The Chargers come into Denver to take on the Broncos two weeks after beating them in San Diego on Thursday Night Football 21-13. The Broncos are coming off an impressive win at home on Monday Night Football over the Texans 27-9. At 5-2, the Broncos really need to win this game because they have to go on the road to Oakland next Sunday night. If they are 6-2 at the halfway point, then I feel good about the rest of the season. If they lost to San Diego on Sunday, then they will be 5-3 and the tough road game at Oakland looming the next week. I say this all the time when these two teams play, but I'll say it again: Philip Rivers scares me. He always has and he always will as long as he is a Charger. He played well in the first half last time these two teams met. The Broncos also come in banged up with some key injuries. Brandon Marshall might not play with a hamstring injury, and the big news was that C.J. Anderson is undergoing knee surgery on a torn Meniscus, and he will most likely be out for the season. That is a big blow to the Broncos offense, and it will be interesting to see how Devontae Booker can rise the level of his game with CJ out. This game scares me because the Chargers won on the road last week in Atlanta, and they are really playing well all year long. This will be a very tough game and it will come down to a few plays late in the 4th quarter. I just don't have the confidence that the Broncos can win this one. Maybe the Chargers have their number this year.
San Diego (+4.5) over DENVER
Final Score: Chargers-26 Broncos-19
Last Week's Record: 8-6-1
Overall Record: 56-43-7
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Cincinnati (-3) over Washington (London): London gets their third and final game of the 2016 season with the 3-4 Bengals taking on the 4-3 Redskins. Let's hope for the sake of American football that this game is at least entertaining for the UK fans. Tough game to call and I see it going either way, but the Bengals will win a close hard fought game to get to 4-4.
Detroit (+3) over HOUSTON: I thoroughly enjoyed the demolition of Brock Osweiler by the Broncos on Monday night. The Texans are exactly what we thought: They can beat up on the weak teams, but will have trouble with the good teams-especially on the road. Now, they host the surprising 4-3 Lions. To say the pressure is on the Texans is an understatement. I'll take the Lions here because I could see Matt Stafford pulling one out late to pull the upset in Houston.
NEW ORLEANS (+4) over Seattle: The Saints are 2-4 and head back home to take on the Seahawks. This could be a trap game for the 4-1-1 Seahawks. Think about it: They went to Arizona on Sunday night, and they have to go across the country to New Orleans to take on the Saints in the early window on Sunday. This is my upset pick of the week as Drew Brees puts on a show and the Saints pull out a stunner.
New England (-6) over BUFFALO: The Bills got run over in Miami last week to fall to 4-3. The Patriots have been on cruise control since Tom Brady came back and they smacked around the Steelers without Big Ben last week in Pittsburgh. The Pats lone loss this year came at the hands of the Bills in Week 4, but that game featured Jacoby Brissett at QB and not Tom Brady. I would expect the Pats to do their thing and take out the Bills in Buffalo.
CLEVELAND (+4) over NY Jets: The Browns have to win one of these games after their 0-7 start. The Jets are at 2-5 and if they can win here, they will have put together back-to-back to possibly salvage their season. I expect the Jets to win the game, but the Browns have been competitive most of the season. Josh McCown gets the start for the injured Cody Kessler and maybe he can provide a spark for the Browns at home.
Oakland (PICK) over TAMPA BAY: This is a very interesting matchup. The Bucs are 3-3 and they are looking to get over .500 and make their move in the NFC. The Raiders come in atop the AFC West at 5-2. The Raiders have been Road Warriors this year as they have won on the road and in early starts four times already this year. I think they will do it once again this week on the road in Tampa.
INDY (+3.5) over Kansas City: It is amazing to watch the Colts each week. They have barely any talent around Andrew Luck besides T.Y. Hilton at WR, and their defense features guys that should be in the Arena League. They are always trailing and somehow Luck either brings them back to win or brings them back and they fall short. I think weird things could happen at home, and every team in the NFL has a stinker in them. I think this is the week that KC has a stinker in them, and this is one of those games that people look at the score and are confused by what has transpired. The Colts and the upset at home.
CAROLINA (-3) over Arizona: Look how the mighty have fallen. In a rematch of the NFC Championship Game, the 1-5 Panthers host the 3-3-1 Cardinals, who are fresh off a 6-6 tie to the Seahawks. I think this is the game that the Panthers find their grove and get back on track and get a much-needed win to basically save their season for the time being.
ATLANTA (-3) over Green Bay: The Falcons have lost two games in a row and now stand at 4-1. The Packers come in at 4-2, but there are still questions that remain for Aaron Rodgers and that offense. I think the fact that this game in one road will make it very difficult for the Packers. Look for the Falcons to jump on them early and look for the Packers to be unable to catch up.
DALLAS (-4) over Philly: The Cowboys are 5-1 and they host the 4-2 Eagles on Sunday Night Football. Finally, we have a good primetime game on SNF. I would expect this game to be a really close game. I'm curious how Dak Prescott will fare against the Eagles defense, and I wonder how Carson Wentz will handle the spotlight of a big division game in Dallas. I think it goes back and forth, but I like the Cowboys to win the game going away in front of the home crowd.
Minnesota (-4) over CHICAGO: How many times this season do we have to be subjected to the Bears in primetime? That may be another reason why NFL ratings are down this year in primetime. I would expect Minnesota to go into Chicago and pound the 1-5 Bears and the returning Jay Cutler. The Vikings suffered their first loss last week in Philly, but I would expect them to rebound this week on a special MNF on Halloween night.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Tenn-Jax Week 8 TNF Pick!
TENNESSEE (-3) over Jacksonville: The Titans lost a tough one at home to the Colts last week to fall to 3-4, but I look for them to bounce back this week against the 2-4 Jags on a short week. One team (Tennessee) looks like it might stay afloat in this division, and another team looks like it might be a sinking ship.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Broncos Pound the Texans and Brock Osweiler 27-9 on Monday Night Football,
The Broncos got revenge on their old buddy Brock Osweiler on Monday Night Football as they pounded the Texans 27-9 in dominating fashion. The Broncos, 5-2, trailed 6-0 early, but they stormed back, took control of the game in the second half to take a 14-6 lead at the half, and then they put the game away late in the 3rd quarter to win the game going away. Osweiler struggled mightily as expected, and the Broncos defense played it best game in three weeks. It was a big game for the Broncos and the return of Osweiler certainly had their attention, and you could tell that the defense was very pumped up for the game. Overall, it was a good win, and now the Broncos have to prepare for two huge AFC West games the next two weeks. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game...
1) The Broncos defense didn't really start slow even though they trailed 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. They were put in bad field position because the Broncos offense couldn't get out of their own way. The Texans only hit a couple of run plays and they came away with two field goals. I felt really good about this game at that point since we were only down 6.
2) The Broncos offense sputtered early on, and they are getting killed with holding penalties-especially by Russell Okung. Once the 2nd quarter started, the Broncos offense got going. The run game was effective last night. C.J. Anderson ran for 107 yards on 16 carries and he added a 7 yard touchdown run to make it 7-6. Anderson ran well and he ran with an attitude. I'm glad he got over the 100 yard mark of the first time this year. Devontae Booker spelled Anderson, and he ran really hard again for the second straight week. Booker finished with 83 yards on 17 carries, and he added a 1 yard touchdown to make it 21-9 late in the 3rd quarter. Both guys ran hard and punished the Texans defenders. It was the perfect balance for the Broncos, and this is how the offense is effective. If Anderson and Booker can run well like they did on Monday night, then the Broncos will be tough to beat because they will be able to score points.
