vikings have much of a homefield advantage since they play at the University of Minnesota, and that plays a factor in my opinion. This game looks like a tough one to call either way.
Arizona (-4) over ST.LOUIS: The Rams have fallen on hard times at 4-7, and QB Nick Foles is playing with zero confidence at this point. I have doubted the Cardinals all year long, but at 9-2 I am a believer, and I think they win this game by a touchdown or maybe even 10 points.
Atlanta (+2) over TAMPA BAY: The Falcons have fallen apart after their 5-0 start. They now stand at 6-5 and head to Tampa to take on the 5-6 Bucs. Tampa Bay pulled the upset in Atlanta a few weeks ago, so logic would think that the Bucs will get the win at home in the rematch, but I have to think that the Falcons will find a way to win a gutty game on the road and get to 7-5.
NY GIANTS (+3) over NY Jets: The Battle of New York is a very pivotal one. The Jets are 6-5 and in the thick of the AFC Wild Card race, and the 5-6 Giants are currently tied for first in the NFC East The last time these two teams played in the regular season in 2011, the Giants beat the Jets and never looked back on their way to winning Super Bowl XLVI. The Giants are banged up on the offensive line and I just don't think they have enough upfront to hold off the Jets defense-eventhough the Jets will be without Darrelle Revis. This will be a close game but look for the Jets to hold on for the win.
OAKLAND (+3) over Kansas City: The Chiefs are 6-5 and have won five in a row after a 1-5 start. They have the easiest schedule of any of the playoff contenders down the stretch in the AFC, and I think they will they get into the playoffs, but this is one of their toughest games left. The Raiders are 5-6 and they very capable of pulling the mild upset this week. I think the Raiders win the game and stop the Chiefs winning streak.
Philly (+10) over NEW ENGLAND: The Pats will win this game, but without Rob Gronkowski it is hard to see them blowing out the Eagles. I think Philly will keep it close enough and getting Sam Bradford back will only help their chances.
Indy (+7) over PITTSBURGH: Give 40-year old Matt Hasselback credit for being undefeated in every game he has started for the injured Andrew Luck. I think the Steelers will win, but I feel like Indy will play well enough to make Pittsburgh really earn it on SNF.
WASHINGTON (-3) over Dallas: The Cowboys are 3-8 and Tony Romo is injured again and out for the rest of the year. The Cowboys should hope to lose every game left they have on the schedule, finish 3-13, get a high draft pick, and reboot next year when Romo comes back. The Redskins are 5-6 and somehow are in first place in the NFC East. I would think they would take advantage of the Romo injury to win this game handily, but you just never know. I think they will get it done at home and get to 6-6.
SAN DIEGO (+4) over Denver
Final Score: Chargers-23 Broncos-20
Now, onto the picks for Week 13....
Last Week's Record: 7-9
Overall Record: 80-91-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
San Francisco (+7) over CHICAGO: The Bears will win the game, but the Niners will keep it closer than people expect.
Cincy (-8) over CLEVELAND: Only the Browns would lose a game on a blocked field goal return as time expires like they did last Monday night. This should be a blowout in Cincy's favor.
TENNESSEE (-2) over Jacksonville: The Titans will finally get a home win under rookie Marcus Mariota.
BUFFALO (-3) over Houston: Huge game between the 5-6 Bills and the 6-5 Texans. The Bills will get back on track and the get the important win at home to get to 6-6.
Baltimore (+4) over MIAMI: The Ravens will always play hard for John Harbaugh no matter how bad their season is, and the Dolphins are the opposite. They rarely show heart. I could see the Dolphins winning the game, but look for the Ravens to keep it tight all the way.
NEW ORLEANS (+7) over Carolina: I'll take the Saints because I think that Drew Brees and Sean Payton will have their last great moment in New Orleans on Sunday as they take down the previously undefeated Carolina Panthers.
