Broncos Win Season Finale Over Raiders, Finish at 7-9

The Broncos defeated the Raiders on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High in the final game of the 2019 regular season. Shelby Harris knocked down a two-point conversion attempt with only a few seconds to go and the Broncos celebrated a 16-15 win over their division rivals. The win meant that Denver finished strong with a 7-5 record after starting 0-4, and it also pushed Drew Lock's record to 4-1 as a first year starter. It was also a great game because I was there myself in person! My wife surprised me for my 40th birthday with tickets to the game, and we brought our two sons with us all the way from Long Island. It was a weekend none of us will ever forget. Here is my final thoughts and observations from the game from a little different perspective this week.....

1) The stadium and the crowd had a lot of energy all game long. There was a lot of enthusiasm from the crowd, and it felt like the Broncos were battling for a playoff spot with the way the crowd was into it. That was very satisfying considering the Broncos were 6-9 and out of the playoff chase.

2) Give kudos to the in-game stadium crew for their entertainment on the big screen and getting the fans involved. A lot of great music, videos, hype-up songs, and even a funny little skit with Baby Yoda. Very well done.

3) I love watching warmups when I go to games, and I was paying attention to Chris Harris, considering this might be his last game as a Bronco. Harris seemed distant from his teammates during warmups, and he looked as though he was off to the side during team breakdowns. I just got the vibe that this was the last time we see Harris in a Broncos uniform.

4) It was cool to see John Elway standing on the sidelines during warmups. Elway just looks like a cool guy and an awesome dude to hang out with.

5) Seeing Drew Lock in person was really neat. Even in person, you can see how strong his arm is and how he makes some difficult throws look really easy. Very impressive.

6) As for the game, the Raiders absolutely dominated and should have won the game, but they made a ton of mistakes, fell victim to some bad calls, and just couldn't get out of their own way at times. They had a touchdown reversed due to a booth review, got stuffed inside the Broncos 1 on 4th down, missed a field goal, fumbled before the end of the half, and took a bunch of key penalties. Denver had no business winning this game.

7) The Broncos literally almost blew the game to the Raiders. Royce Freeman fumbled inside Raiders territory with the Broncos up 16-6 and under six minutes to go in the game. The Raiders got a field goal out of the drive, and after the Broncos stopped the Raiders on 4th down the next drive, a Garret Bolles personal foul penalty backed up the Broncos 15 yards and forced Brandon McManus to try a 56 yard field goal to give Denver a 19-9 lead and essentially clinching the game. McManus missed it right, and of course the Raiders drove down to get a touchdown from Derek Carr to Hunter Renfrow. Jon Gruden decided to go for 2, and Harris knocked down Carr's pass and preserved the Broncos win. From my view, you could see Carr looking for Renfrow all the way, and he was wide open. If Harris doesn't knock it down, the Raiders would have converted that play.

8) It was a great day from start to finish. My sons got to meet Derek Wolfe, Dalton Risner, Philip Lindsay, and Justin Simmons before the game as the players entered through their tunnel. The whole weekend was amazing and I'm so happy the Broncos won the game and finished 7-9.

9) This season was not the success that the Broncos wanted or us fans expected, but with the emergence of Drew Lock and the continued development of the other young, core players, the feeling in Denver for the Broncos at the end of this season is so much better than the last two years. It feels like the Broncos are getting ready to make a run to the playoffs in 2020. It was fun watching this team when Drew Lock took over, and to finish 4-1 in the last five games, was a great way to end the year and head into the offseason. I'll be doing my after season mailbag in the next few days, and I'll address all the different topics related to the Broncos heading into the winter.

Week 17 Picks and Playoff Schedule Predictions!

The Broncos host the Raiders in Week 17 with something on the line for Oakland. The Raiders won't know their playoff fate when they kickoff at Denver, so they will be playing for a possible chance to make the playoffs if four other games go their way. Denver will look to finish 7-9 and knock the Raiders out of any possible playoff berth. Hopefully, the Broncos will beat the Raiders and end the 2019 season with momentum going into 2020. Here are my picks for Week 17....

