Broncos Cruise Past Raiders 47-17, Lock Up #2 Seed

The Broncos took the field on Sunday knowing that all they had to do was beat the Raiders and they would have the #2 seed in the AFC. All week leading up to the game, there was a lot of negative talk about this Broncos team after the loss at Cincy in Week 16. None of that mattered anymore because what the Broncos could control, a first round bye and a #2 seed, was right in front of them against the 3-12 Raiders. The Broncos did indeed take care of their business and buried the Raiders en route to an easy 47-14 victory. The win got the Broncos back on track, secured the #2 seed, and gave them that much needed bye in the first round. It was a total domination on both sides of the ball. The defense smothered the Raiders and David Carr, and the offense led by Peyton Manning moved the ball effectively all game long. It was the kind of victory that they needed- a complete blowout of an inferior opponent. We'll have plenty of time to talk about the regular season and the playoffs coming up in the next two weeks, but here are my thoughts and observations for the win over the Raiders.....

1) The Broncos defense basically manhandled the Raiders all game long. Consider these stats from the game: They limited the Raiders to 199 total yards, forced two turnovers, totaled three sacks, forced nine punts, and added a fumble return for a touchdown. They completely dominated up front and pressured Derek Carr all game long. Von Miller was dominating all game long. He got a sack, and he played really well in the run game. DeMarcus Ware also played well as did Malik Jackson. I really like the pass rushing group of Jackson, Ware, Miller, and Derek Wolfe. Also, Todd Davis improved from his performance in the loss to the Bengals.

2) The Broncos secondary was a strong point once again. Aqib Talib set the tone with a sack on the second series, and there were just no receivers open. Chris Harris was again tremendous and he put the bow on a spectacular year. Without the injured T.J. Ward, I thought Rahim Moore played a lot better than he has in previous weeks. Denver's defense at home has been lights out at times this year, and they were once again on Sunday.

3) I thought the Broncos offense was a lot better on Sunday than it has been in recent weeks. Peyton Manning was very effective for most of the game. At first glance, Manning's numbers don't jump off the page (21-37 for 273 yards and 0 TDs and 0 INT), but he threw the ball very solid. The play action game worked very well early on, and he put the ball on the money a few times and the receivers simply dropped the ball on him. I thought it was a good bounce back game for Manning, and I will be looking for him to play very well in the playoffs.

4) The Broncos continued their balanced attack and C.J. Anderson played really well again. He had 87 yards on just 13 carries and scored 3 touchdowns. It was nice to see Ronnie Hillman back and he brought that burst again. Hillman notched 56 yards on 15 carries. It will be a nice 1-2 punch with Hillman and Anderson come playoff time.

5) It stinks that Manning couldn't get at least 1 more touchdown pass to get to 40 on the year, but every time the Broncos drove the ball deep in Raider territory, Anderson would march in for an easy touchdown. For example, up 3-0 in the 1st quarter, Manning hit Emmanuel Sanders for 13 yards and Demaryius Thomas for 27 yards to put Denver at the Oakland 11. The next play, Anderson burst through for an 11 yard touchdown run to give Denver a 10-0 lead. Later on, Manning hit Sanders for a 39 yard gain to set them up in Raider territory. He also hit Thomas down the seam, and Thomas got tripped up at the 1 to give the Broncos a 1st and goal situation. The next play, Anderson strolled into the endzone to give Denver a 17-7 lead. Manning was basically setting up the drives, and Anderson was finishing them. This game was over when it was 10-0.

6) The only positive for the Raiders in the first half was a fluke play that Justin Tuck deflected of a Manning screen to Sanders that the Raiders picked up and returned for a touchdown. That was the only real positive the Raiders had until they scored a touchdown late in the third quarter. It was that kind of a dominating performance by the Broncos on Sunday.

7) The Broncos needed to go out there and dominate the Raiders, and that is what they did. They completely destroyed a 3 win team, and finished their season with a confidence that they needed before they enter the playoffs. It was the kind of the game that they had to have and they did it the way they needed to do it.

8) With the win the Broncos finish 2014 at 12-4. They obviously won their 4th straight AFC West title, and head into the playoffs as the #2 seed. They finished 8-0 at home for the first time since 2005. The Broncos scored a total 482 points which averages out to about 30 points a game. They gave up a total of 354 points, but finished in the top five in total defense.  Manning finished with a completion percentage of 66% with 4,727 yards 39 TDs and 15 INT and a rating of 101.5. Their top receivers were Demaryius Thomas who hauled in 111 receptions for 1,1619 yards and 11 TDs and Emmanuel Sanders, who finished with 101 catches for 1,404 yards and 9 TDs. Julius Thomas finished with 43 receptions for 489 yards and 12 TDs, but he was injured for the last part of the season. C.J. Anderson led the team with 849 yards rushing and 8 TDs. On defense, Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware led the team with 14 and 10 sacks each. Aqib Talib and Rahim Moore both led the secondary with 4 INTS and Chris Harris was second on the team with 3 INTS. Brandon Marshall led the team with 113 total tackles. The additions of Emmanuel Sanders, DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, and T.J. Ward were all successful, as each player contributed and did what they were supposed to do when they were brought in as free agents. Marshall was a find at LB when he stepped in for Danny Trevathan, and rookie DB Bradley Roby was a real gem of a pick as a first round pick and key contributor. There are a lot issues, questions, and storylines about this group as we head into the playoffs, but that will be for next week to discuss. Now, the Broncos have a week off to regroup, get healthy, and prepare to make a run at the Super Bowl that they covet so dearly. It's time to get ready for the playoffs, and as they in Denver during the playoffs  it is "Time to Ride." Go Broncos!

Week 17 Picks!

As we head into Week 17, I have to take a minute and take a bow for my picks this season. I started the year 9-21-2 after two weeks. That is a deep hole to recover from, and I was able to dig myself out of that hole. Now, I stand at a whopping 23 games over .500 for my picks-clearly my best season picking games against the spread since I started this blog in 2008. Was there a secret to my success? We all know gambling is part luck and part skill, but I just seemed to have a good read on certain teams this year. Sometimes you go with your hunch or your gut, sometimes you have to just take the points, and sometimes you just have a good feel for a line and a game. All those factors contributed to my picks this year. After two weeks, I said my record made me feel like I just got blown out the first two games of the year and lost my starting quarterback. As I hit the final week of the regular season, it is like I have rebounded to take the division title, wrap up homefield advantage, and I can sit my starters to rest up for the playoffs. As far as this week goes, I am picking the teams that I want to see win and/or how I think things will shape up for the playoffs when the dust settles on Sunday night. Enjoy the final Week of the 2014 regular season and here are the picks for Week 17.....