Seattle (-1) over MINNESOTA: I have no idea where this game goes, but I'll take the Seahawks because I still believe that Russell Wilson and this offense will find a way go get themselves into the playoffs even without Marshawn Lynch and Jimmy Graham. I don't think the Vikings have much of a homefield advantage since they play at the University of Minnesota, and that plays a factor in my opinion. This game looks like a tough one to call either way.
Arizona (-4) over ST.LOUIS: The Rams have fallen on hard times at 4-7, and QB Nick Foles is playing with zero confidence at this point. I have doubted the Cardinals all year long, but at 9-2 I am a believer, and I think they win this game by a touchdown or maybe even 10 points.
Atlanta (+2) over TAMPA BAY: The Falcons have fallen apart after their 5-0 start. They now stand at 6-5 and head to Tampa to take on the 5-6 Bucs. Tampa Bay pulled the upset in Atlanta a few weeks ago, so logic would think that the Bucs will get the win at home in the rematch, but I have to think that the Falcons will find a way to win a gutty game on the road and get to 7-5.
NY GIANTS (+3) over NY Jets: The Battle of New York is a very pivotal one. The Jets are 6-5 and in the thick of the AFC Wild Card race, and the 5-6 Giants are currently tied for first in the NFC East The last time these two teams played in the regular season in 2011, the Giants beat the Jets and never looked back on their way to winning Super Bowl XLVI. The Giants are banged up on the offensive line and I just don't think they have enough upfront to hold off the Jets defense-eventhough the Jets will be without Darrelle Revis. This will be a close game but look for the Jets to hold on for the win.
OAKLAND (+3) over Kansas City: The Chiefs are 6-5 and have won five in a row after a 1-5 start. They have the easiest schedule of any of the playoff contenders down the stretch in the AFC, and I think they will they get into the playoffs, but this is one of their toughest games left. The Raiders are 5-6 and they very capable of pulling the mild upset this week. I think the Raiders win the game and stop the Chiefs winning streak.
Philly (+10) over NEW ENGLAND: The Pats will win this game, but without Rob Gronkowski it is hard to see them blowing out the Eagles. I think Philly will keep it close enough and getting Sam Bradford back will only help their chances.
Indy (+7) over PITTSBURGH: Give 40-year old Matt Hasselback credit for being undefeated in every game he has started for the injured Andrew Luck. I think the Steelers will win, but I feel like Indy will play well enough to make Pittsburgh really earn it on SNF.
WASHINGTON (-3) over Dallas: The Cowboys are 3-8 and Tony Romo is injured again and out for the rest of the year. The Cowboys should hope to lose every game left they have on the schedule, finish 3-13, get a high draft pick, and reboot next year when Romo comes back. The Redskins are 5-6 and somehow are in first place in the NFC East. I would think they would take advantage of the Romo injury to win this game handily, but you just never know. I think they will get it done at home and get to 6-6.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Packers-Lions TNF Pick
Green Bay (-3) over DETROIT: The Packers have lost four out of their last five games, and now they have to go into Detroit to take on the suddenly hot Lions- who have won three in a row. I find it hard to believe that the Lions are going to sweep the Packers this year (They won in Lambeau about a month ago), so I'll take the Packers to figure out some of their problems on offense and take this one on Thursday night.
Broncos Pull Off Comeback to Shock Patriots in Overtime
What a game! Even without Peyton Manning, the annual Patriots-Broncos showdown was an instant classic. The Broncos, behind Brock Osweiler, came back from a 21-7 hole in the 4th quarter to defeat the Patriots 30-24 on a C.J. Anderson 48 yard walkoff touchdown. It was a snowy night in Denver, and the weather provided a great backdrop as the 10-0 Patriots came to Mile High to take on the 8-2 Broncos. The game certainly lived up to the hype of the other classic Broncos-Patriots games, and this game had so many twists and turns. It was an up and down game, and if you are a Broncos fan, there was like 10 times where you just didn't think it was in the cards for the Broncos to win this game. Then, the Broncos got a stroke of luck and every bounce and call starting going their way and all of a sudden they had a chance. If was a terrific ending to a terrific game, and it was a huge win for Denver as they improved to 9-2 and they hand the Patriots their first loss of the season. Let's get into the game and here are my thoughts and observations on the game....