Last Week's Record: 8-7-1
Overall Record: 112-115-12
(Home Team in Caps)

Cleveland (-2) over CINCY

Indy (+1) over JACKSONVILLE

TAMPA BAY (-2) over Atlanta

BUFFALO (-3) over NY Jets: The Bills are locked into the #5 seed in the AFC.

LA RAMS (-7) over Arizona

KANSAS CITY (-7) over LA Chargers: The Chiefs secure the #3 seed in the AFC.

MINNESOTA (-6) over Chicago: The Vikings secure the #5 seed in the NFC.

DALLAS (-7) over Washington: The Cowboys finish 8-8 but miss the playoffs.

Philly (-6) over NY GIANTS: The Eagles defeat the Giants, win the NFC East, and secure the #4 seed in the NFC

New Orleans (-9) over CAROLINA: The Saints secure the #3 seed in the NFC.

NEW ENGLAND (-14) over Miami: The Pats get the #2 seed in the AFC.

Green Bay (-8) over DETROIT: The Packers secure the #2 seed in the NFC.

Pittsburgh (+3) over BALTIMORE: The Ravens have the #1 seed in the AFC, rest their starters, and the Steelers win to finish 9-7, but miss out on the playoffs.

Oakland (+4) over DENVER: The Raiders win to finish 8-8, but fail to make the playoffs.

Tennessee (+1) over HOUSTON: The Titans beat the Texans and secure the #6 seed in the AFC, while Houston has the #4 seed.

San Francisco (+1) over SEATTLE: The Niners secure the #1 seed in the NFC, and the Seahawks are the #5 seed in the NFC

Playoff Schedule Predictions:

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday January 4th
(5) Buffalo at (4) Houston 4:30pm EST (ESPN/ABC)
(6) Minnesota at (3) New Orleans 8:00pm EST (NBC)

Sunday January 5th
(6) Tennessee at (3) Kansas City 1:00pm EST (CBS)
(5) Seattle at (4) Philadelphia 4:40pm EST (FOX)

Divisional Weekend
Saturday January 11th
at (1) Baltimore 4:30pm EST (NBC)
at (1) San Francisco 8:00pm EST (FOX)

Sunday January 12th
at (2) Green Bay 3:00pm EST (FOX)
at (2) New England 6:30pm EST (CBS)

Broncos Knock Off Lions 27-17, Improve to 6-9

The Broncos defeated the Lions on Sunday 27-17 to improve their record to 6-9 on the season with one game left. Denver actually rallied from a 17-13 deficit in the 4th quarter and won the game going away. Drew Lock is now 3-1 as the Broncos starter as they head into their season finale against the Raiders (I will be there!) next week. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) I was worried when the Broncos trailed 10-0 on the heels of a punt return touchdown. If they lost to the 3-10-1 Lions at home, then there would be some major concern. It turns out Denver scored on their next five straight possessions.

2) Drew Lock was very solid and efficient. He finished 25-33 with 192 yards and 1 TD. He was solid as he took what the Lions gave him and moved the ball well on key third downs. It was another step in the right direction for Lock and this team.

3) Philip Lindsay finished with 109 yards rushing and a 27 yard TD run to put the game away midway through the 4th quarter. He is only 45 yards away from getting 1,000 on the season.

4) After a Royce Freeman 1 yard TD run to cut the Detroit lead to 10-7, Brandon McManus nailed two field goals to give Denver a 13-10 3rd quarter lead. The Lions came right back and took a 17-13 lead heading into the 4th quarter, but Vic Fangio went for it on 4th and 1 from their own 49 and Lock gave it Andrew Beck, who flipped it to Lindsay for a 6 yard gain and a key first down. Lock completed a shovel pass to Daesean Hamilton for a 3 yard TD and the Broncos took the 20-17 lead. After a Detroit punt, Denver marched 61 yards on 7 plays and Lindsay capped it off with a 27 yard TD run to put the game away for the Broncos.