3) Trevor Siemian wasn't flashy but he showed poise, and made some really nice throws to give the Broncos and their offense a lead and maintain it. Siemian finished 14-25 for 157 yards and 1 TD and 0 INT. He played solid and threw a really sweet 4 yard TD pass to Demaryius Thomas to make it 14-6 in the 2nd quarter. He also hit Emmanuel Sanders on a really nice deep ball down the sideline to set up the touchdown to make it 21-9 in the third quarter. He certainly outplayed Osweiler in this game.
4) Now, let's get to Osweiler. It is apparent that Brock is still getting used to Bill O'Brien and the new offense. Not once did I feel that Osweiler was going to beat us with his arm in this game. Other QBs put the fear of death in you, Osweiler does not have in him right now. The Broncos defense didn't seemed fooled at all, and they really were dialed in on Brock and the passing game. Osweiler finished 22-41 for 131 yards. He got most of those yards late in the game, and he had a crucial fumble at 21-9 in the 4th quarter when the ball slipped out of his hands. He had a rough night, and you knew the Broncos defense was going to give him a tough time, and they backed it up.
5) The turning point of the game was when Darian Stewart and T.J. Ward crushed Alfred Blue and caused a huge fumble in Denver territory with about 4 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter with the Broncos up 14-9. It was a great hit, and Stewart has been really solid the last two years, and he made a great play to cause the fumble. The Broncos went right down the field and scored a touchdown to make it 21-9.
6) This was a big win for the Broncos to get back on track after losing two straight games. At 5-2, the Broncos needed this game for some confidence and momentum, and now they host the Chargers next Sunday in a very important game in the AFC West. Great win for the Broncos and now let's hope they keep it going. Go Broncos!
1) The Broncos defense didn't really start slow even though they trailed 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. They were put in bad field position because the Broncos offense couldn't get out of their own way. The Texans only hit a couple of run plays and they came away with two field goals. I felt really good about this game at that point since we were only down 6.
2) The Broncos offense sputtered early on, and they are getting killed with holding penalties-especially by Russell Okung. Once the 2nd quarter started, the Broncos offense got going. The run game was effective last night. C.J. Anderson ran for 107 yards on 16 carries and he added a 7 yard touchdown run to make it 7-6. Anderson ran well and he ran with an attitude. I'm glad he got over the 100 yard mark of the first time this year. Devontae Booker spelled Anderson, and he ran really hard again for the second straight week. Booker finished with 83 yards on 17 carries, and he added a 1 yard touchdown to make it 21-9 late in the 3rd quarter. Both guys ran hard and punished the Texans defenders. It was the perfect balance for the Broncos, and this is how the offense is effective. If Anderson and Booker can run well like they did on Monday night, then the Broncos will be tough to beat because they will be able to score points.
3) Trevor Siemian wasn't flashy but he showed poise, and made some really nice throws to give the Broncos and their offense a lead and maintain it. Siemian finished 14-25 for 157 yards and 1 TD and 0 INT. He played solid and threw a really sweet 4 yard TD pass to Demaryius Thomas to make it 14-6 in the 2nd quarter. He also hit Emmanuel Sanders on a really nice deep ball down the sideline to set up the touchdown to make it 21-9 in the third quarter. He certainly outplayed Osweiler in this game.
4) Now, let's get to Osweiler. It is apparent that Brock is still getting used to Bill O'Brien and the new offense. Not once did I feel that Osweiler was going to beat us with his arm in this game. Other QBs put the fear of death in you, Osweiler does not have in him right now. The Broncos defense didn't seemed fooled at all, and they really were dialed in on Brock and the passing game. Osweiler finished 22-41 for 131 yards. He got most of those yards late in the game, and he had a crucial fumble at 21-9 in the 4th quarter when the ball slipped out of his hands. He had a rough night, and you knew the Broncos defense was going to give him a tough time, and they backed it up.
5) The turning point of the game was when Darian Stewart and T.J. Ward crushed Alfred Blue and caused a huge fumble in Denver territory with about 4 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter with the Broncos up 14-9. It was a great hit, and Stewart has been really solid the last two years, and he made a great play to cause the fumble. The Broncos went right down the field and scored a touchdown to make it 21-9.
6) This was a big win for the Broncos to get back on track after losing two straight games. At 5-2, the Broncos needed this game for some confidence and momentum, and now they host the Chargers next Sunday in a very important game in the AFC West. Great win for the Broncos and now let's hope they keep it going. Go Broncos!
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Broncos-Texans Preview
Brock Osweiler returns to Denver for the first time after spurning the Broncos in the offseason and signing with the Texans in March. To say that the Broncos and their fans had this game circled on the schedule is an understatement. I would expect the Broncos and their defense to be fired up for this game, and they should play better than the way they played the last few weeks. Here are some random thoughts that I have about this game:
-The Broncos have had 11 days off since they lost at San Diego, so they are rested and ready to get back on the winning track at home on Monday Night Football.
-They are honoring Simon Fletcher, Jason Elam, and John Lynch as inductees into the Broncos Ring of Fame. They better be fired up for this one.
-The Broncos are going with the blue jerseys for the game, and that is always a welcomed sight.
-I think the Texans are a team that will beat up on the weaker teams and struggle with the better teams-especially on the road. That should play well into the Broncos favor.
-A lot of people are knocking Osweiler for the start he has had this season in Houston. What did you expect out of a guy who only started 7 games in his career and signed a deal for $18.5 million a year? It is not surprising that he struggling with those kind of expectations. His biggest problem is that he holds the ball too long, and that should be a difference maker for the Broncos defense.
-I think Osweiler will play well enough for his team, and I am not sure what I am going to get out of Trevor Siemian and the Broncos offense in this game, and for that reason I am not sold on the Broncos cruising to a victory in this game.
Houston (+7.5) over DENVER
Final Score: Texans-22 Broncos-20
-The Broncos have had 11 days off since they lost at San Diego, so they are rested and ready to get back on the winning track at home on Monday Night Football.
-They are honoring Simon Fletcher, Jason Elam, and John Lynch as inductees into the Broncos Ring of Fame. They better be fired up for this one.
-The Broncos are going with the blue jerseys for the game, and that is always a welcomed sight.
-I think the Texans are a team that will beat up on the weaker teams and struggle with the better teams-especially on the road. That should play well into the Broncos favor.
-A lot of people are knocking Osweiler for the start he has had this season in Houston. What did you expect out of a guy who only started 7 games in his career and signed a deal for $18.5 million a year? It is not surprising that he struggling with those kind of expectations. His biggest problem is that he holds the ball too long, and that should be a difference maker for the Broncos defense.
-I think Osweiler will play well enough for his team, and I am not sure what I am going to get out of Trevor Siemian and the Broncos offense in this game, and for that reason I am not sold on the Broncos cruising to a victory in this game.
Houston (+7.5) over DENVER
Final Score: Texans-22 Broncos-20
Friday, October 21, 2016
NFL Week 7 Picks!
Last Week's Record: 5-8-2
Overall Record: 48-37-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
NY Giants (-3) over LA Rams (In London): The Giants and Rams head over to London in a matchup of 3-3 teams. The NFL has to be annoyed that a NY-LA game is going to be taking place at 9:30 am EST and 6:30 am PST on Sunday morning. I would expect the Giants to get to 4-3 after this one.