1) Awful start for the Broncos. After a three and out, the Patriots go right down the field and Tom Brady drills a touchdown to Rob Gronkowski and an early 7-0 lead. You can't start the game worse than that if you're a Broncos fan.
2) The Broncos couldn't do anything early on offense, and a tipped Osweiler interception to Chandler Jones led to another Brady touchdown-this time to the other TE Scott Chandler. Chandler beat Von Miller in coverage, and that was a bad moment for Wade Phillips and the Broncos defense because anytime you see Miller in coverage and not attacking the QB, then that is not a good sign. At 14-0 Patriots, I thought the Broncos were dead meat for the first of many times in this game.
3) Give the Broncos and Brock Osweiler credit for putting together a big drive and answering down 14-0. Osweiler hit some key third downs to Emmanuel Sanders and a sweet Ronnie Hillman touchdown run made it 14-7 with xx left in the half.
4) Why did Josh McDaniels chose to run the ball before the half and not let Brady go for some points with plenty of time left? Very interesting set of plays and decisions there.
5) The third quarter went back and forth and although the Broncos were getting their running game going, they came away empty handed as a result of a missed field goal by Brandon McManus and some key stops by the Patriots defense on Osweiler. Demaryius Thomas didn't have a catch for most of the game and he continuously dropped some key passes during the first three quarters. It was actually hard to watch at one point.
6) A few seconds into the 4th quarter, Brady hit Brandon Bolden on 63 yard touchdown hookup on a wheel route down the sideline. Bolden beat Danny Trevathan and broke free for the touchdown. It silenced the crowd and at 21-7 it looked like the Broncos were done for the night once again.
7) The absolute turning point of the game was the muffed punt by Patriots returner Chris Harper. The Broncos recovered the fumble at the New England 36 and four plays later, C.J. Anderson, who had a great game in the snow, made a sweet jump cut and bounced the run outside and raced to the pile on for the 15 yard touchdown run to make it 21-14. It gave Denver life when it needed it badly.
8) The offensive penalty for pass interference on Gronk was a ticky-tack call, but it went our way so we will take it. The illegal use of hands on the play when Brady hit Keshawn Martin deep in Denver territory also changed the game. Take out those two penalties and I think the Pats win the game.
9) Kubiak going for the field goal instead of going for it on 4th down at 21-14 with 6:08 left. It was a questionable call, and I would have went for the touchdown because now if you don't get it, you have the Pats backed on their own three yard line. Kubiak went for the field goal and it led to a 21-17 game because he had faith in his defense to get the ball back. The defense did their job and they got the ball back after the key penalty on Gronk and a punt.
10) Why did Kubiak go with a hurry up shotgun set of plays only down 4 with 4:36 left? He could have run the ball and the regular offense but he went shotgun/hurry up too quick at that point.
11) After a first down completion to Gronk, he then got injured on the next play and I think it took the momentum away from the Pats and they were forced to punt a few plays later.
12) Big moment for Osweiler. Down 21-17, he hits Demaryius Thomas on a 36 yard pass to the Pats 47. Two plays later, Osweiler uncorked his best throw of the night: A beautifully placed 39 yard bomb to Sanders down the sideline just past a trailing Malcolm Butler. What a throw and what a play by Osweiler.
13) Huge penalty on Patrick Chung on DT in the end zone after a sack on Osweiler. It would have been 3rd and goal from the 19, but instead it turned into a first and goal from the five. Osweiler hit Andre Caldwell on a perfectly placed back-shoulder fade to give the Broncos the lead 24-21. Mile High was rocking at that point.
14) How the hell does Brady drive the Patriots to tie the game at the end? He goes 5 plays 51 yards and hits Scott Chandler and Brandon LaFell twice to set up a 47 yard field goal to tie the game with no time left. You have to give Brady credit for what he did against the Broncos defense in that last drive.
