Week 16 Picks

The Broncos fell to the Chargers on TNF 34-27 in a game in which Denver led 21-13 at halftime and 24-13 in the third quarter. The Chargers rallied back behind a tremendous performance by Justin Herbert, a lot of costly penalties by the Broncos, and an offense that went ice-cold in the second half. Now, the Broncos are 9-6 and have to head to Cincinnati to take on the 6-8 Bengals in Week 17. That game will not be easy. The Bengals host Cleveland in Week 16, so there is a very solid chance that Cincy is 7-8 and hosting Denver in that game. Denver finishes with Kansas City at home, and the Bronco fans should be rooting for KC to keep winning and have everything locked up by the time that Week 18 occurs. There is a lot to play out before we get there, and last night's loss was a brutal one for the Broncos. They had a chance to clinch a playoff spot in a game that they were leading for three quarters. Just a tough one to take and now we have to wait 10 days before they head to Cincy in a huge game. 

Now, onto the picks for Week 16....

Last Week's Record: 8-8

Overall Record: 120-93-8

Houston (+3.5) over KANSAS CITY

Pittsburgh (+6.5) over BALTIMORE

CINCINNATI (-7.5) over Cleveland

Giants (+8.5) over ATLANTA

BUFFALO (-14) over New England

Arizona (-4) over CAROLINA

Detroit (-6) over CHICAGO

INDIANAPOLIS (-3) over Tennessee

JETS (+3.5) over Rams

Philadelphia (-3.5) over WASHINGTON

Jacksonville (+1) over LAS VEGAS

San Francisco (+1) over MIAMI

Tampa Bay (-4) over DALLAS

GREEN BAY (-14) over New Orleans 

Broncos-Chargers Week 16 TNF Pick

 The Broncos head into LA to take on the Chargers on Thursday Night Football in a huge game to kick off Week 16. Denver is 9-5 after a big home win over the Colts last Sunday. All the Broncos need to do is win one of their final 3 games and they will clinch a playoff berth. Denver can clinch this week with a win over the Chargers. This game was flexed into Thursday night about a month ago. It is a short week and going on the road is usually tough for a Thursday night game, but Denver's fans should travel well for this game in LA-especially with a playoff berth at stake. The Chargers really handled the Broncos in their first matchup in Denver back in October. They jumped out to a 23-0 lead before Denver mounted a late rally in the 4th quarter. Both teams are a little banged up going into this game, so that will play a role. It should be a close game, but I have a hard time thinking the Chargers will lose three in a row.

Prediction: CHARGERS (-3) over Denver

Final Score: Chargers-24 Broncos-17

Broncos-Colts and Week 15 Picks

This Sunday is the biggest game for the Broncos since the 2015 Super Bowl season. It is that big-given all the circumstances. Denver is 8-5 and in control of the 7th seed in the AFC playoff race. They are above the 6-7 Colts, the 6-7 Dolphins, and the 5-8 Bengals. A win here on Sunday over the Colts will really put the Broncos in position to clinch a wild card spot. If they lose, that opens the door for the Colts and even Miami and possibly Cincy. This is about as must-win as you can get. It's going to be a tough one. I think Denver is the better team, but you just never know. The Colts have been in close games all season long. I just don't know if Denver is ready to win this game and put themselves in a huge advantage for the playoffs.  I feel like the Broncos are somehow going to lose and this playoff spot is going to come down to the final week of the season.

Prediction: Indianapolis (+4) over DENVER

Final Score: Colts-23 Broncos-20

Now, onto the picks for Week 15....

Last Week's Record: 8-3-2

Overall Record: 112-85-8

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

CAROLINA (-2.5) over Dallas

CLEVELAND (+4) over Kansas City

HOUSTON (-3) over Miami

Jets (-3) over JACKSONVILLE

NEW ORLEANS (+7) over Washington

Baltimore (-15) over GIANTS

TENNESSEE (+5) over Cincinnati

ARIZONA (-5) over New England

Buffalo (+2.5) over DETROIT

CHARGERS (-3) over Tampa Bay

Pittsburgh (+5) over PHILADELPHIA

SEATTLE (+3) over Green Bay

MINNESOTA (-7) over Chicago

Atlanta (-4) over LAS VEGAS

Week 15 TNF Pick

 SAN FRANCISCO (-2.5) over Rams

Broncos on a Bye and Week 14 Picks

The Broncos hit their bye week with an 8-5 record and in possession of the last playoff spot in the AFC. It has been quite a turnaround from Week 2, when they lost at home to the Steelers and fell to 0-2. Bo Nix looked horrible through the first two weeks, and it looked like Denver was headed to a long, miserable season. But, things have changed since that point. The Broncos have gone 8-3 since, and they have put themselves into position to secure a playoff spot for the first time since the 2015 season. The biggest reason for the turnaround this year has been the solid play of the Broncos defense and the emergence of Bo Nix. Watching Nix develop and get better since the beginning of the season has been remarkable. It certainly looks like the Broncos have found their QB of the future. Now, they have to pay it off and make the playoffs. They are certainly a playoff worthy team. They have a two-game lead over Indianapolis for the last spot and a sizable lead over Miami and Cincy. If Denver goes 2-2 down the stretch, with one of those wins over Indy, then all they need is Miami to lose one game in their last five and the Broncos are in. The game after the bye is huge. They host the Colts, and that will be the biggest game for the Broncos since the 2015 season.

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

Last Week's Record: 8-8

Overall Record: 104-82-6

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

MIAMI (-6) over Jets

Atlanta (+5.5) over MINNESOTA

GIANTS (+5) over New Orleans

Carolina (+12.5) over PHILADELPHIA

PITTSBURGH (-6) over Cleveland

TAMPA. BAY (-6) over Las Vegas

TENNESSEE (-3) over Jacksonville 

ARIZONA (-2.5) over Seattle

RAMS (+4.5) over Buffalo

SAN FRANCISCO (-4) over Chicago

Chargers (+4) over KANSAS CITY

Cincinnati (-5.5) over DALLAS

Week 14 TNF Pick

 DETROIT (-3) over Green Bay

Broncos-Browns and Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Week 13 Picks

The Broncos are 7-5 and come home for a Monday Night Football matchup against the 3-8 Browns. The Browns have beaten both the Steelers and Ravens this season, so they are dangerous despite their record. Denver has no margin for error in the Wild Card race. They need to win these types of games at home. It will be tough, and I am preparing for a letdown by the Broncos. 

Prediction: Cleveland (+5.5) over DENVER

Final Score: Browns-23 Broncos-20

Now, onto the picks for Week 13....

Last Week's Record: 5-8

Overall Record: 96-74-6

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Thanksgiving Day:

Chicago (+10.5) over DETROIT

DALLAS (-3) over Giants

Miami (+3) over GREEN BAY

Black Friday:

KANSAS CITY (-12) over Las Vegas

ATLANTA (-1.5) over Chargers

CINCINNAT (-2) over Pittsburgh

Houston (-5) over JACKSONVILLE

Arizona (+3.5) over MINNESOTA

NEW ENGLAND (+2.5) over Indianapolis

Seattle (-2) over JETS

WASHINGTON (-5) over Tennessee

Tampa Bay (-6) over CAROLINA

Rams (-3) over NEW ORLEANS

BALTIMORE (-3) over Philadelphia 

BUFFALO (-7) over San Francisco