5) It was a good win for the Broncos. They are 6-5 since their horrendous 0-4 start to the season. What kind of season could this have been if they didn't blow the games to the Bears, Jaguars, Colts, and Vikings? Win two of those and they are 8-7 with a chance to get the 6 seed in the AFC. In any event, I like how this team has fought this season despite all the adversity and tough losses. Also, Drew Lock continues to impress. I like him to be the guy going forward for us in 2020. Also, the Raiders still have an outside shot at the playoffs, so the Broncos can be spoilers and knock them out with a win on Sunday. That would be a great way to end the season. The Broncos are 6-9, the same exact record as last year heading into the final game, but the vibe and feeling around this team is so different.

Broncos-Lions and Week 16 Picks

The Broncos come home to Denver for the first of two home games to finish out the 2019 season. Although they are 5-9, these two games are important to me. First, I want them to finish strong and win the last two games to finish 7-9. After an 0-4 start, to go 7-5 the last 12 games would be a positive. Secondly, I don't want them to finish with 10+losses for the third consecutive season. Lastly, I want to see Drew Lock play well and continue his development. I think he can be the guy for this franchise going forward, and I want to see him play well and win these last two games.
Prediction: Detroit (+6) over DENVER
Final Score: Broncos-23 Lions-20

Now, onto the picks for Week 16 in the National Football League............

Last Week's Record: 8-8
Overall Record: 104-108-11
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Houston (+1) over TAMPA BAY: Game one of the Saturday tripleheader begins in Tampa where the 9-5 Texans are looking to solidify a playoff spot with a win over the 7-7 Bucs. I think the Bucs will be feisty, but they are all beat up on offense, so look for the Texans to take control of the game and win it going away.

NEW ENGLAND (-6) over Buffalo: Game two of the Saturday tripleheader features the 11-3 Patriots and the 10-4 Bills. The Pats won the first game between these two in Buffalo, but the Bills still have an outside chance to win the division. Both teams clinched playoff berths, but this game is big for seeding in the AFC. Look for the Pats to take care of business at home to lock up that first round bye.

LA Rams (+7) over SAN FRANCISCO: The Niners are 11-3 and suffered a bad loss at home to the Falcons last week. The Rams are 8-6 and are a longshot for the playoffs. I think the Niners will win the game, but I think the Rams will be a tough out here.

Jacksonville (+6) over ATLANTA: Jacksonville looks better with Gardner Minshew at QB than Nick Foles, as evidenced by their comeback win over the Raiders last week. I think they get two in a row here.

TENNESSEE (+2) over New Orleans: The Titans are 8-6 and get win the division or get a wild card in the AFC, but they have to win here. I think they will play a really good game at home, and upset the Saints.

WASHINGTON (-3) over NY Giants: The Redskins will beat the Giants in a game that will have both fanbases longing for the the days of Joe Gibbs vs. Bill Parcells.

NY JETS (+3) over Pittsburgh: The Jets will pull the upset on the Steelers at home and send Pitt to 8-7 and put a huge dent in their playoff plans.

MIAMI (-3) over Cincy: The Dolphins will knock off the Bengals as Cincy clinches the #1 pick in next year's draft.

INDY (-6) over Carolina:  I feel like the Panthers will have to win one game down in the last two games of the year. Even if they don't beat the Colts, they will keep it close.

Baltimore (-7) over CLEVELAND: I can't see the Ravens stubbing their toe against the clown show that is the Browns in Week 16. Baltimore clinches the #1 seed in the AFC and they will rest their starters next week.

Dallas (-1) over PHILLY: The battle for the NFC East is in Philly as the 7-7 Cowboys take on the 7-7 Eagles. The Eagles are banged up on offense, and they have just scraped by the Giants and Redskins the last two weeks. The Cowboys are probably the better team, but they have been very inconsistent the last month. I'll take Dallas only because I want them to win.

SEATTLE (-8) over Arizona: Seattle doesn't mess around here at home with the Cardinals and they keep their hopes alive to have the #1 seed in the NFC and homefield advantage.

Oakland (+7) over LA CHARGERS: The Raiders have lost four in a row and at 6-8 look like they won't make the playoffs. I think they take care of the Chargers this week.

Kansas City (-4) over CHICAGO: Not the best Sunday night game for Week 16, but I think the Chiefs will take care of the 7-7 Bears and gear themselves up for a playoff run in the AFC.

