Week 13 Picks!

Thanksgiving time in the NFL and it is time for Week 13 Picks!
Last Week's Record: 8-7-1
Overall Record: 80-95-8

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Tennessee (-11) over DETROIT
Seattle (+12) over DALLAS
PHILADELPHIA (-2) over Arizona
NEW YORK JETS (-8) over Denver
BUFFALO (-6) over San Francisco
New Orleans (+4) over TAMPA BAY
Carolina (+3) over GREEN BAY
WASHINGTON (+4) over New York Giants
ST. LOUIS (+8) 0ver Miami
Baltimore (-7) over Cincinnati
CLEVELAND (+5) over Indianapolis
SAN DIEGO (-5) over Atlanta
Pittsburgh (+1) over NEW ENGLAND
Kansas City (+3) over OAKLAND
Chicago (+3) over MINNESOTA
Jacksonville (+3) over HOUSTON

Embarrased at Mile High

Just when you think that the Broncos might be getting on a roll, they go out a lay an egg against the hated Raiders. The 31-10 loss at the hands of Oakland on Sunday was not surprising at all. The 2008 Broncos are the most up and down Denver team I have ever watched in my history of being a Bronco Fan. One week their offense is lights out and mistake free, the next week they turn it over and can't even move the ball. We all know their defense is bad, but to give up 24 points to the Raiders is sad. Throw in the fact that our special teams killed us all day (2 missed field goals and 1 punt return for a TD) and it had all the makings of one of the ugliest home losses in a long time. At least last year when they got killed 41-3 by the Chargers at home, San Diego was a good team. At 6-5 the Broncos stand alone atop the AFC West only because the Chargers are an underachieving 4-7. The outlook for the rest of the year is pretty tough to figure out. Look at Denver's schedule: at Jets, KC, at Carolina, Buffalo, at San Diego. Even if they win the home games, which road game are they winning to finish 9-7? Each game and each week is different. I look at this way, if Denver doesn't turn the ball over and their defense can limit the offense to more field goals instead of touchdowns on every drive, then maybe they have a chance to be in every game. It is frustrating because if Denver had beaten either KC, Jax, or Oak, they would be 7-4 and in the driver's seat. San Diego's schedule is set up like this: Atl, Oak, at KC, at Tampa, Denver. I think the Chargers will be 7-7 going to Tampa on Dec. 21. The last game of the season could be for all of the marbles in the AFC West. Do I want to make the playoffs as an 8-8 or 9-7 division winner? Hell yeah! Just give me something to root for and I will be happy. As for this week, Denver is in for a world of hurt. Going to New York against the red-hot Jets is going to be very tough. I think Denver is in big trouble. We'll see.

Playoff Projections:
AFC
1-Ten
2-Jets
3-Pitt
4-San Diego
5-Indy
6-Pats

NFC
1-Giants
2-Carolina
3-Arizona
4-Chicago
5-Tampa Bay
6-Washington

Week 12 Picks!

Last Week's Record: 4-11-0
Overall Record: 72-88-7

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

PITTSBURGH (-10) over Cincinnati
CLEVELAND (-3) over Houston
KANSAS CITY (+3) over Buffalo
New York Jets (+5) over TENNESSEE
New England (+1) over MIAMI
DALLAS (-10) over San Francisco
DETRIOT (+8) over Tampa Bay
BALTIMORE (-1) over Philadelphia
Chicago (-8) over ST. LOUIS
JACKSONVILLE (-2) over Minnesota
ATLANTA (-1) over Carolina
Oakland (+9) over DENVER
Washington (-3) over SEATTLE
ARIZONA (+3) over New York Giants
SAN DIEGO (-3) over Indianapolis
Green Bay (+3) over NEW ORLEANS

Denver Dusts Off the Dirty Birds

Sunday's 24-20 Bronco win over the Falcons was a big win for Denver. The defense really stepped up to shut down Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and the rest of the Falcons offense. The run defense really stepped up with basically backups, rookies, and converted fullbacks. Once again, the offense made some big plays. The second half was the key to this game for the offense. The Bronco Drives consisted of a touchdown by Hillis, a field goal, a touchdown from Cutler to Daniel Graham, and a clock killing final drive. Finally, the defense made the plays on the last drive and stopped the Falcons for a hard fought victory. It was a great win, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. It starts this week at home vs. the hated Raiders. Denver hasn't won a home game since October 5th. Get the job done and take care of the Raiders at Invesco on Sunday.