Last Week's Record: 9-7
Overall Record: 128-105-7
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

GREEN BAY (-7) over Detroit: The winner of this game wins the NFC North and most likely the #2 seed and a bye. The loser of this game gets to be the #6 seed and start the playoffs on the road. I just can't see the Packers losing at Lambeau with the division title on the line and a shot at a bye. The Lions haven't won there since 1991. I'll take the Packers to secure the #2 seed, and the Lions to get the #6 seed and head to Dallas on Wild Card weekend.

Jacksonville (+9) over HOUSTON: Great job by Bill O'Brien and the Texans this year. At 8-7, they still have a slight chance at making the playoffs (They need to win and Balt and SD have to lose), and you have to give them credit considering the situation at quarterback for them. I think they win this game to finish 9-7, but I think that Jacksonville plays them tight and keeps it close. The Texans will also fall just short of the playoffs though.

PITTSBURGH (-3) over Cincy: Tough game to call. I think this game is a toss up, but I'll take the Steelers at home on SNF. The winner of this game takes the AFC North and most likely the #3 seed, while the loser of the game will fall to the #5 seed and probably head to Indy in Round 1 next weekend. Both teams will be dangerous in the playoffs, but I'll take the Steelers at home.

Indy (-7) over TENNESSEE: The Colts are pretty much locked into the #4 seed. They need to play their starters and play well because they got killed last week 42-7 at Dallas. They need to get their momentum back before the playoffs start. The Titans are battling for the #1 overall pick in the draft, so I don't see them putting up much of a fight here. They will likely finish 2-14.

BALTIMORE (-11) over Cleveland: The Ravens are all banged up, got crushed by Houston last week, and at 9-6 need a win over the Browns and a San Diego loss to make the playoffs as the #6 seed. They get a break this week because the Browns are starting third-string QB Connor Shaw. I'm picking the Ravens to win this game and find their way into the playoffs because I picked them to be a playoff team before the season started, so I am sticking with them here.

NEW ENGLAND (-5) over Buffalo: The Pats have locked up the #1 seed and homefield in the AFC, and the Bills are playing out the string at 8-7. A meaningless game, but I still see the Pats taking care of their own business at home to end the season 13-3.

Miami (-6) over NY Jets: Another meaningless game as the 8-7 Dolphins are out of the playoff hunt. Owner Stephen Ross said last week that head coach Joe Philbin would be back next year. I don't know if that is the right decision. This team should be in the playoffs- no question about it. The Jets are 3-12 and playing what could be their final game for head coach Rex Ryan. Has any coach fallen from grace like Rex has in the past four years? In 2010, Rex was one of the biggest names in New York sports, now four years later, he will be fired as the coach of the Jets.

ATLANTA (-3) over Carolina: I love this matchup. The NFC South Title game between the 6-9 Falcons and the 6-8-1 Panthers! This game should have been the Sunday night game on NBC, but instead they chose the Pitt-Cincy game. Anyway, I really don't mind if a division winner wins a division and hosts a playoff game with a record below .500. It doesn't happen every year, so who cares if it happens this year. It won't alter the landscape of the NFL. This game will be fun, and I am taking the Falcons because I picked them to make the playoffs before the season started, and I like how they played hard in Green Bay a few weeks ago and how they buried the Saints last week.

MINNESOTA (-5) over Chicago: A meaningless game, but the Vikings can end strong and finish at 7-9 and build momentum for next year with Teddy Bridgewater. The Bears will finish their awful 2014 season with a loss and a 5-11 record and a myriad of questions regarding QB Jay Cutler, HC Marc Trestman, and the entire structure of their franchise heading into next season.

KANSAS CITY (-1) over San Diego: Huge game in the AFC. If SD wins, then they are in as the #6 seed. The Chiefs have a slight chance to get in but they need to win and get losses from Baltimore and Houston. The story for this game changed when KC found out that QB Alex Smith is going to miss the game with a lacerated spleen. That means Chase Daniel will get the start and try to knock the Chargers out of the playoffs. Great game in the AFC West with the playoffs on the line. Even with Daniel getting the start, I think the Chiefs find a way to knock the Chargers off and eliminate them from playoff contention.

Philly (+3) over NY GIANTS: A meaningless game as Philly is eliminated from playoff contention after losing three in a row and going from 9-3 to 9-6. I still think that both of these teams are on the rise for next year. I can see Philly bouncing back and winning the division next year, but they have to figure out what they want to do at QB. The Giants are playing out the string at 6-9, but the only thing to watch for them in this game is Odell Beckham.

WASHINGTON (+6) over Dallas: Hard to figure how Dallas will play this game. They are pretty much the #3 seed regardless. I don't think they will be playing all their starters throughout the game. Dallas will likely be hosting the Lions next week on Wild Card weekend.

New Orleans (-4) over TAMPA BAY: A meaningless game with the Saints ending their disappointing season with only a chance to finish 7-9. The Saints look like one of those transition teams with a lot of changes coming next year. The Bucs can lock up the #1 pick in next year's draft with a loss, so why go out and win this game?

St. Louis (+13) over SEATTLE: I think the Seattle will win the game and get the #1 seed in the NFC. I think this game will be closer than people think. You have to think that all Seattle wants to do is get a comfortable lead and get the hell out of there with the #1 seed and all of their key players healthy. Meanwhile, the Rams are going to be fighting like hell to spoil the Seahawks homefield hopes.

SAN FRANCISCO (-6) over Arizona: Jim Harbaugh's final game as 49ers head coach will see him go out a winner. At 7-8, all they have to play for is pride, and they face the playoff-bound Cardinals with Ryan Lindley starting at QB once again. The Cards are 11-4 and look like they are going to be #5 seed in the NFC and head to the NFC South winner in the first round next week. They hope that Drew Stanton will be back for the game. Can someone please tell me who the 49ers are going to get to replace Harbaugh? How about those three straight NFC Championship Games? How about the fact that they were thisclose to winning a Super Bowl two years ago? I don't get it, but I hope Harbaugh goes back to Michigan and rekindles the glory years for the Wolverines.