MINNESOTA (-3) over Green Bay: This is a great game on Monday Night Football. The 11-3 Packers go into Minnesota to take on the 10-4 Vikings with the NFC North on the line. One day before Christmas Eve, this game is a must watch for the weekend. I think Minnesota wins, but the Packers can still clinch the division with a win next week.

Broncos Lose to KC in Snowy Arrowhead, Fall to 5-9

The Broncos went into Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday and took on the AFC West Champion Chiefs in the snow to determine if the Broncos had bridged the gap on the Chiefs and if Drew Lock could continue his hot start to his career. Both situations came back in a negative way for the Broncos. Denver was smoked 23-3 by the Chiefs and the loss dropped the Broncos to 5-9 on the season, ensuring their third consecutive losing season. It was a tough day in the snow and it showed how far away Denver actually is from competing with the Chiefs for the divisional crown. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game.

1)    The snow affected the Broncos way more than the Chiefs. The Broncos defense could not adjust to the conditions. The Chiefs receivers were wide open all day long-especially Travis Kelce. I would have expected the Broncos to adjust to the conditions a lot better than they did.

2)    Pat Mahoney was awesome. He just diced up the Broncos defense. He is too good for us right now, and it appears that he will be the thorn in our side for many years to come. The Chiefs scored points on their first five possessions.

3)    Quite simply, the Broncos are just not good enough right now to go into KC and beat the Chiefs. They are not there yet. If we get back into playoff contention next season, it is going to have to be as a wild card. Denver’s not ready to take this division away from the Chiefs. KC has now won nine straight games against the Broncos. It reminds me of the dominance the Chargers had over Denver from 2005-2008.

4)    Drew Lock didn’t play well. I’m not going to kill him for this game. It was in a snowstorm against and clearly better team. I think there is high hopes for Lock, and I still think he can be the guy going forward for this franchise. It does look like a flaw in his game will be not stepping into some throws. He doesn’t have a strong enough arm to do that just yet. I am still looking forward to seeing him play the last two games.

5)    At 5-9, the Broncos are headed for a third straight losing season. There are young pieces there, but I would like them to win the last two and finish 7-9 and have some momentum heading into 2020. We aren’t that far off from make a 10-6 type turnaround next season, but challenging for the division will be a long shot in the near future with Mahomes and Chiefs in control.

Broncos-Chiefs and Week 15 Picks!

The Broncos are on a two-game winning streak and head to KC to take on the 9-4 and AFC West Champion Chiefs. This is a big test for Drew Lock, who has looked great in his first two starts. On the road in a hostile stadium against a division rival. The Broncos need to beat the Chiefs. They haven't beat KC since Week 2 of the 2015 season. It's time to knock off the big bully on the block. Do I think the Broncos will win? Probably not, but I like their chances with Lock and the way this team has responded around him the last two games. Maybe they will keep this one closer than everyone thinks.

Prediction: Denver (+11) over KANSAS CITY
Final Score: Chiefs-30 Broncos-23

Now, onto the picks for Week 15 in the National Football League.........


Last Week's Record: 7-7-2
Overall Record: 96-100-11
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Tampa Bay (-3) over DETROIT: At 6-7, the Bucs have played better and given their fans hope that Bruce Arians will turn this franchise around. They will get to 7-7 with a win over the fading 3-9-1 Lions.

Philly (-4) over WASHINGTON: I know Eagles are banged up in receiving corps, but after saving their season with a win over the Giants in overtime last Monday night, I think they might have found new life. A win over the 3-10 Redskins puts them at 7-7 and hosting the Cowboys next Sunday for a chance to take control of the NFC East.

Chicago (+5) over GREEN BAY: I think the Packers will win the game outright, but I look at this game and for some reason, I can see the Bears keeping it close. The Bears make the Packers sweat and lose a heartbreaker to fall to 7-7 and eliminate them from the playoffs, while GB wins and gets to 11-3.

New England (-9) over CINCY: The Pats have lost two in a row and now stand at 10-3, but they will rebound and take care of business on the road over the 1-12 Bengals.