PHILLY (+3) over Minnesota: I am tempted to take the Eagles at home to upset the Vikings, but I just can't see it yet. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings and Sam Bradford will handle this game coming in at 5-0. I'm taking the Eagles to pull the upset at home on the road.
KANSAS CITY (-6) over New Orleans: The Chiefs got a big win last week at Oakland. At 3-2, they now get the 2-3 Saints at home. The Saints defense will struggle on the road in Arrowhead. I can't see the Chiefs blowing this game, and I think they will get the win, and keep their momentum rolling.
Washington (+1) over DETROIT: I am having a hard time figuring out the Redskins. They have resurrected their season after the 0-2 start. They have now ripped off four straight wins, and are 4-2. The Lions are 3-3, so this will be a very interesting game to watch. I think this is a tough game to pick, but I'll take the Skins to get to 5-2.
Cleveland (+10) over CINCY: The Bengals are struggling at 2-4 and they are desperate. The Bengals will win this game, but I like how the 0-6 Browns have been hanging around in these games. I'll take the Browns and the points, but the Bengals will get the win.
MIAMI (+3) over Buffalo: I like how the Bills have rebounded and have gotten to 4-2 after their 0-2 start, but remember the Bills beat the Pats without Tom Brady at QB, and they won at LA, and pounded the 49ers at home. I just have a feeling that the Dolphins will be able to pull the upset at home this week. Miami played well in their upset win over the Steelers last week, so I will take them here to upset the Bills at home.
Oakland (+1) over JACKSONVILLE: I don't have a lot of confidence in the 2-3 Jaguars. I'm just not ready to buy into them. The Raiders come in at 4-2 after their home loss to the Chiefs last week. I would think they will be ready to go and take care of business on the road in Jacksonville. This is an interesting game to me.
TENNESSEE (-2.5) over Indianapolis: At 3-3, the Titans are in the mix for a possible run for the AFC South. I think they are playing pretty well, and I think this is a big moment for them at home against the Colts. At 2-4, the Colts are in trouble after blowing that big lead at Houston last Sunday night. I like the Titans at home, but I am nervous about this one.
Baltimore (+2) over NY JETS: The Jets are free-falling at 1-5, and now they will turn to Geno Smith after benching Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Ravens are 3-3 after losing three straight. I think that the Ravens will get a win here on the road and keep the Jets in their tailspin.
San Diego (+7) over ATLANTA: This is a dangerous game for the Falcons. They played well the last two weeks on the road in beating Denver and almost beating Seattle. Now, they return home to take on the 2-4 Chargers. SD will have had 10 days to get ready for this game, and I could see them keeping this game really close until the end. I would be surprised if this game is a blowout.
Tampa Bay (-1) over SAN FRANCISCO: This is a brutal game to have in the late window on Sunday afternoon. I'll take the Bucs to beat the 49ers on the road, who are starting Colin Kaepernick for the second straight week.
PITTSBURGH(+7) over New England: I think the Pats will obviously win this game because Big Ben is out for the Steelers, but I think the run of games that the Pats are covering will end. I know Landry Jones isn't going into Foxoboro and getting the win, but for some reason I see this game being a little bit closer than a lot of people think.
Seattle (+2) over ARIZONA: I think that he Cardinals did a nice job the last few weeks getting to 3-3 after their 1-3 start. The Seahawks come in at 4-1, and this is a big game for both teams. I think Arizona will give the Seahawks some problems, but Seattle will get the job done and get the big road win.
Overall Record: 48-37-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
NY Giants (-3) over LA Rams (In London): The Giants and Rams head over to London in a matchup of 3-3 teams. The NFL has to be annoyed that a NY-LA game is going to be taking place at 9:30 am EST and 6:30 am PST on Sunday morning. I would expect the Giants to get to 4-3 after this one.
PHILLY (+3) over Minnesota: I am tempted to take the Eagles at home to upset the Vikings, but I just can't see it yet. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings and Sam Bradford will handle this game coming in at 5-0. I'm taking the Eagles to pull the upset at home on the road.
KANSAS CITY (-6) over New Orleans: The Chiefs got a big win last week at Oakland. At 3-2, they now get the 2-3 Saints at home. The Saints defense will struggle on the road in Arrowhead. I can't see the Chiefs blowing this game, and I think they will get the win, and keep their momentum rolling.
Washington (+1) over DETROIT: I am having a hard time figuring out the Redskins. They have resurrected their season after the 0-2 start. They have now ripped off four straight wins, and are 4-2. The Lions are 3-3, so this will be a very interesting game to watch. I think this is a tough game to pick, but I'll take the Skins to get to 5-2.
Cleveland (+10) over CINCY: The Bengals are struggling at 2-4 and they are desperate. The Bengals will win this game, but I like how the 0-6 Browns have been hanging around in these games. I'll take the Browns and the points, but the Bengals will get the win.
MIAMI (+3) over Buffalo: I like how the Bills have rebounded and have gotten to 4-2 after their 0-2 start, but remember the Bills beat the Pats without Tom Brady at QB, and they won at LA, and pounded the 49ers at home. I just have a feeling that the Dolphins will be able to pull the upset at home this week. Miami played well in their upset win over the Steelers last week, so I will take them here to upset the Bills at home.
Oakland (+1) over JACKSONVILLE: I don't have a lot of confidence in the 2-3 Jaguars. I'm just not ready to buy into them. The Raiders come in at 4-2 after their home loss to the Chiefs last week. I would think they will be ready to go and take care of business on the road in Jacksonville. This is an interesting game to me.
TENNESSEE (-2.5) over Indianapolis: At 3-3, the Titans are in the mix for a possible run for the AFC South. I think they are playing pretty well, and I think this is a big moment for them at home against the Colts. At 2-4, the Colts are in trouble after blowing that big lead at Houston last Sunday night. I like the Titans at home, but I am nervous about this one.
Baltimore (+2) over NY JETS: The Jets are free-falling at 1-5, and now they will turn to Geno Smith after benching Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Ravens are 3-3 after losing three straight. I think that the Ravens will get a win here on the road and keep the Jets in their tailspin.
San Diego (+7) over ATLANTA: This is a dangerous game for the Falcons. They played well the last two weeks on the road in beating Denver and almost beating Seattle. Now, they return home to take on the 2-4 Chargers. SD will have had 10 days to get ready for this game, and I could see them keeping this game really close until the end. I would be surprised if this game is a blowout.
Tampa Bay (-1) over SAN FRANCISCO: This is a brutal game to have in the late window on Sunday afternoon. I'll take the Bucs to beat the 49ers on the road, who are starting Colin Kaepernick for the second straight week.
PITTSBURGH(+7) over New England: I think the Pats will obviously win this game because Big Ben is out for the Steelers, but I think the run of games that the Pats are covering will end. I know Landry Jones isn't going into Foxoboro and getting the win, but for some reason I see this game being a little bit closer than a lot of people think.
Seattle (+2) over ARIZONA: I think that he Cardinals did a nice job the last few weeks getting to 3-3 after their 1-3 start. The Seahawks come in at 4-1, and this is a big game for both teams. I think Arizona will give the Seahawks some problems, but Seattle will get the job done and get the big road win.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Bears-Packers Week 7 TNF Pick
GREEN BAY (-7) over Chicago: How many fans in Chicago are going to be into this game with the 1-5 Bears heading to Green Bay, while the Cubs and Dodgers battle it out in a pivotal Game 5 in Los Angeles tonight? Another week and another tough one for Thursday Night Football. Give me the Packers to get on track tonight at home.