15) Finally, after a big three and out forced by the Broncos defense, the Broncos win the game on the walkoff run by Anderson. What was cool about the play was that Osweiler audibled out of one run play and into this play and it was one of my favorite runs from the Shanahan-Kubiak playbook. Bunch Left Toss Left with the LT pulling and TE and WR washing down. Ryan Harris kicks out the outside defender and the Broncos have numbers on the edge and Anderson saw the hole, burst through it, and galloped in the snowy night for the Broncos victory. Great, great play at the end there.
16) As I said earlier, this game had everything you would want. It had big-time plays, some controversial calls, unpredictable ending and cool story with Brock leading the Broncos past the Pats in a comeback in the snow. As far as Osweiler goes, he was bottled up for most of the game. He did come through in the clutch in the 4th quarter. You have to like his poise and how he handled himself in the big moment. He made some really big throws on third downs and late in the game. You have to like the accuracy on some of those throws at the end. It is only two games, but as a Broncos fan, there are a lot of things to like about Osweiler at this point. Only time will tell, but this could have been one of those signature games for him.
17) This game reminded me of the game these two teams played on a Sunday night in 2103 in Foxboro. The Broncos led 24-0 in that game only to see Brady and the Pats come back and win it in overtime 34-31. In that game, the Pats took the lead 31-24 late in the game, but Peyton Manning drove Denver for a touchdown late to tie it at 31 and send it to overtime-just like Brady did in this game. It also reminded me of two other Sunday night games Denver hosted in the snow in the past. In 2002, the Broncos lost to Peyton Manning and the Colts in a thriller and in 2004 they lost a close game to the Raiders in the snow as well. It was nice to see them win a game like that finally.
18) Huge, huge win for the Broncos and now they stand at 9-2 and head to San Diego next week to take on the 3-8 Chargers. The Pats are still the class of the AFC and the favorites, but it gives Denver some much needed breathing room in the AFC West and it helps them keep pace in the AFC for the #2 seed. It was one of the most memorable games the Broncos have had in the last few years because it was at home in the snow with their backup QB starting the game and it was a victory over the hated Patriots. That makes it so much sweeter. Go Broncos!
1) Awful start for the Broncos. After a three and out, the Patriots go right down the field and Tom Brady drills a touchdown to Rob Gronkowski and an early 7-0 lead. You can't start the game worse than that if you're a Broncos fan.
2) The Broncos couldn't do anything early on offense, and a tipped Osweiler interception to Chandler Jones led to another Brady touchdown-this time to the other TE Scott Chandler. Chandler beat Von Miller in coverage, and that was a bad moment for Wade Phillips and the Broncos defense because anytime you see Miller in coverage and not attacking the QB, then that is not a good sign. At 14-0 Patriots, I thought the Broncos were dead meat for the first of many times in this game.
3) Give the Broncos and Brock Osweiler credit for putting together a big drive and answering down 14-0. Osweiler hit some key third downs to Emmanuel Sanders and a sweet Ronnie Hillman touchdown run made it 14-7 with xx left in the half.
4) Why did Josh McDaniels chose to run the ball before the half and not let Brady go for some points with plenty of time left? Very interesting set of plays and decisions there.
5) The third quarter went back and forth and although the Broncos were getting their running game going, they came away empty handed as a result of a missed field goal by Brandon McManus and some key stops by the Patriots defense on Osweiler. Demaryius Thomas didn't have a catch for most of the game and he continuously dropped some key passes during the first three quarters. It was actually hard to watch at one point.
6) A few seconds into the 4th quarter, Brady hit Brandon Bolden on 63 yard touchdown hookup on a wheel route down the sideline. Bolden beat Danny Trevathan and broke free for the touchdown. It silenced the crowd and at 21-7 it looked like the Broncos were done for the night once again.
7) The absolute turning point of the game was the muffed punt by Patriots returner Chris Harper. The Broncos recovered the fumble at the New England 36 and four plays later, C.J. Anderson, who had a great game in the snow, made a sweet jump cut and bounced the run outside and raced to the pile on for the 15 yard touchdown run to make it 21-14. It gave Denver life when it needed it badly.