Houston (+3) over TENNESSEE: I have a feeling that the Texans will play a good game after getting killed at home to the Broncos last week. The Titans are surging at 8-5 with Ryan Tannehill at QB, and their home crowd will be rocking this week. Look for a back and forth game, but I'm going with Houston.

Seattle (-5) over CAROLINA: At 5-8, the Panthers are done for 2019. They have fired Ron Rivera and they are just playing out the string. Look for Seattle to bounce back from last week's terrible loss to the Rams and get to 11-3 with a solid performance on the road.

Miami (+4) over NY GIANTS: The Giants start Eli Manning for the second straight week as Daniel Jones still recovers from a high ankle sprain. It doesn't matter for the 2-11 Giants. Head coach Pat Shurmur might be out after this brutal season anyway. Look for the Dolphins to cover.

OAKLAND (-6) over Jacksonville: I think the Raiders, who are 6-7, will play well in a game that they desperately need. They can't lose this game at home to the 4-9 Jaguars. The Raiders will get to 7-7 with a big home win.

ARIZONA (+3) over Cleveland: At some point, the 3-9-1 Cardinals are going to win another game this season, and I could see it happening here. They will pull the upset as a home underdog and knock the 6-7 Browns officially out of playoff contention.

SAN FRANCISCO (-10) over Atlanta: The Niners will roll to a 12-2 record after burying the Falcons at home.

LA Rams (-1) over DALLAS: Huge, huge game in the NFC in Dallas. The Cowboys are 6-7, losers of three straight, and the Rams are 8-5 and still on the outside looking in for a playoff spot. I think the Rams are the better team, and I think they will knock off the Cowboys in this spot on Sunday.

LA CHARGERS (+3) over Minnesota: Philip Rivers and the Chargers got to 5-8 after a blowout win over the Jaguars on the road last week. Now, they come home and host the 9-4 Vikings, who need to win to keep pace with the Packers in the NFC North. I'm taking Rivers and the Chargers only because I would like to see Minnesota and the Rams tied for the final playoff spot in the NFC with only two weeks left in the season.

Buffalo (+3) over PITTSBURGH: The Bills are 9-4 and they have lost to the Pats, Eagles, Ravens, and the Browns. No one really thinks they are going to beat a quality team. I don't think you can count the Cowboys win on Thanksgiving as a big-time win. I think the Bills are due to go into Pittsburgh and win a game that a lot of people are not picking them to win.

NEW ORLEANS (-8) over Indy: The Saints will rebound from that home loss to the Niners last week, and get to 11-3 with a big home win over the 6-7 Colts on Monday Night Football.

Ravens-Jets TNF Pick

NY Jets (+15) over BALTIMORE 

Broncos Crush Texans, Drew Lock Wins 2nd Straight Start

Wow, that was fun. The Broncos went into Houston on Sunday and absolutely buried the 8-4 Texans 38-24. Drew Lock put on a show as he threw 3 TDs and the Broncos raced to a 31-3 halftime lead on their way to the 38-24 win. Denver improves to 5-8 on the season, and Drew Lock has given the team some life and the fanbase some hope. It was a great win and a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon for the Broncos Country. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game...

1) The story with this game is Drew Lock. He was unbelievable in his second career start. He finished 22-27 for 309 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT. He made big-time throw after big-time throw and completely diced up the Texans. It started on the first drive of the game and never stopped. His TD throw to Noah Fant to give the Broncos an early 7-0 lead was a laser, and his throw to Tim Patrick down the sideline to set up a field goal in the second quarter was his best throw of the two games he has played so far. I love watching him play and displayed the talent, arm strength, and swagger that this franchise needs at the QB position.

2) Kareem Jackson was the player of the game on defense. He was all over the field. He made big tackles, broke up passes, and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the 1st quarter to give Denver the 14-0 lead. He was on a mission against his former team. His hit on DeAndre Hopkins over the middle was a tone setter.

3) The Broncos jumped out to the 14-0 lead on Fant TD and Kareem Jackson fumble return and never looked back. A Lock to Jeff Heuerman TD pass made it 21-3 and then after the Broncos stopped Houston on a 4th down deep in Texans territory before the half, they made them pay with Lock hitting Royce Freeman for a short TD to make it 31-3 at halftime. The Broncos jumped all over the Texans and Houston had no idea what hit them.