Friday, October 14, 2016
NFL Week 6 Picks!
Here are the picks for Week 6.....
Last Week's Record: 10-1-2
Overall Record: 43-29-4
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
San Fran (+8) over BUFFALO: The Bills are 3-2 and now have turned their season around. They host the 49ers, who at 1-4 turn to Colin Kaepernick in his first start of the year. I would expect the Bills to win, but I can't trust them laying 8 points to anyone just yet.
Philly (-3) over WASHINGTON: This is a fun game in the NFC East. The Redskins are now 3-2 after starting the year 0-2. The Eagles come in at 3-1 after a bad loss at Detroit last week. I think this will be a fun game to watch. Look for the Eagles to get out of DC with a big road win.
Cleveland (+7) over TENNESSEE: I think the Titans can actually make something out of their season. They are 2-3, and have been competitive for the most part. In come the Browns are 0-5. They have been competitive as well this year despite their record. I think this game will be pretty close, but look for the Titans to pull it out.
Cincy (+9) over NEW ENGLAND: The Pats will win in Tom Brady's 2016 home debut, but I think the Bengals will be in this game and make the Pats sweat it out. This could be a fun game, and the Bengals at 2-3 are a little desperate in this spot.
Baltimore (+3) over NY GIANTS: The Ravens are 3-2 and just fired their offensive coordinator, Marc Trestman. After two straight losses at home, they now head to the Meadowlands to take on the 2-3 Giants. I'm taking the Ravens because I trust them just a little more than I trust Bob McAdoo and his Giants at this point.
Carolina (-1) over NEW ORLEANS: Cam Newton is back and the Panthers are in desperate need of a win at 1-4. They have to go into New Orleans and beat the Saints. I'll take the Panthers to win this game because I think they have to, but if they lose, then they are done for the year.
Pittsburgh (-7) over MIAMI: The Steelers are the second best team in the AFC behind the Pats and now stand at 4-1. The Dolphins are up to their usual tricks in their 1-4 start. I don't see how the Dolphins can keep this one close-even at home.
CHICAGO (-2) over Jacksonville: I have no idea how this game will play out, so I'll take the Brian Hoyer-led Bears at home.
DETROIT (-3) over Los Angeles: I think the Lions will get to 3-3 after taking down the Rams at home. It will be tough to envision how the Rams will win this game on the road with their offense.
OAKLAND (PICK) over Kansas City: Big game in the AFC West. The Raiders are 4-1 and looking to extend their lead in the division. The Chiefs are 2-2 and are looking to get the big win on the road. I am a little concerned that this week the Raiders all but punched their intentions to move to Las Vegas, but I think they will take care of business at home against the Chiefs.
Atlanta (+7) over SEATTLE: You had to be very impressed with the way the Falcons handled Denver on the road last week to get to 4-1. This is a very interesting game and big one in the NFC. How will the Falcons handle this one on the road? Look for a Seattle win, but I like the Falcons to keep it close.
Dallas (+4) over GREEN BAY: Another good NFC game in the late window on Sunday. Something just seems off about Aaron Rodgers and the Packers this year-actually going back to last year. I don't think they will be able to just roll over the Cowboys at home this week. Look for a close game, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys and Dak Prescott pull it out late.
HOUSTON (-3) over Indy: The Texans beat the teams that are crappy. At 3-2, that has been the story of their season so far. The Colts are not a very good team outside of Andrew Luck. Look for the Texans to jump on the Colts early and win this division game at home to get to 4-2.
Last Week's Record: 10-1-2
Overall Record: 43-29-4
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
San Fran (+8) over BUFFALO: The Bills are 3-2 and now have turned their season around. They host the 49ers, who at 1-4 turn to Colin Kaepernick in his first start of the year. I would expect the Bills to win, but I can't trust them laying 8 points to anyone just yet.
Philly (-3) over WASHINGTON: This is a fun game in the NFC East. The Redskins are now 3-2 after starting the year 0-2. The Eagles come in at 3-1 after a bad loss at Detroit last week. I think this will be a fun game to watch. Look for the Eagles to get out of DC with a big road win.
Cleveland (+7) over TENNESSEE: I think the Titans can actually make something out of their season. They are 2-3, and have been competitive for the most part. In come the Browns are 0-5. They have been competitive as well this year despite their record. I think this game will be pretty close, but look for the Titans to pull it out.
Cincy (+9) over NEW ENGLAND: The Pats will win in Tom Brady's 2016 home debut, but I think the Bengals will be in this game and make the Pats sweat it out. This could be a fun game, and the Bengals at 2-3 are a little desperate in this spot.
Baltimore (+3) over NY GIANTS: The Ravens are 3-2 and just fired their offensive coordinator, Marc Trestman. After two straight losses at home, they now head to the Meadowlands to take on the 2-3 Giants. I'm taking the Ravens because I trust them just a little more than I trust Bob McAdoo and his Giants at this point.
Carolina (-1) over NEW ORLEANS: Cam Newton is back and the Panthers are in desperate need of a win at 1-4. They have to go into New Orleans and beat the Saints. I'll take the Panthers to win this game because I think they have to, but if they lose, then they are done for the year.
Pittsburgh (-7) over MIAMI: The Steelers are the second best team in the AFC behind the Pats and now stand at 4-1. The Dolphins are up to their usual tricks in their 1-4 start. I don't see how the Dolphins can keep this one close-even at home.
CHICAGO (-2) over Jacksonville: I have no idea how this game will play out, so I'll take the Brian Hoyer-led Bears at home.
DETROIT (-3) over Los Angeles: I think the Lions will get to 3-3 after taking down the Rams at home. It will be tough to envision how the Rams will win this game on the road with their offense.
OAKLAND (PICK) over Kansas City: Big game in the AFC West. The Raiders are 4-1 and looking to extend their lead in the division. The Chiefs are 2-2 and are looking to get the big win on the road. I am a little concerned that this week the Raiders all but punched their intentions to move to Las Vegas, but I think they will take care of business at home against the Chiefs.
Atlanta (+7) over SEATTLE: You had to be very impressed with the way the Falcons handled Denver on the road last week to get to 4-1. This is a very interesting game and big one in the NFC. How will the Falcons handle this one on the road? Look for a Seattle win, but I like the Falcons to keep it close.
Dallas (+4) over GREEN BAY: Another good NFC game in the late window on Sunday. Something just seems off about Aaron Rodgers and the Packers this year-actually going back to last year. I don't think they will be able to just roll over the Cowboys at home this week. Look for a close game, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys and Dak Prescott pull it out late.
HOUSTON (-3) over Indy: The Texans beat the teams that are crappy. At 3-2, that has been the story of their season so far. The Colts are not a very good team outside of Andrew Luck. Look for the Texans to jump on the Colts early and win this division game at home to get to 4-2.
ARIZONA (-7) over NY Jets: The Cards are 2-3 and they are taking on the 1-4 Jets on Monday Night Football. The Jets come in banged up and reeling. The Cards get Carson Palmer back from a concussion this week. I can't see the Cardinals losing this week at home on MNF.