Updated Playoff Projections

AFC
1-Titans
2-Jets
3-Steelers
4-Chargers (Reverse Psychology)
5-Colts
6-Pats

NFC
1-Giants
2-Panthers
3-Cardinals
4-Bears
5-Redskins
6-Buccaneers

Week 11 Picks and Playoff Forecast

It is Week 11 and it is November, which means the NFL season really starts to get going. Thursday Night's classic Jets-Pats game for first place in the AFC EAST is just one example of how great the NFL is during this time of the year. The weather changes, the games get bigger, the holidays come around- it is pretty much the best time of the year. Before I get to this week's picks and NFL Playoff Forecast, I need to address this week's Denver game. I think Denver is screwed this week. Let's put the ways in order: 1) They are on the road. Denver stinks on the road against any quality team. Plus, they are a young team going against a good team in a dome. That spells trouble. 2) Matt Ryan: He is light years ahead of many of the young QBs in this league, with the exception of Jay Cutler. He is the real deal and plays very well at home. He should have fun with the Denver Secondary. 3) Michael Turner: He killed Denver as LT's backup in San Diego. The Falcons OLine will be too physical and Turner will wear out the Broncos depleted front seven. I can't see Denver winning this game. The Broncos have to win the rest of their home games (Oak, Buffalo, KC) and steal 2 out of their last 3 road games (Jets, Carolina, and SD). This could be a long day in the Georgia Dome on Sunday (Reverse Psychology Alert!!!)
Onto my NFL Playoff Forecast. For the rest of the season, each week I will update who will get in and where they will be seeded. Here is the AFC heading into Week 11 (counting the Jets win over the Pats on TNF)
1-Titans (AFC South Champs)
2-Jets (AFC East Champs)
3-Steelers (AFC North Champs)
4-Chargers (AFC West Champs)
5-Colts (Wild Card)
6-Pats (Wild Card)

NFC
1-Giants (NFC East Champs)
2-Carolina (NFC South Champs)
3-Arizona (NFC West Champs)
4-Chicago (NFC North Champs)
5-Washington (Wild Card)
6-Atlanta (Wild Card)


WEEK 11 Picks:

Last Week's Record: 5-8
Overall Record: 68-77-7
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

ATLANTA (-6) over Denver
MIAMI (-10) over Oakland
NEW YORK GIANTS (-7) over Baltimore
INDIANAPOLIS (-8) over Houston
JACKSONVILLE (+3) over Tennessee
GREEN BAY (-3) over Chicago
Philadelphia (-9) over CINCINNATI
New Orleans (-5) over KANSAS CITY
CAROLINA (-14) over Detroit
Minnesota (+4) over TAMPA BAY
St. Louis (+6) over SAN FRANCISCO
SEATTLE (+3) over Arizona
San Diego (+5) over PITTSBURGH
WASHINGTON (+1) over Dallas
BUFFALO (-5) over Cleveland

Week 10 Picks!

Last Week's Record: 8-6
Overall Record: 63-69-7

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Jacksonville (-7) over DETROIT

Titans (-3) over CHICAGO

Buffalo (+4) over NEW ENGLAND

New Orleans (+1) over ATLANTA

NEW YORK JETS (-8) over St. Louis

MIAMI (-8) over Seattle

Green Bay (+2) over MINNESOTA

Carolina (-9) over OAKLAND

Kansas City (+15) over SAN DIEGO

PITTSBURGH (-3) over Indianapolis

PHILADELPHIA (-3) over New York Giants

HOUSTON (PICK) over Baltimore

ARIZONA (-9) over San Francisco

Strange Season Indeed!

When we last saw the Bronco Blog, Denver was 4-3 coming off a bye and hosting Miami. Miami's 26-17 win over Denver was so demoralizing that I couldn't even blog for a week. I wanted blood. I hated Cutler. I wanted Shanahan fired and replaced with Bill Cowher. I wanted to blow up the team and start from scratch. After I drank myself to sleep on Sunday, I gave it some thought. First, with any young QB, you have to deal with some growing pains. Look how bad Eli Manning played well into his career before it all came together. Cutler is the franchise and you have to stick it out with him. Second, you can't fire Shanny. Even if you got Bill Cowher, you would have to start a whole rebuilding process. He might keep the offensive players (Cutler, Marshall, Royal, Clady, Scheffler) but he would have to totally revamp the defense into a 4-3 scheme. Plus, he would want to bring in his guys, and that would mean Cutler and the Offense would have to start anew. Third, this team is decimated by injuries. As a coach, you can only do with what you have, and the Broncos simply don't have much. That brings us to Thursday Night's thrilling come from behind win in Cleveland. The classic "Backs against the wall/Nobody believes in us came." Finally, the offense woke up from it's five game and exploded for 34 points and Cutler's 447 passing yards, and over 500 yards of Offense. This was a must game for Denver and they got it. Maybe Cutler's 93 yard bomb to Eddie Royal is the turning point. I would like to think that but this team just has too many injuries to overcome. At 5-4 they still lead the AFC West. Please just stay afloat and get healthy (Champ, DJ, Scheff, Selvin) at the right time, and maybe this season won't blow up in oblivion. Just when you think Denver screws you, they pull right back in.

Week 9 Picks!

Last Week's Record: 6-5-3
Overall Record: 55-63-7

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

MINNESOTA (-4) over Houston

Jacksonville (-7) over CINCINNATTI

KANSAS CITY (-9) over Tampa Bay

CLEVELAND (-1) over Baltimore

BUFFALO (-5) over New York Jets

Arizona (-3) over ST. LOUIS

Detroit (+12) over CHICAGO

TENNESSEE (-4) over Green Bay

Miami (+3) over DENVER

OAKLAND (+3) over Atlanta

NEW YORK GIANTS (-8) over Dallas

Philadelphia (-7) over SEATTLE

INDIANAPOLIS (-6) over New England

Pittsburgh (+2) over WASHINGTON