DENVER (-10) over Oakland: To all the Broncos fans who are losing their shit over the loss at Cincy on Monday night (Including me): Just calm down and understand that all we have to do is beat the 3-12  Raiders in Mile High on Sunday and we are the #2 seed and have a bye and a home playoff game in two weeks. After a week of everyone questioning his age, ability, and status, I really hope Peyton Manning just comes out on Sunday and rips it up to the tune of 340 yards and 4 touchdowns. I think the Broncos need that. Remember in 1997 and 1998 how the Broncos lost key games late in the season, and they rebounded to win the Super Bowl both of those years. Everyone just calm down, and let's go out and pound the Raiders on Sunday. Go Broncos!

Final Score: Broncos-28 Raiders-13

2014 NFL Playoff Schedule Predictions

Before we get to Week 17, I always like to try to predict and set up the playoff schedule. Usually, the NFL won't announce it until Sunday night during the final SNF game, but I enjoy trying to figure out the schedule before hand. It is tough because there are always some playoff spots that aren't decided yet, and that can always be a factor when determining the schedule, the networks, and the times. This year is really different because ESPN gets 1 game on Wild Card weekend, and NBC gets an additional game on Divisional weekend, and CBS loses one of the Divisional games as a result. I think that the Ravens will get in as the last Wild Card in the AFC, San Diego will lose and miss the playoffs and Pittsburgh will beat Cincy to get the #3 seed. In the NFC, I think that Seattle, Green Bay, and Dallas will be the top 3 seeds, with Atlanta winning the NFC South. Barring anything crazy with cross-flexing and things of that nature, here are my 2014 NFL Playoff Schedule Predictions:

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday 1/3:
4:30pm-ESPN
5) Arizona at 4) Atlanta-This is the worst game of the weekend, so ESPN gets it in Saturday afternoon slot.

8:00pm-NBC
6) Baltimore at 3) Pittsburgh-I think NBC will be happy with a playoff matchup between one of the best rivalries in the NFL.

Sunday 1/4:
1:00pm-CBS
5) Cincinnati at 4) Indianapolis-This has potential to be a the most competitive game of the weekend, so it fits nicely into the Sunday early timeslot.

4:30pm-FOX
6) Detroit at 3) Dallas-You can't keep Dallas out of the late Sunday window on Wild Card weekend.


Divisional Weekend
Saturday 1/10:
4:30pm-FOX
at #1 Seattle-This could be Detroit coming to town or either Atlanta or Arizona. None of those games are that appealing, so the Seahawks get the early Sunday window.

8:00pm-NBC
at #1 New England-The Patriots are always the Saturday night team in the AFC, and that trend continues once again this year on NBC.

Sunday 1/11:
1:00pm-FOX
at #2 Green Bay-FOX would love this to be a Dallas-Green Bay matchup on the Sunday of Divisional Weekend.

4:30pm-CBS
at #2 Denver-After losing a Divisional game to NBC this year, I would be shocked if they screwed CBS over in this timeslot. CBS would love a Peyton Manning vs. Pittsburgh Steelers matchup here. 

Broncos Get Thumped by Bengals in Ugly Loss 37-28

Monday night's loss to the Bengals had a lot of ways to describe it. The words that comes to mind right away is ugly. Denver's 37-28 loss to the Bengals put the Cincy into the playoffs and it officially clinched the #1 seed for the Patriots-meaning the Broncos can only hope for a best case scenario of the #2 seed with a win over the Raiders on Sunday. In a game where Denver fell behind 20-7, roared back to take a 28-27 lead going in to the 4th quarter, the Broncos and Peyton Manning collapsed in the final quarter to fall to the Bengals. The real story coming out of this game is Manning. I'll get to his performance in just a minute. I'm going to go with a "Positive and Negative" type of approach to this game instead of my normal thoughts and observations. Here we go.....

Negatives:
-Manning's play wasn't good at all. He threw 4 interceptions in the game. Each one killed the Broncos. He threw 3 interceptions in the 4th quarter alone. A pick-six to Cincy's Dre Kirkpatrick put the nail in the Broncos coffin at 37-28. Each interception was ugly and each was poorly thrown into coverage. Maybe he is hurt, maybe he is fatigued, or maybe at 38 years old he is losing it a bit, but something is up with Manning. At times when he had some time in the pocket, he made some nice throws, but overall he didn't play well at all and looked like he wasn't into it.

-The Broncos defense didn't have their best night either. They sorely missed LBs Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan. Steven Johnson and Todd Davis just didn't get the job done. They gave up an 85 yard touchdown run to Jeremy Hill to tie the score at 7 in the 1st quarter. They got carved up all night on screens and zone read plays. It was ugly. For a defense that came in playing really well, this game set them back to the drawing board.

-The Broncos special teams units are starting to worry me again-just like late last year. They gave up an 80 yard return on a kick return to Adam Jones in the third quarter. That play was after Denver cut the lead to 20-14. It set up a Giovanni Bernard touchdown which extended the Bengals lead to 27-14. Also, they gave up a huge return to Brandon Tate late in the 4th quarter when they were up 28-27. That return gave Cincy the 30-28 lead it needed. Also, Connor Barth missed a crucial 49 yard field goal that would have cut into Cincy's lead near the end of the half. Instead of going into halftime down 20-10, the Broncos were down 20-7. Those three points were a big difference later in the game.

-The facemask call on Demaryius Thomas that negated a huge third down pickup in the 4th quarter was one of the worst calls I have ever seen. I'll say it again: The officials should not make these type of calls late in games to decide the outcome. It was such a bad call. I think if they don't call it, the Broncos at least take the lead late in the game.

-Did I say how disappointing it was to see Peyton Manning throw 4 interceptions? Did I mention that I am worried about Manning and his 12 picks since Week 8?

-This was just one of those games where you could just feel that there was no way Denver was winning it at any point of the night.

-With the loss, the Broncos can no longer secure homefield advantage in the AFC. The best they can be is the #2 seed, and if they slip up on Sunday and the Bengals defeat the Steelers, then they could be the #3 seed with no bye at all.

Positives:
-Aqib Talib's pick-six to start the game was a huge play, and it gave you the sense that the Broncos defense was going to be able to shut down Andy Dalton all night. At times, the defense did step up, but they were put in some bad spots by Manning too.