Broncos Fall Flat to Chargers 21-13, Drop to 4-2
The Broncos headed to San Diego on Thursday night looking for a chance to get back on track after suffering a loss at home to Atlanta on Sunday. In a span of four days, the Broncos found themselves on the losing side once again. In one of the most disappointing and frustrating games in recent memory, the Chargers beat the Broncos 21-13 to send Denver to 4-2 and their first road loss in the AFC West since 2011. The Broncos now have to deal with some major issues going forward. It was a game that was similar to how the Falcons game played out in Week 5, and that is a problem because now it looks like it could be a harbinger of things to come down the road for this Broncos team. Here are my thoughts and observations about the game....
1) It was another horrible start for the Denver defense on the first two drives for the second straight week. They gave up a lot of big throws to Phillip Rivers and the Chargers offense, and both drives were long and ate up a lot of clock, and the next thing you know the Broncos were down 10-0 once again. This week TE Hunter Henry gashed the middle of Broncos defense like the Falcons did with their RBs last week. The Chargers had the Broncos defense off balance for most of the first half. The Broncos have to find a way to make stops early in the game and avoid these deficits right off the bat.
2) The offense was terrible all night. It was a very bad omen when the Broncos got a huge break. After recovering a muffed punt at the SD 11, the Broncos only settled for a field goal to make it 10-3 in the second quarter. They got the turnover they needed, and yet they couldn't go 11 yards to get a touchdown. That was a very key sequence.
3) The defense did settle down and played well from the 2nd quarter on. Von Miller was really good in the run game. I thought the defense held on the best that they could. They held the Chargers to only 3 field goals the rest of the way after the tough start. Give them credit on a night where there were a lot of bad performances.
4) The offense couldn't run the ball once again. The offensive line struggled once again. The Broncos had no room to run at all until late in the game and when Devontae Booker was running the ball. Trevor Siemian was 30-50 for only 230 yards and 1 TD and 0 INT. He was not good at all in this game. He only completed 1 pass completion over 10 yards. He took too many underneath throws and that might be because of the lack of protection and time from the offensive line or he that he doesn't have the ability to drive the ball downfield and take chances. It was like the Chargers were just not afraid of him beating him deep, and this is a Chargers defense that lost both starting corners earlier in the year. It was just some bad offensive football for most of the night. They scored three time and two of those scores came after the Chargers muffed kicks. That is not good at all.
5) The Broncos made a lot of errors and mistakes all night long. They made some really critical mistakes in the second half. They had a fumble by Jordan Taylor in the 3rd quarter, a missed 56 yard field goal, a safety on a holding call in the endzone, a holding call nullifying a touchdown, and a fumble by Demaryius Thomas.
6) As bad as the game was, the Broncos had an amazing C.J. Anderson touchdown catch and run to make it 21-16 with over 4 minutes to go and three timeouts left. The holding call by Russell Okung brought it back. A few plays later, Thomas fumbled and that effectively ended the game. It would have been really interesting to see what would have happened if Anderson's TD counted.
7) The Broncos did have some great special teams plays to give them a shot. They perfectly executed a pooch kick on the free kick following the safety that made it 21-3 in the 4th quarter. By kicking it short, the Chargers had to have a lineman try to catch it, but it was bobbled and the Broncos recovered. The Broncos also converted an onside kick late to give them a chance at 21-13. At least the Broncos can take that positive from the game.
7) At 4-2 the sky is not falling, but there are a lot of concerns. This was a game that had a lot of built-in excuses if they lost. It was a short week against a team that was due for a big win, and Gary Kubiak was not coaching this week. With that said, this is the team that I thought the Broncos would be before the year. I think their 4-0 start had a bit of a mirage to it. I know every NFL season has ups and downs, and it can change week-to-week, but this feels a little different. The Broncos now have 11 days off to come back and get ready for a home game on Monday night October 24th against the Texans in the "Brock Osweiler" Bowl. There is a lot of time to try to fix what they can, and get a much-needed win over Houston next week.
1) It was another horrible start for the Denver defense on the first two drives for the second straight week. They gave up a lot of big throws to Phillip Rivers and the Chargers offense, and both drives were long and ate up a lot of clock, and the next thing you know the Broncos were down 10-0 once again. This week TE Hunter Henry gashed the middle of Broncos defense like the Falcons did with their RBs last week. The Chargers had the Broncos defense off balance for most of the first half. The Broncos have to find a way to make stops early in the game and avoid these deficits right off the bat.
2) The offense was terrible all night. It was a very bad omen when the Broncos got a huge break. After recovering a muffed punt at the SD 11, the Broncos only settled for a field goal to make it 10-3 in the second quarter. They got the turnover they needed, and yet they couldn't go 11 yards to get a touchdown. That was a very key sequence.
3) The defense did settle down and played well from the 2nd quarter on. Von Miller was really good in the run game. I thought the defense held on the best that they could. They held the Chargers to only 3 field goals the rest of the way after the tough start. Give them credit on a night where there were a lot of bad performances.
4) The offense couldn't run the ball once again. The offensive line struggled once again. The Broncos had no room to run at all until late in the game and when Devontae Booker was running the ball. Trevor Siemian was 30-50 for only 230 yards and 1 TD and 0 INT. He was not good at all in this game. He only completed 1 pass completion over 10 yards. He took too many underneath throws and that might be because of the lack of protection and time from the offensive line or he that he doesn't have the ability to drive the ball downfield and take chances. It was like the Chargers were just not afraid of him beating him deep, and this is a Chargers defense that lost both starting corners earlier in the year. It was just some bad offensive football for most of the night. They scored three time and two of those scores came after the Chargers muffed kicks. That is not good at all.
5) The Broncos made a lot of errors and mistakes all night long. They made some really critical mistakes in the second half. They had a fumble by Jordan Taylor in the 3rd quarter, a missed 56 yard field goal, a safety on a holding call in the endzone, a holding call nullifying a touchdown, and a fumble by Demaryius Thomas.
6) As bad as the game was, the Broncos had an amazing C.J. Anderson touchdown catch and run to make it 21-16 with over 4 minutes to go and three timeouts left. The holding call by Russell Okung brought it back. A few plays later, Thomas fumbled and that effectively ended the game. It would have been really interesting to see what would have happened if Anderson's TD counted.
7) The Broncos did have some great special teams plays to give them a shot. They perfectly executed a pooch kick on the free kick following the safety that made it 21-3 in the 4th quarter. By kicking it short, the Chargers had to have a lineman try to catch it, but it was bobbled and the Broncos recovered. The Broncos also converted an onside kick late to give them a chance at 21-13. At least the Broncos can take that positive from the game.
7) At 4-2 the sky is not falling, but there are a lot of concerns. This was a game that had a lot of built-in excuses if they lost. It was a short week against a team that was due for a big win, and Gary Kubiak was not coaching this week. With that said, this is the team that I thought the Broncos would be before the year. I think their 4-0 start had a bit of a mirage to it. I know every NFL season has ups and downs, and it can change week-to-week, but this feels a little different. The Broncos now have 11 days off to come back and get ready for a home game on Monday night October 24th against the Texans in the "Brock Osweiler" Bowl. There is a lot of time to try to fix what they can, and get a much-needed win over Houston next week.
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Broncos-Chargers Week 6 TNF Pick
The Broncos head to San Diego on a short week to take on the 1-4 Chargers on Thursday Night Football. Denver comes in at 4-1 after last week's loss at home to the Falcons. The Chargers lost another brutal game at Oakland when their holder botched the ball on a potential tying field goal with only a few minutes left. This game will be tough for Denver for the following reasons:
-Gary Kubiak is not coaching this week due to the complex migraine issue he had on Sunday. Joe DeCamilis will take his place as interim HC. That is certainly not an ideal situation especially in a short week.