4) The final was 38-24 but make no mistake-this game was not close. Drew Lock's only mistake was an interception deep in Houston territory and the Broncos up 38-10, and Houston scored on the ensuing drive, but this game was never in doubt. This reminded me of a classic 2012-2014 Peyton Manning era Broncos type of win.

5) The Broncos are now 5-8 and are headed to KC to take on the Chiefs next week. This season is fun again, and with Lock at the controls, I can't wait to watch them take on Pat Mahomes in Arrowhead next Sunday. I want the Broncos to finish 8-8, so this game means a lot to me. I hope this is the start of the Drew Lock-Pat Mahomes rivalry for years to come.

Broncos-Texans and Week 14 Picks

The Broncos head to Houston this week to take on the 8-4 Texans. Drew Lock will be making his second career start for the Broncos after last week's win over the Chargers. It is going to be fun every week to watch Lock, and I would really love to see Denver get the upset here. They have been close at times this year on the road against good teams (Indy and Minnesota), and maybe they break through here and pull it off. It might be too tall of an order, but I can see them keeping it close for a bit.

Prediction: Denver (+9) over HOUSTON
Finals Score: Texans-26 Broncos-18

Last Week's Record: 10-5-1
Overall Record: 89-93-9
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Now, onto the picks for Week 14.....

Baltimore (-5) over BUFFALO

GREEN BAY (-10) over Washington

San Francisco (+3) over NEW ORLEANS

Cincy (+8) over CLEVELAND

ATLANTA (-2) over Carolina

MINNESOTA (-12) over Detroit

Miami (+6) over NY JETS
Indy (+3) over TAMPA BAY

JACKSONVILLE (+3) over LA CHARGERS

NEW ENGLAND (-3) over Kansas City

ARIZONA (+3) over Pittsburgh

OAKLAND (+3) over Tennessee

LA RAMS (PICK) over Seattle

PHILLY (-8) over NY Giants

Cowboys-Bears TNF Pick

Dallas(-2) over CHICAGO 

Broncos Defeat Chargers 23-20, Drew Lock Wins His Debut

The Broncos defeated the Chargers in Denver on Sunday 23-20 to improve their record to 4-8. It was the debut of rookie QB Drew Lock, and he was a winner in his first game. It was a game that the Broncos almost blew once again late in the game, but they pulled it out and won on a last second field goal by Brandon McManus. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game….

1)    Lock was solid in his first game. He finished 18-28 for 134 yards 2 TDs and 1 INT. It was encouraging and his first touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton was a great throw. I like the other aspects of Lock as the starter. He has moxie and the “It” factor. It is going to be fun to watch him play the rest of the season. I’m looking forward to it.

2)    This game played out like a lot of the losses the Broncos had this season. They were up 14-0 on the heels of two Lock TD passes to Sutton. They were up 17-3, and then of course the Chargers got back into the game. A late score right before the half made it 17-10. The offense got too conservative after the first quarter. It almost cost them the game.

3)    The ending of this game was wild. After Keenan Allen scored to tie it up at 17 early the 4^th quarter, the Broncos took the lead with a Brandon McManus field goal with over four minutes to go in the game. The Chargers tied it up when they hit a 4^th and 11 prayer from Philip Rivers to Mike Williams into Denver territory. They kicked a field goal to tie it at 20 with only 14 seconds left in the game. It looked like the Broncos were going to blow another one.

4)    Vic Fangio decided to not just take a knee, but he wanted to throw it deep and take a shot with Courtland Sutton. The strategy worked because they drew a 37 yard pass interference call and gave Denver a shot at a game-winning field goal. It definitely was a legitimate pass interference. McManus nailed the 53 yard field goal and the Broncos won the game 23-20.

a5) The Broncos are now 4-4 in their last eight games and 4-8 overall after that terrible 0-4 start. Denver heads to Houston on Sunday to take on the Texans, and although they are steep underdog, it will be fun to watch how Drew Lock plays in his first road game. Finally, it is Drew Lock's time in Denver, and it has made this final stretch a must watch.