-Von Miller's strip of Jeremy Hill deep in Denver territory was a huge play. At 27-21, a touchdown there might have put the game away, but Miller's strip changed the momentum of the game at that point.

-When the Broncos decided near the end of the half to stop running their offense through RB C.J. Anderson and let Peyton Manning do his the thing, the results looked like last year's offense. Manning led the Broncos to a missed field goal drive at the end of the half, and then 3 consecutive touchdown drives (2 touchdown passes) in the 3rd quarter. Manning looked comfortable and in rhythm as he carved up the Bengals defense with big time throws to Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. His   last touchdown pass to Sanders was a sweet play as Sanders beat a double team and Manning read it perfectly and zipped it to him for a 5 yard touchdown pass to make it 28-27 Denver. Put the offense and the game back in Manning's hands, and then run the ball with Anderson, the 3 tight ends, and the extra offensive lineman when you have the lead. Enough is enough. Go to the dance with the girl who brought you there.

-As timely of a defeat this was, the Broncos are still in control of the #2 seed and first round bye. All they have to do is go out on Sunday at home and defeat the 3-12 Raiders. If they do that, then they are 12-4, have a bye week, can rest up and get healthy, and have a home playoff game in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The Broncos, Manning, and their offense are a totally different team at home, and I'll take my chances against any of the possible opponents that could be coming to Denver: Cincy, Indy, Pittsburgh, etc...

Week 16 Picks

The Broncos head to Cincy on Monday night for a showdown with the Bengals. It looks like an all important matchup between two teams battling for playoff positioning. But after closer examination, this isn't a real must win for the Broncos. Here is why: Even if Denver loses to Cincy, they can still clinch a first-round bye with a win over the Raiders at home in Week 17. Plus, the Broncos will know what happened with New England on Sunday, and it doesn't seem likely that the Pats will lose at the Jets on Sunday afternoon in the Meadowlands. By Monday Night, if the Broncos know that the Pats somehow lost to the Jets on Sunday, then the game with Cincy takes on another level of proportion, but the more likely scenario is that Denver will be playing knowing that the Pats have won, and this game might not mean as much as advertised. At least all Denver has to do is win one of their last two games to at least get a bye. With that out of the way, here are my picks for Week 16....

Last Week's Record: 11-4-1
Overall Record: 119-98-7
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Minnesota (+7) over MIAMI: The Dolphins at 7-7 are a disappointment. They should be a playoff team in the AFC this year, and now they are on the outside looking in once again. Joe Philbin should go, and if the Dolphins could somehow woo Jim Harbaugh, then they would be a playoff team next year.

Green Bay (-11) over TAMPA BAY: You can't make this line high enough. The Packers coming off a loss to Buffalo, go on the road to face a crummy Bucs team, and they are still in play for the division title. Lock this one up for the Pack.

Detroit (-8) over CHICAGO: Every year, a team loses the first game of the season, and it sets the tone for the rest of the year. The Bears were that team this year. They were huge favorites at home over the Bills, and they blew a lead and lost in overtime. They have never really recovered. Now, they decide to bench Jay Cutler for Jimmy Clausen. This one will get very ugly, very quickly. The Lions have clinched at least a wild card and are still fighting for the division title.

Atlanta (+7) over NEW ORLEANS: The NFC South is on the line! I think the Saints win the game, but look for the Falcons to keep it close. I'm actually pumped up for this matchup.

New England (-10) over NY JETS: There is no way Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the Pats are going to stub their toe against the lowly, 3-11 Jets in this spot.

PITTSBURGH (-3) over Kansas City: Tough game to call given the Steelers troubles at home this year, but I think the smart move is to take the Steelers. I wouldn't mind see the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals all in the playoffs this year.

CAROLINA (-3) over Cleveland: I get that Johnny Manziel's debut was awful last week, but give the kid more of a chance than one game. He might be better this week, but I'll take the Panthers at home, who are shockingly alive in the NFC South at 5-8-1.

Baltimore (-4) over HOUSTON: The Texans are 7-7, and they will probably end up 8-8. If they had a real good QB, they would be in the playoffs this year in the AFC. Next year is the year for them. The Ravens are going to make the playoffs, and I see them doing their thing once again this week and winning ugly but getting the job done.

ST.LOUIS (-5) over New York Giants: A game with no meaning other than watching Odell Beckham Jr.

Buffalo (-6) over OAKLAND: It would be awesome to somehow see the Bills get that #6 seed in the AFC, but it will be a longshot. I think they will take care of their business this week in the Black Hole and get their 9th win.

Indy (+3.5) over DALLAS: With the Eagles losing on Saturday, the Cowboys are in good shape in the NFC East, but here comes Andrew Luck and the Colts. Both teams need the game, but obviously the Cowboys need it more. I think Dallas wins, but Luck scares the heck out of you, so I'll take the points with the Colts.

Seattle (-7) over ARIZONA: The Seahawks get to tee off on Ryan Lindley at QB for the Cards. I can't see them not taking the Cards to pieces here. Look for a Seattle romp, and a path to the NFC West crown.

CINCY (+3) over Denver: As I stated before, the Broncos really don't need to win this game. They can still at least get a bye and the #2 seed even if they lose this week. I think this is a tough game because the Bengals need it more than the Broncos. Plus, the Broncos are banged up-especially at LB- and I think the Bengals will do what they have to do to win this game at home on Monday night.

Final Score: Bengals-26 Broncos-16

Saturday Week 16 Picks

One of the few bright spots on Roger Goodell's resume from 2014 was the addition of a doubleheader on Saturday after college football ended. This year, we get the Eagles-Redskins and Chargers-49ers. Growing up, the Saturday doubleheader was a staple of December. There was always two great games for two straight weekends after college football ended. It is nice to see Goodell bring this back and hopefully this will continue going forward. Here are my Saturday picks....

Philly(-7) over WASHINGTON

San Diego (+1.5) over SAN FRANCISCO

Broncos Clinch AFC West with win over Chargers

The Broncos clinched their 4^th straight AFC West title on Sunday with a 22-10 win over the Chargers in San Diego. It was also the third straight division title with Peyton Manning at the helm. It was a game in which Manning played with the flu, a thigh injury suffered in the second quarter, and a defense which completely dominated the Chargers offense. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game….

1)    Congrats to John Fox on his 4^th division title in his first four years as head coach. Interestingly enough, Fox has more division titles (4) than Mike Shanahan had (3).