-The Broncos have to travel to San Diego on a short week and don't get the luxury of hosting the game.
-The Broncos have won five straight games at San Diego. You know they are due for a loss in this building.
-The Chargers are due for a win because although they are 1-4, they have been in every game this year. You could see them breaking out and getting the win this week.
-This will not be an easy game for the Broncos and I expect them to have a tough time putting the Chargers away considering the fact that Phillip Rivers is playing at a high level once again.
SAN DIEGO (+3) over Denver
Final Score: Chargers-27 Broncos-17
-Gary Kubiak is not coaching this week due to the complex migraine issue he had on Sunday. Joe DeCamilis will take his place as interim HC. That is certainly not an ideal situation especially in a short week.
-The Broncos have to travel to San Diego on a short week and don't get the luxury of hosting the game.
-The Broncos have won five straight games at San Diego. You know they are due for a loss in this building.
-The Chargers are due for a win because although they are 1-4, they have been in every game this year. You could see them breaking out and getting the win this week.
-This will not be an easy game for the Broncos and I expect them to have a tough time putting the Chargers away considering the fact that Phillip Rivers is playing at a high level once again.
SAN DIEGO (+3) over Denver
Final Score: Chargers-27 Broncos-17
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Falcons Outplay Broncos 23-16 as Denver Falls to 4-1
The Falcons came to Denver on Sunday and took down the previously undefeated Broncos 23-16 to give the Broncos their first loss of the season. The Falcons and their high-powered offense came in at 3-1 and it was going to be fascinating to see how that group would match up against the Broncos defense. The Broncos defense did well containing Julio Jones, but the Falcons exploited the Denver defense by using their backs out of the backfield on the Broncos linebackers. Both Todd Davis and Brandon Marshall had trouble with Tevin Coleman and Dovanta Freeman. The Broncos never adjusted and they couldn't stop it. Then, to compound the problems, Paxton Lynch struggled in his first career NFL start. The offensive line couldn't protect for Lynch, and the Broncos had trouble moving the ball all day. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game...
1) It started early in the 1st quarter and it continued throughout the game, and Atlanta killed the Broncos by using their backs out of the backfield in the passing game. Coleman and Freeman killed the Broncos linebackers all day. Coleman ended up with 4 catches with 132 yards and a TD, and Freeman added 3 catches for 35 yards. I don't think it is a blueprint for beating the Broncos defense every week, but it is certainly a cause for concern. I also was surprised that the Broncos had no answer for that and couldn't adjust.
2) The Broncos offense struggled to block the Falcons pass rush. Ty Sambraillo started at RT and he got abused by Vic Beasley all game long. Beasley had 4 sacks on the day, and the entire Falcons defense got 6 sacks overall and just harassed Paxton Lynch all game long. They also shut down the Broncos running game. I know that Sambraillo might not be healthy enough to play RT, and the Broncos need Donald Stephenson to come back soon from injury, but give the Falcons defense credit for getting after the Broncos offense all game long/
3) It was a rough day for Paxton Lynch in first career start. He didn't get help from his offensive line, but he was inaccurate early and he held onto the ball too long, but it was his first career start, and you can't expect him to light it up right away. I still think that Lynch will be a good QB, and I still believe that he is the future at that position, but with any rookie, you have to expect some rough moments and this past week was one of those days.
4) I'm still surprised that Wade Phillips and the Broncos defense made no adjustments as the game went on. A game like this exposes the fact that the team misses a guy like Danny Trevathan. I would expect that Phillips would be able to figure something out, but he was never able to find the answer.
5) Everything about this game was just weird. The Broncos started slow, fell behind 10-0, and the it just seemed like they couldn't get back into the game. It sucks that they lost at home in this fashion, but it seemed like something was off the entire game. It was like they were sleepwalking through most of the game, and expected that they would find a way to win the game late, but it just never materialized.
6) The key turning points and sequences were when the Broncos were backed up at their own 1 yard line in the third quarter. Lynch threw a play action pass out of the endzone and he threw a pick into double coverage. A few plays later, Matt Ryan hit Coleman on a 31 yard TD pass on a 2nd and 19 to give the Falcons a 20-3 lead halfway through the 3rd quarter. It was a backbreaker and effectively ended the game. Also, at the end of the 3rd quarter, T. J. Ward made a great play to strip the ball away from the receiver at midfield to give the Broncos a much-needed turnover, but the Broncos could only muster a field goal to make it 20-6. That was an opportunity that was missed by the Broncos.
7) After the loss, the news for the Broncos got worse with the news that Gary Kubiak had to go to the hospital. He was diagnosed with complex migraine syndrome, and he will be out for this Thursday's game at San Diego. Joe DeCamilis will be the interim HC and it is expected that Kubiak will rejoin the team next week. The Broncos suffered a very disappointing loss at home to the Falcons, but they will have to regroup quick with a key division road game at San Diego on a short week. At 4-1, all is not lost for the Broncos, but it is amazing how the NFL is a week-to-week league. So much can change in a week's time, and the Broncos need to get a win at SD on Thursday night, and use the 11 days off to get ready for the Texans on Monday night October 24th.
1) It started early in the 1st quarter and it continued throughout the game, and Atlanta killed the Broncos by using their backs out of the backfield in the passing game. Coleman and Freeman killed the Broncos linebackers all day. Coleman ended up with 4 catches with 132 yards and a TD, and Freeman added 3 catches for 35 yards. I don't think it is a blueprint for beating the Broncos defense every week, but it is certainly a cause for concern. I also was surprised that the Broncos had no answer for that and couldn't adjust.
2) The Broncos offense struggled to block the Falcons pass rush. Ty Sambraillo started at RT and he got abused by Vic Beasley all game long. Beasley had 4 sacks on the day, and the entire Falcons defense got 6 sacks overall and just harassed Paxton Lynch all game long. They also shut down the Broncos running game. I know that Sambraillo might not be healthy enough to play RT, and the Broncos need Donald Stephenson to come back soon from injury, but give the Falcons defense credit for getting after the Broncos offense all game long/
3) It was a rough day for Paxton Lynch in first career start. He didn't get help from his offensive line, but he was inaccurate early and he held onto the ball too long, but it was his first career start, and you can't expect him to light it up right away. I still think that Lynch will be a good QB, and I still believe that he is the future at that position, but with any rookie, you have to expect some rough moments and this past week was one of those days.
4) I'm still surprised that Wade Phillips and the Broncos defense made no adjustments as the game went on. A game like this exposes the fact that the team misses a guy like Danny Trevathan. I would expect that Phillips would be able to figure something out, but he was never able to find the answer.
5) Everything about this game was just weird. The Broncos started slow, fell behind 10-0, and the it just seemed like they couldn't get back into the game. It sucks that they lost at home in this fashion, but it seemed like something was off the entire game. It was like they were sleepwalking through most of the game, and expected that they would find a way to win the game late, but it just never materialized.
6) The key turning points and sequences were when the Broncos were backed up at their own 1 yard line in the third quarter. Lynch threw a play action pass out of the endzone and he threw a pick into double coverage. A few plays later, Matt Ryan hit Coleman on a 31 yard TD pass on a 2nd and 19 to give the Falcons a 20-3 lead halfway through the 3rd quarter. It was a backbreaker and effectively ended the game. Also, at the end of the 3rd quarter, T. J. Ward made a great play to strip the ball away from the receiver at midfield to give the Broncos a much-needed turnover, but the Broncos could only muster a field goal to make it 20-6. That was an opportunity that was missed by the Broncos.