8) The offensive penalty for pass interference on Gronk was a ticky-tack call, but it went our way so we will take it. The illegal use of hands on the play when Brady hit Keshawn Martin deep in Denver territory also changed the game. Take out those two penalties and I think the Pats win the game.
9) Kubiak going for the field goal instead of going for it on 4th down at 21-14 with 6:08 left. It was a questionable call, and I would have went for the touchdown because now if you don't get it, you have the Pats backed on their own three yard line. Kubiak went for the field goal and it led to a 21-17 game because he had faith in his defense to get the ball back. The defense did their job and they got the ball back after the key penalty on Gronk and a punt.
10) Why did Kubiak go with a hurry up shotgun set of plays only down 4 with 4:36 left? He could have run the ball and the regular offense but he went shotgun/hurry up too quick at that point.
11) After a first down completion to Gronk, he then got injured on the next play and I think it took the momentum away from the Pats and they were forced to punt a few plays later.
12) Big moment for Osweiler. Down 21-17, he hits Demaryius Thomas on a 36 yard pass to the Pats 47. Two plays later, Osweiler uncorked his best throw of the night: A beautifully placed 39 yard bomb to Sanders down the sideline just past a trailing Malcolm Butler. What a throw and what a play by Osweiler.
13) Huge penalty on Patrick Chung on DT in the end zone after a sack on Osweiler. It would have been 3rd and goal from the 19, but instead it turned into a first and goal from the five. Osweiler hit Andre Caldwell on a perfectly placed back-shoulder fade to give the Broncos the lead 24-21. Mile High was rocking at that point.
14) How the hell does Brady drive the Patriots to tie the game at the end? He goes 5 plays 51 yards and hits Scott Chandler and Brandon LaFell twice to set up a 47 yard field goal to tie the game with no time left. You have to give Brady credit for what he did against the Broncos defense in that last drive.
15) Finally, after a big three and out forced by the Broncos defense, the Broncos win the game on the walkoff run by Anderson. What was cool about the play was that Osweiler audibled out of one run play and into this play and it was one of my favorite runs from the Shanahan-Kubiak playbook. Bunch Left Toss Left with the LT pulling and TE and WR washing down. Ryan Harris kicks out the outside defender and the Broncos have numbers on the edge and Anderson saw the hole, burst through it, and galloped in the snowy night for the Broncos victory. Great, great play at the end there.
16) As I said earlier, this game had everything you would want. It had big-time plays, some controversial calls, unpredictable ending and cool story with Brock leading the Broncos past the Pats in a comeback in the snow. As far as Osweiler goes, he was bottled up for most of the game. He did come through in the clutch in the 4th quarter. You have to like his poise and how he handled himself in the big moment. He made some really big throws on third downs and late in the game. You have to like the accuracy on some of those throws at the end. It is only two games, but as a Broncos fan, there are a lot of things to like about Osweiler at this point. Only time will tell, but this could have been one of those signature games for him.
17) This game reminded me of the game these two teams played on a Sunday night in 2103 in Foxboro. The Broncos led 24-0 in that game only to see Brady and the Pats come back and win it in overtime 34-31. In that game, the Pats took the lead 31-24 late in the game, but Peyton Manning drove Denver for a touchdown late to tie it at 31 and send it to overtime-just like Brady did in this game. It also reminded me of two other Sunday night games Denver hosted in the snow in the past. In 2002, the Broncos lost to Peyton Manning and the Colts in a thriller and in 2004 they lost a close game to the Raiders in the snow as well. It was nice to see them win a game like that finally.
18) Huge, huge win for the Broncos and now they stand at 9-2 and head to San Diego next week to take on the 3-8 Chargers. The Pats are still the class of the AFC and the favorites, but it gives Denver some much needed breathing room in the AFC West and it helps them keep pace in the AFC for the #2 seed. It was one of the most memorable games the Broncos have had in the last few years because it was at home in the snow with their backup QB starting the game and it was a victory over the hated Patriots. That makes it so much sweeter. Go Broncos!
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