2)    The Broncos also clinched their third straight division title under Peyton Manning. You think the Manning signing worked out? It will be the Broncos fourth straight season in the playoffs after missing the playoffs five straight years from 2006-2010.

3)    With Manning battling the flu, the Broncos focused on the ground game and timely passes. Manning only attempted 20 passes for the game. C.J. Anderson was once again effective, but the Broncos struggled in the redzone. This game was 9-0, when it could have been a lot worse. On the first drive, Manning missed a wide open Emmanuel Sanders and instead threw incomplete to Demaryius Thomas. The second drive, no one was open and Manning had to throw it away on 3^rd down. The third time in the redzone it looked like Denver scored an apparent touchdown  by Anderson on 3^rd and goal. The replay reversed the call, and the Broncos settled for a 19 yard field goal and a 9-0 lead. Manning went into the locker room to get treatment on his thigh, and didn’t come back out. After a quick 3 and out by the Chargers, Denver and John Fox did something that really didn’t make sense.

4)    Instead of sitting on the 9-0 lead, and San Diego only down to their last timeout, Brock Osweiler entered the game and instead of having him hand off three times and get to the second half up 9-0, the Broncos had him throw the ball! The first down throw was almost intercepted, the second down throw was incomplete and called for intentional grounding, and the third down run by Anderson was highlighted by him going out of bounds. Naturally, Eddie Royal made a big return on the following punt, and San Diego cashed it in with a field goal and the score was 9-3 at the half.

5)    That was an inexcusable set of events by the Broncos and their staff. Don’t let Osweiler throw there. Don’t give the Chargers the ball near the end of the half. Awful, awful clock management situation by Fox and the rest of the offensive staff.

6)    Give credit to Manning because he made the two biggest throws of the second half. He hit Demaryius Thomas on a 28 yard touchdown to make it 16-3 in the third quarter. He also hit Sanders on a huge 33 yard third down strike when the lead was cut to 16-10. It changed field position and gave the Broncos a chance to extend their lead to 19-10. Manning show a lot of guts playing the game being sick the way he was. It just adds another chapter in his long and storied career.

7)    The defense deserves the credit because they just smothered the Chargers and Phillip Rivers all game long. They held the Chargers to only 288 total yards. They shut down the running game and forced Rivers to get rid of the ball early. The coverage was awesome in the secondary. No one was open. They kept showing the replays after passing plays and the Broncos completely blanketed the Charger receivers. Outside of the one drive in the second half, where Rivers drove the Chargers down for a touchdown, the Broncos defense dominated. Whatever the outcome of this season is it is safe to say that I am confident in our defense. They might not be good enough to win it all, but I like our chances with them.

8)    Aqib Talib baited Rivers into a throw, and Talib made the defensive play of the game by stepping in front and intercepting the throw with the score 19-10 late in the 4^th quarter. That pick led to another Connor Barth field goal and the score was widened to 22-10.

9)    Give Rahim Moore credit because he has played really well the last three weeks. He effectively ended the game when he stepped in front of another Rivers pass and intercepted it in his own endzone to preserve the 22-10 victory. Hats off to the defense, and they deserve the game ball.

10) Broncos have now won 12 straight road games in the AFC West. Fox has not lost a road game in the division since he took over at coach. The Broncos are now 16-1 in divisional games since Peyton Manning took over. The Broncos also have now won four straight road games in KC and San Diego.

11) The Broncos did suffer some injuries. Obviously, Manning hurt his thigh but he should be okay for Monday Night’s game at Cincy. Ryan Clady hurt his quad, but he should be okay going forward. LB Brandon Marshall sprained his foot, but he should be back for the playoffs. Unfortunately, LB Danny Trevathan dislocated his knee and he will be out for the rest of the season. 

12) The Broncos are now 11-3 and are still in the thick of the race for the top seed in the AFC with the Pats. Denver has a very important game at Cincy on Monday Night Football in Week 16. If we can get the Pats to somehow slip up here, then maybe Denver can find its way back to the # 1 seed.

13) One last thing: There is nothing better than clinching the division a week before Christmas. I ordered my 2014 Broncos AFC West Champions t-shirt just in time to be delivered by Christmas Eve. Thanks again Broncos!

TNF Jax-Tenn Pick

JACKSONVILLE (-3) over Tennessee: What an awful game to close out the 2014 Thursday Night Football schedule. 2-11 Tennessee travels to 2-11 Jacksonville. This is one of those games where the only people watching are degenerate gamblers and fantasy players in their championship game. Awful, unwatchable game, but I have to pick someone, so I'll take the Jags at home.

Week 15 Picks!

I'll get to the picks for Week 15 in a few, but I wanted to get to some housecleaning items with the Broncos.
-First, on Friday night Denver reached an extension with CB Chris Harris on a new five-year deal. This was a huge signing because Harris was set to hit the free agent market this spring. The Broncos had to get Harris under contract because if he hit the open market, he would cost a fortune. Good job by the Broncos and good job by John Elway for locking up Harris, who has been nothing short of spectacular this season.
-If I was prioritizing the Broncos upcoming free agents, I would consider the list to look like this:
1) Demaryius Thomas
2) Julius Thomas
3) Terrence Knighton
I think you could replace Knighton with a group of cheaper guys, and I don't think you can replace players like the Thomas'.

-I like the move to re-sign Brandon McManus to the active roster after dumping him for Connor Barth. Barth will handle the field goal duties, while McManus will handle the kickoff duties. You can't underestimate how important field position is and McManus gives the Broncos that luxury.

-I'm glad they were able to re-sign Isaiah Burse to the practice squad after waiving him for McManus before last week's game against Buffalo.

-The Broncos put Montee Ball on IR because they had to make room for LB Danny Trevathan. I am really looking forward to seeing the combo of Trevathan and Brandon Marshall on the field together at the same time. Ball's second season ends with a huge disappointment though.

-Finally, can we stop with the Peyton Manning is struggling talk? I hope that fuels Manning this week in San Diego against the Chargers with the AFC West on the line.

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

Last Week's Record: 11-5
Overall Record: 108-94-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

KANSAS CITY (-8) over Oakland: The Chiefs will rebound and stop their three-game losing streak with a big win at home over the Raiders. I still have a feeling that Chiefs-Chargers Week 17 game will be a win and in type of game.