7) After the loss, the news for the Broncos got worse with the news that Gary Kubiak had to go to the hospital. He was diagnosed with complex migraine syndrome, and he will be out for this Thursday's game at San Diego. Joe DeCamilis will be the interim HC and it is expected that Kubiak will rejoin the team next week. The Broncos suffered a very disappointing loss at home to the Falcons, but they will have to regroup quick with a key division road game at San Diego on a short week. At 4-1, all is not lost for the Broncos, but it is amazing how the NFL is a week-to-week league. So much can change in a week's time, and the Broncos need to get a win at SD on Thursday night, and use the 11 days off to get ready for the Texans on Monday night October 24th.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Broncos-Falcons Preview and Week 5 Picks!
The 4-0 Broncos host the 3-1 Falcons in a game that has suddenly become one of the marquee games of the weekend this Sunday. The game is exciting because it matches the Broncos great defense going up against the high-powered offense of the Falcons. If you are looking for a reference on good defense going up against a good offense, then look no further than Super Bowl 50 when the Broncos historic defense shut down the Panthers and their top flight offense. This Falcons team is different because they have an offense that can sling it. Matt Ryan is playing the best ball in a long time, and Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman are explosive players. It will be a fun matchup and I'm looking forward to the challenge for this Broncos defense. The Broncos are also not sure if QB Trevor Siemian will start the game due to last week's shoulder injury. If he can't go, then Paxton Lynch gets the nod. I think this will be a close game, and I think the Falcons will have some success, but in traditional Broncos fashion, I think this game comes down to the end and the Broncos defense will be able to hold off the Falcons late.
Atlanta (+5) over DENVER
Final Score: Broncos-26 Falcons-24
Now, onto the picks for Week 5....
Last Week's Record: 5-10
Overall Record: 33-28-2
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Atlanta (+5) over DENVER
Final Score: Broncos-26 Falcons-24
Now, onto the picks for Week 5....
Last Week's Record: 5-10
Overall Record: 33-28-2
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
MINNESOTA (-6) over Houston: The Vikings are 4-0 and they look like the best team in the NFC right now. They throttled the Giants last Monday night, and now the 3-1 Texans come into Minnesota this week. The Texans are that team that beats up on the weak teams, but can't beat a good team-especially on the road. I like the matchup with the Vikings defense going up against Brock Osweiler.
Tennessee (+4) over MIAMI: The Dolphins could be in flux in this game with Hurricane Matthew bearing down on Florida. In any event, do you have any confidence in the 1-3 Dolphins. The Titans come in at 1-3, but they almost pulled out victories the last two weeks against the Raiders and the Texans. I think this is a three point game either way.
New England (-9) over CLEVELAND: This one is pretty simple: Tom Brady is back from his four game suspension, and he returns to take on the 0-4 Browns. Take the Pats and lay the points.
NY Jets (+9.5) over PITTSBURGH: I figured that either the Steelers or the Vikings won't cover their spread at home this week. I think this game will be closer than people think. I know that Revis might not play, but I can see the Jets getting to Ben Roethlisberger with their front. I think the Steelers will be able to exploit the secondary of the Jets, but I could see Gang Green keeping this game closer than people think.
Washington (+4) over BALTIMORE: The Ravens suffered a crushing loss at home to the Raiders last week to fall to 3-1. The Redskins got to 2-2 with a home win over the Browns. The 2016 "Battle of the Beltway" has a chance to be a good game. I think the Ravens will win, but I think it is close and will come down to a field goal at the end.
DETROIT (+4) over Philly: I might be the only person left in America that isn't buying into the Eagles just yet. I think they are improved from last year, and I like what I saw from Carson Wentz, but I can't go crazy about them at this point. The Lions come in at 1-3 and looked awful last week at Chicago. I can see them playing a solid game at home this week and pulling the upset.
INDY(-4) over Chicago: This is the time for the Colts to somehow right the ship. They are 1-3 coming off a tough loss to the Jags in London, and now they return home to take on the 1-3 Bears. How many times in Andrew Luck's career have the Colts been down by 10 or more points in the second half of games. It seems like that is the case every week. I think the Colts will win this game because if they don't and they fall to 1-4, it could get ugly in Indianapolis.
Buffalo (+3) over LOS ANGELES: What a weird game this has turned out to be. The Rams are somehow 3-1 with one of the worst offenses in the league. The Bills are 2-2 after starting the year at 0-2. This is a hard game to call, but I think I'll go with the Bills on the road. This seems like a 17-13 game either way, and I think the Bills will find a way to win.
OAKLAND (-3) over San Diego: The Chargers are 1-3 and they have led every game at the 2:00 warning. The way they lost last week's game to the Saints was just awful. The problem for the Chargers is that they are getting killed with injuries each week. I have a tough time thinking they will be able to hold off the Raiders in the Black Hole on Sunday. The Raiders come in at 3-1 after three road wins in their first four games. Look for the Raiders to get to 4-1 and take care of business at home over the Bolts.
DALLAS (+1) over Cincy: The Cowboys are off to a 3-1 start thanks to the play of QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliot. The Bengals come to Dallas at 2-2 and have had 10 days off thanks to a Thursday night win over Miami in Week 4. I like this game a lot and I think it will be a fun game to watch. I think the Cowboys will get to 4-1 in a close, hard-fought victory.
GREEN BAY (-7) over NY Giants: I don't like anything I have seen out of the Giants the last two weeks. Now, they head to Lambeau to take on the 2-1 Packers, who are coming off their bye week. I think the G-Men are running into a buzzsaw on Sunday night. I don't have a lot of confidence that they can win this game or even keep it close.
Tampa Bay (+5) over CAROLINA: Cam Newton's status is uncertain due to the concussion he suffered in last Sunday's loss to the Falcons. At 1-3, the Panthers are struggling, but this could be the game that gets them back on track. Jameis Winston has really struggled the last three weeks, and I think his struggles will continue this week. I just don't think the Bucs are a good team at this point in the year.
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Week 5 TNF Pick
Arizona (PICK) over SAN FRANCISCO: The Cardinals are without Carson Palmer, so we have Drew Stanton going up against Blaine Gabbert on Thursday Night Football. I don't think that matchup will help the sagging NFL ratings. I'll take the 1-3 Cards over the 1-3 Niners in this snoozefest.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Broncos Bury Buccaneers 27-7, Start Season 4-0
The Broncos went into Tampa Bay on Sunday as favorites and walked out of there with a convincing 27-7 victory and a 4-0 start to the 2016 season. Denver's defense once again forced turnovers, dominated Jameis Winston, and got help from their offense to secure the easy road win. The Broncos did what a good team does: They took care of an inferior opponent and won the game. It was a decisive victory on a hot and humid day in Tampa, and the Broncos established themselves as one of the teams to beat in the NFL in the first quarter of the season. Here are my thoughts and observations on the win....
1) Aqib Talib set the tone for the game when he picked off Jameis Winston twice in the first half. The first interception on the third play of the game set up a Trevor Siemian to Demaryius Thomas 11-yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Denver early in the first quarter. His second interception early in the second quarter set up a C. J. Anderson 1-yard run to give the Broncos a 14-7 lead. Both interceptions set the tone for the game, and both plays gave the offense a huge boost. Talib has been really good this season and those two plays really affected the game. He might end up getting suspended at some point because of his stupid gun incident in June, but let's hope that his suspension will be appealed and it goes into the 2017 season.
2) Once the Broncos defense got a lead and the game wore on, the defense took over and suffocated the Broncos and the Bucs offense. The Broncos recorded 5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and basically harassed Jameis Wintston the entire game and made his life miserable. Hats off to Derek Wolfe, who recorded 2.5 sacks and was a dominating presence in the backfield all day long. Shaq Barrett added a sack and Von Miller added a 1/2 sack. The Broncos are like sharks. Once they smell blood in the water, they attack. Once they got up 14-7 and 17-7, they attacked the Bucs and never let up. It is a joy to watch every week just like it was a joy to watch Peyton Manning run this offense from 2012-2014.
3) The turning point for me was when Charles Sims fumbled down 14-7 late in the 2nd quarter with the Bucs driving at the Denver 26. After the Broncos defense stuffed him on a short yardage play, he looked like he tried to lateral the ball to Winston, but Billy Winn jumped in and recovered the ball. That was a huge sequence of plays right there.
4) Trevor Siemian looked good in the first half and was moving the team well before he suffered a shoulder injury when he got slammed down to the ground on a sack. In comes Paxton Lynch and the offense never missed a beat. Lynch looked really good. He finished 14-24 for 170 yards and 1 TD. Lynch looked comfortable, threw the ball down the field really well, and moved the team into position for two field goals and a touchdown early in the 4th quarter. It was very encouraging to see him play and he did a really nice job. It didn't look like the Broncos and Gary Kubiak even altered the play-calling. They just kept going with their game plan. Lynch drove the Broncos for a field goal to make it 17-7 right before the half, and then took them down the field to get a field goal to make it 20-7 on the first drive of the second half. He then did a nice job moving the Broncos down the field and hit Emmanuel Sanders for an easy 5 yard touchdown pass on a naked bootleg and the Broncos had a 27-7 early in the 4th quarter. I understand that if Siemian is healthy, then he should start, but Lynch's time is coming.
5) Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas had another strong outing. Thomas had 6 receptions for 94 yards and 1 TD, and Sanders had 8 catches for 88 yards and 1 TD. Both made really big catches down the field, and it is very important to see them get involved like that every week.
6) Overall, it was a solid win, and this team is on a roll right now. They expect to win and as a fan, I expect them to win. Their defense is obviously their strength, but their offense is playing at a very solid level, and they just have a confidence about them. I just trust that they will somehow find a way to win every week, and when they play a weaker team like the Bucs, they take care of business. It really is stunning to me how they have come out this season and have started 4-0. I did not expect that to start this year.
7) Think about where this franchise was in 2011 after five games. They were 1-4, and they were starting Tim Tebow in a game at Miami. It looked like the franchise was destined for another non-playoff season for the sixth straight year. Since that game including the playoffs and this year, they are 67-22 including five AFC West tiles, the Tebow to Thomas playoff win over the Steelers, the Peyton Manning signing, two AFC Championship wins over the Patriots, two Super Bowl appearances, three #1 seeds in the AFC, and one Super Bowl victory. People tend to forget how bad this franchise was from the last part of the 2009 season to the second month of the 2011 season. It is remarkable to see how this franchise has been transformed the past five seasons.
8) The Broncos head home to Denver to take on the 3-1 Atlanta Falcons, who are on a tear offensively the last three weeks. It should be a really fun matchup between the Broncos defense and the Falcons offense. This has all the makings of a really good early season game. Go Broncos!
1) Aqib Talib set the tone for the game when he picked off Jameis Winston twice in the first half. The first interception on the third play of the game set up a Trevor Siemian to Demaryius Thomas 11-yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Denver early in the first quarter. His second interception early in the second quarter set up a C. J. Anderson 1-yard run to give the Broncos a 14-7 lead. Both interceptions set the tone for the game, and both plays gave the offense a huge boost. Talib has been really good this season and those two plays really affected the game. He might end up getting suspended at some point because of his stupid gun incident in June, but let's hope that his suspension will be appealed and it goes into the 2017 season.
2) Once the Broncos defense got a lead and the game wore on, the defense took over and suffocated the Broncos and the Bucs offense. The Broncos recorded 5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and basically harassed Jameis Wintston the entire game and made his life miserable. Hats off to Derek Wolfe, who recorded 2.5 sacks and was a dominating presence in the backfield all day long. Shaq Barrett added a sack and Von Miller added a 1/2 sack. The Broncos are like sharks. Once they smell blood in the water, they attack. Once they got up 14-7 and 17-7, they attacked the Bucs and never let up. It is a joy to watch every week just like it was a joy to watch Peyton Manning run this offense from 2012-2014.
3) The turning point for me was when Charles Sims fumbled down 14-7 late in the 2nd quarter with the Bucs driving at the Denver 26. After the Broncos defense stuffed him on a short yardage play, he looked like he tried to lateral the ball to Winston, but Billy Winn jumped in and recovered the ball. That was a huge sequence of plays right there.
4) Trevor Siemian looked good in the first half and was moving the team well before he suffered a shoulder injury when he got slammed down to the ground on a sack. In comes Paxton Lynch and the offense never missed a beat. Lynch looked really good. He finished 14-24 for 170 yards and 1 TD. Lynch looked comfortable, threw the ball down the field really well, and moved the team into position for two field goals and a touchdown early in the 4th quarter. It was very encouraging to see him play and he did a really nice job. It didn't look like the Broncos and Gary Kubiak even altered the play-calling. They just kept going with their game plan. Lynch drove the Broncos for a field goal to make it 17-7 right before the half, and then took them down the field to get a field goal to make it 20-7 on the first drive of the second half. He then did a nice job moving the Broncos down the field and hit Emmanuel Sanders for an easy 5 yard touchdown pass on a naked bootleg and the Broncos had a 27-7 early in the 4th quarter. I understand that if Siemian is healthy, then he should start, but Lynch's time is coming.
5) Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas had another strong outing. Thomas had 6 receptions for 94 yards and 1 TD, and Sanders had 8 catches for 88 yards and 1 TD. Both made really big catches down the field, and it is very important to see them get involved like that every week.
6) Overall, it was a solid win, and this team is on a roll right now. They expect to win and as a fan, I expect them to win. Their defense is obviously their strength, but their offense is playing at a very solid level, and they just have a confidence about them. I just trust that they will somehow find a way to win every week, and when they play a weaker team like the Bucs, they take care of business. It really is stunning to me how they have come out this season and have started 4-0. I did not expect that to start this year.
7) Think about where this franchise was in 2011 after five games. They were 1-4, and they were starting Tim Tebow in a game at Miami. It looked like the franchise was destined for another non-playoff season for the sixth straight year. Since that game including the playoffs and this year, they are 67-22 including five AFC West tiles, the Tebow to Thomas playoff win over the Steelers, the Peyton Manning signing, two AFC Championship wins over the Patriots, two Super Bowl appearances, three #1 seeds in the AFC, and one Super Bowl victory. People tend to forget how bad this franchise was from the last part of the 2009 season to the second month of the 2011 season. It is remarkable to see how this franchise has been transformed the past five seasons.
8) The Broncos head home to Denver to take on the 3-1 Atlanta Falcons, who are on a tear offensively the last three weeks. It should be a really fun matchup between the Broncos defense and the Falcons offense. This has all the makings of a really good early season game. Go Broncos!
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