Jacksonville (+14) over BALTIMORE: Hoping for a backdoor cover here. The Ravens will win this game, but maybe they get a little sloppy after last week's huge road win at Miami.

ATLANTA (+3) over Pittsburgh: I can't trust the Steelers. Last week, they blow out the Bengals in Cincy, and now this week they head to Atlanta. SOMEONE has to win the NFC South, and maybe the Falcons find a way here at home.

INDY (-6) over Houston: If only the Texans had an improved QB situation, then they could have legitimately won the AFC South this year. Instead, the Colts look to wrap it up with a win this Sunday at home. I still don't know what to make of the Colts. Their only impressive win this year was a home win over the Bengals. I don't know how good they are, but I do know that anyone who has to face Andrew Luck in the playoffs will be very nervous.

Cincy (+1) over CLEVELAND: Johnny Football!!!! Finally, we get to see Johnny Manziel start a game for the Browns. I love how like 15% of the country was getting this game, and then as soon as Manziel was named the starter, something like 48% is getting the game. Huge game, but I think the Bengals squeeze out another ugly win.

NEW ENGLAND (-6) over Miami: The Dolphins are really hard to understand. At 7-6, this is basically a playoff game for them. By the way, if they decide to make a change with their head coach next year-could you blame them with Joe Philbin-I think they would be the #1 job available for any candidate. The Pats never lose at home to an AFC team, and I don't think they will slip up here.

Tampa Bay (+3) over CAROLINA: Who cares about this game? I have to pick it, so I'll take the Bucs on the road. By the way #2: I see the Bucs drafting Jameis Winston next year with the thought that Lovie Smith will keep him in line and keep Winston in the state of Florida. That's my prediction.

NY GIANTS (-5) over Washington: At least the Giants and their fans get to watch Odell Beckham for the next three weeks! At least the Redskins and their fans only have to sit through the Jay Gruden era for the next three weeks!

BUFFALO (+5) over Green Bay: The shocker of the day! Bills-24 Packers-23! On second thought, the Packers will win this game, but the Bills will give them a fight. I see a close game with Aaron Rodgers leading the Pack down for a late score followed by Kyle Orton throwing one of his patented game-clinching interceptions to seal the deal for Green Bay.

Minnesota (+8) over DETROIT: I think the Vikings keep it close, but the Lions find a way to win. Are the Lions ready to implode just yet? Could this be the week the Lions finally show their true colors?

TENNESSEE (+3) over New York Jets: Another awful contest. Jets fans are rooting against their team, so they can get the #1 pick in the 2015 Draft. The Titans are rooting against their team, so they can get the #1 pick in the 2015 Draft. Jets-Titans in a somehow meaningless yet meaningful December game!

San Francisco (+10) over SEATTLE: Just when you think the Niners are done, they find a way to cover at Seattle. Make no mistake the Seahawks are winning this game, but look for this game to be closer than the line.

Dallas (+4) over PHILLY: The NFC East Divisional Championship Game on SNF! Awesome matchup between two 9-4 teams. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Cowboys will win this game. I don't really know why, but I just have a feeling.

New Orleans (-3) over CHICAGO: A battle between two of the most disappointing teams in the NFC this year. The Saints are 5-8 and look like a shit-show basically every week, and the Bears are so dysfunctional that their offensive coordinator cried during a team meeting because he revealed that he called out QB Jay Cutler to a NFL Network reporter two weeks ago.

SAN DIEGO (+4) over Denver: This is a tough spot for the Broncos. The Chargers NEED to win this game to stay in the playoff hunt and in the AFC West race. Denver could lose this game, fall to 10-4, and still win the division. I just think that the Chargers at home might be a little too much for the Broncos in this game.

Final Score: Chargers-30 Broncos-24

Cardinals-Rams TNF Pick

ST.LOUIS (-4) over Arizona: You have to take the Rams at home this week on a short week with the way their defense is playing. They have already beaten the Seahawks and Broncos at home, so why not take down the 10-3 Cardinals.

Broncos Trump Bills 24-17 in Bizzaro Game

What a weird game. It was like the Broncos slept through the final quarter of a 24-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Mile High. It was like they built a 24-3, and they just wanted to go home and get out of there, but there was one problem: The game wasn’t over yet. They let a late Bills touchdown give Buffalo hope and an onside kick. Naturally, Denver recovered to secure the win in what was definitely a strange, weird game. Peyton Manning only threw 20 passes on a day that featured 60 degree weather. The Broncos only ran 49 plays. It was such a weird game, that I thought I was sleeping and was dreaming about this game. Anyway, the Broncos won and improved to 10-3, and now have a chance to clinch the AFC West on Sunday with a win at San Diego. Here are my thoughts and observations about the bizzaro win from Sunday…

1)    Although Denver didn’t have the ball a lot and ran the ball consistently again, I don’t think Peyton Manning was very sharp at all. He finished the game with high school numbers (14-20 for 173 yards) and had no touchdown passes for the first time in 51 games. He also threw two awful interceptions. The first one on a deep post to Emmanuel Sanders was a duck and badly underthrown and the second one had no chance because Demaryius Thomas was not even open on the fade down the sideline. Maybe the running game takes Manning out of his rhyhmn, but it wasn’t the best day for #18.

2)    It was nice to see Wes Welker have a pretty good impact in the passing game. He finished with 6 catches for 82 yards, and he made a sweet catch on a seam to set up the Broncos first score. Also, the made a really nice catch down the sideline to set up the Broncos second score. Good to see Welker get involved more.

3)    All you need to know about how weird this game was is the fact that Demaryius Thomas was held to 2 catches for 11 yards and Sanders had 4 for 56. It was like the Broncos were moving the ball, but never really had the ball. Just a strange game.

4)    All week I liked the matchup with the Broncos defense against Kyle Orton and they did their job. They forced a fumble on Sammy Watkins on the first series of the game. They stopped the Bills on a key 4^th and 6 later in the first quarter. They harassed Orton all day, forced him to dump it off, and basically shut down the running game. Brandon Marshall had a nice interception in the third quarter, and Chris Harris made a brilliant pick of Orton with the Bills driving late in the third quarter with the Broncos up 21-3. I thought Denver did a brilliant job of completely smothering the Bills screen game time after time.

5)    Juwan Thompson came off the bench and did a really nice job to go along with C.J. Anderson. Thompson finished with 4 carries for 63 yards and showed some burst at times. Anderson finished with 21 carries for 58 bruising yards. The yards were hard to come by against the Bills but the Broncos stayed with the run game throughout.

6)    All three touchdowns were the same basic play. Spread out the defense inside the five and let Anderson slip through the middle for a touchdown. All three were executed well.

7)    The fumble by Jacob Tamme really bothered me right before the half. Denver was up 14-3 and driving deep in Buffalo territory, and Tamme caught a pass for a first down over the middle, cradled the ball because he knew he was going to take a shot, and still fumbled it. The three Broncos turnovers were about as bad as it gets. Sloppy play by their offense at home which is a surprise.

8)    I still don’t understand why the Broncos can’t close out these games. They always let teams get back into the game and score in the garbage time to make the game closer. They had the Bills backed up inside their own 10 on a 4^th and 16 late in the game, and Orton was able to convert it and keep the drive alive. He scored later in the drive, and the Broncos were forced to recover the onside kick to preserve the win. They do this all the time under Jack Del Rio. Why can’t they ever just shut the door when they have a big lead? It doesn’t make sense. That won’t work against someone like Andrew Luck in the playoffs.

9)    Want more stats about how this was a weird game? Kyle Orton passed for 355 yards as opposed to Manning who passed for 173. The Bills were 9-16 on third down conversions. The Bills ran 77 total plays to Denver’s 49. Like I said earlier, it was just a really strange game from start to finish. And I don’t want to hear that the Broncos really struggled and this game was close etc.. This game was 24-3 in the 4^th quarter. Denver fumbled inside the Bills 10 before the half up 14-3. Peyton Manning threw two awful interceptions. Somehow Orton completed a 4^th and 16 pass from his own endzone with just over 3 minutes to go in the game. If the Broncos stop the Bills there, then they either bang in another touchdown to make it 31-10 or a field goal to make it 27-10. The bottom line is the Broncos didn’t play their best game, it was a weird game, and they were cruising by 21 in the 4^th quarter looking to get the hell out of there with the win.

10) With a Chargers loss to the Pats and a KC loss to Arizona, Denver can now clinch the AFC West title with a win over the Chargers in San Diego next Sunday. At 10-3, the Broncos still have a lot of work to do. The Chargers will be a challenge next week, and the Bengals on Monday night will be a huge game for seeding and playoff positioning. Right now, the Broncos have to focus on taking down the Chargers on Sunday and winning their fourth consecutive AFC West title. 

Week 13 Picks!

It is pretty simple for the Broncos with four games left. Take care of business at home and find a way to win two critical games on the road, and they will at least get a bye come playoff time. The home games are Buffalo and Oakland, and the road games are San Diego and Cincy. If Denver were to lose those two road games, then they could be in trouble of squandering a first round bye, but also the division. We all know about the tiebreaker with the Pats, but the Bengals or even the Colts could surpass them for a bye, and even the Chargers are still lurking in the division. As far as Sunday's games are concerned, if you are going to scoreboard watch, then root against Cincy against the Steelers, and root for the Browns to knock off the Colts. Also, it would be nice if the Cardinals beat the Chiefs. For the Pats-Chargers game on Sunday night, I don't think you can try to project the #1 seed just yet, so I guess we have to root for a Chargers loss, and then hope to knock them off next week in SD. Take care of the division first, then worry about the bye and home field.  Nothing is certain for Denver with four games to go. The Broncos have to keep winning and let everything else sort itself out.

Here are the picks for Week 13...

Last Week's Record: 6-10
Overall Record: 97-89-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

MIAMI (-3) over Baltimore: I see the Ravens losing this game, dropping to 7-6, and then winning out to finish at 10-6. Right now, I think Miami makes it at 10-6, but we know how the Dolphins tend to screw things up down the stretch.

Pittsburgh (+4) over CINCY: You really can't trust the Steelers this year at all. They are 7-5 and they have losses to the Jets, the Bucs, and last week's debacle to the Saints on their resume. I don't like this matchup for them, but I think we are due for a classic Andy Dalton stinkfest this week at home for the Bengals.

CLEVELAND (+4) over Indy: I liked the Colts all week, but I could see the Browns pulling the upset here. The Colts are 8-4, and they haven't beaten any of the really good teams on their schedule. At 7-5, the Browns provide a challenge here, and I just see a fired up Cleveland defense in front of their home crowd finding a way to make life a little miserable for Andrew Luck and the Colts offense on Sunday.

Houston (-4) over JACKSONVILLE: The Jags got their second win of the season last week over the Giants, so they will go back to their losing ways this week with the Texans coming to town. If Houston wins then they are 7-6 and lurking in the AFC Playoff picture.

TENNESSEE (PICK) over New York Giants: Worst game of the day. The Titans find a way to win their third game of the season, as the Giants and their fans prepare to usher the Tom Coughlin era out the door.

Carolina (+10) over NEW ORLEANS: The Saints will win this game, but it will be closer than the spread indicates. Can you really trust the Saints laying 10 to anyone this year? Although the Panthers are dreadful, you would think that they will give the Saints some type of game on Sunday.

Tampa Bay (+10) over DETROIT: The Lions will win, but look for the Bucs to put a scare in them. The Lions schedule is very friendly, and their Week 17 game at Green Bay could actually work out in their favor because the Packers might have everything locked up by then. If the Lions don't make the playoffs this year, then they might never make the playoffs ever again.

St. Louis (-3) over WASHINGTON: Take the Rams on the road over the most dysfunctional franchise in the NFL-or maybe in all of sports. How do like the stories coming out of Washington everyday? How about Jay Gruden basically gift wrapping RG III out of Washington for next year? I still can't believe how far RG III has fallen off in just two years. If I was a team in need of a QB, I would try to trade for RG III. I still think he can be saved.

MINNESOTA (-5) over New York Jets: Take the Vikings at home over the second most dysfunctional franchise in the NFL-J E T S JETS JETS JETS!!!!!! How great are all the stories about Eric Decker's unhappiness in his first year in New York? His wife has gotten involved on social media, and there are even sources within the organization that are questioning why the Jets gave him big money to sign as a free agent. Did we not see this coming? What did Decker expect leaving Peyton Manning and the defending AFC Champions to sign with Geno Smith and the Jets? I love it. Also, I think Rex Ryan does television for a year before jumping back into the coaching pool. On the flipside, the Vikings are my sleeper pick for next year. I'm calling it already.

ARIZONA (PICK) over Kansas City: Just when everyone doubts the Cardinals, they come back to life.

San Francisco (-7) over OAKLAND: The 49ers are in disarray on offense and off the field right now, but they put it together and bury their crosstown rivals this week.

Seattle (+1) over PHILLY: Good matchup with plenty of playoff implications. It looks like Seattle's defense is clicking one again, and you have to believe they will do what it takes to shut down the Eagles just enough to take this one on the road.

New England (-3) over SAN DIEGO: The Pats simply don't lose two in a row, and they will play this game with a chip on their shoulder after last week's loss to the Packers. They will do what it takes to win this game on Sunday night.

GREEN BAY (-11) over Atlanta: Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are rolling to the #1 seed in the NFC, and the Falcons are just another victim in their path.

Buffalo (+10) over DENVER: This could be a tricky game for the Broncos. The Bills defense is for real, and the Broncos might not be able to run the ball like they did the last two weeks. It will be interesting to see if the Denver offensive line can hold up to the challenge that the Bills defensive line presents. I think Denver's defense will matchup well against Kyle Orton and the Bills offense. I see a low scoring game with the Bills giving Denver some real trouble in certain areas.

Final Score: Broncos-24 Bills-19

Broncos Dominate Chiefs in Arrowhead On Their Way to 29-16 Win

The Broncos headed to Arrowhead on Sunday night for a crucial showdown with the Chiefs. It was really cold, windy, and it had all of the makings of a rough night for Denver. The Broncos instead turned the tables on the Chiefs and completely dominated the game from the start on their way to a 29-16 win. It was complete domination on both sides of the ball, and it gave the Broncos a huge win and put them at 9-3 and still in front of the AFC West. As fans, we were complaining about Denver’s lackluster performances on the road this season, but they put those concerns to rest with this victory. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game….

1)    How about that dominating run game? How about the emergence of C.J. Anderson? Once again Anderson was a huge factor in the run game, and the Broncos were committed to running game all night. Their offensive line abused the KC defensive line, and it was the perfect recipe on the road in a cold and windy environment. If the Broncos keep running the ball this way, it will make their offense even more dangerous with the play-action passing game.

2)    Peyton Manning didn’t have one of his best games statistically, but he didn’t have to be great on this night. In the first half, he did his job by completing big third downs on the first three drives. His two highlights were a touchdown on a fade to Demaryius Thomas to make it 7-0, and then he found Anderson underneath for another score to make it 14-0. He did what he had to do on this night.

3)    Denver’s defense was downright dominant. They set the tone by forcing punts on the Chiefs first three drives. Jack Del Rio actually brought some different blitz packages and T.J. Ward and Quinton Carter picked up big sacks on the first couple of series. Demarcus Ware was a beast all game long, and the Broncos completely shut down Jamaal Charles and held him to only 35 yards rushing. Also, they beat the shit out of Alex Smith. Their performance was the most dominant they have been all season long. They forced 5 punts, the Chiefs were 1-9 on third down, forced 8 negative plays, they had six sacks, a fumble forced, and an interception. It was a dominating performance to say the least.

4)    This game should have been over by halftime. Denver was up 20-7, but they could have been up more. Jacob Tamme and Demaryius Thomas both dropped touchdowns on two drives and Denver had to settle for field goals both times. Those field goals kept KC in the game.

5)    The fake punt by David Bruton was just brilliant. I loved the call. After a punt downed KC inside their own 10, a penalty wiped out the play and Andy Reid made Denver punt it again. On a 4^th and 7, Bruton saw a look from the punt team that he liked, called for the fake, and scooted around left end to get a first down and keep the drive alive. That fake led to a score and a 17-0 lead for Denver.

6)    Connor Barth had a nice debut adding five field goals. On a cold and windy night, I’ll take his performance. The one thing that was a concern was that his kickoffs were awful and KC constantly had the ball at their own 35 yard line. That lack of field position will eventually hurt the Broncos down the road against good teams.

7)    I also loved the fact that John Fox decided to go for it on 4^th and 1 from the KC 22 in the 2^nd quarter up 14-0. A handoff to Anderson and a 13 yard gain gave Denver a first down and also led to a field goal.

8)    With Denver holding on to a lead, their offense stalled, but their defense came up with the big turnover they needed to get. Up 20-10, Denver had KC pinned to their own 11, and on the first play, Terrence Knighton deflected a Smith pass and Demarcus Ware was there to pick it off. It led to a field goal and a big 23-10 lead.

9)    Another big play in the third quarter was when the Broncos punted and the ball accidentally hit a KC player and Denver recovered at the KC 37. That drive led to another field goal and a huge 26-10 lead. You just had the feeling that the Bronos were getting all the breaks in this game after that.

10) I thought the biggest play of the night by Manning was on a 3^rd and 7, he hit Emmanuel Sanders down the sideline on a fade for a 23 yard gain and a first down. It moved the chains, took more time off the clock, and set up Denver for a field goal to make it 29-16 with 7:37 to go in the game.

11) On a brutally cold night in Arrowhead, the Broncos did what they had to do and won a big game on the road. It might have been their most impressive performance of the season considering the circumstances. At 9-3, they still have work to do in the AFC West. San Diego is 8-4 and they play at SD in two weeks. Denver hosts the 7-5 Bills on Sunday. There is a lot of football left to play, but Sunday night’s win was a big step in the right direction.

12) One last point on this game: Peyton Manning is now 15-1 vs. the AFC West in is career as a Bronco. He is 6-0 against the Chiefs, and he is undefeated in three straight trips to Arrowhead. The Broncos are actually on a four-game winning streak in KC going back to 2011. 

TNF Bears-Cowboys Pick!!

Dallas (-2) over CHICAGO: I will be rooting for the Cowboys, and I would love to see them knock off the Bears here. It is more fun if the Cowboys get to the playoffs and lose, then to watch them flame out and not even get there, so I am pulling for the Cowboys down the stretch. Plus, I want to see Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall implode down the stretch, get another coach fired, and continue to wonder why these two ultra-talented players can't seem to get over the hump and be a playoff contender in their careers.

Broncos Head to Arrowhead and Week 12 Picks!

The Broncos head to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night for a matchup with the Chiefs. How big is this game? Well, Denver is 8-3 and the Chiefs are 7-4. A Broncos win would give them a two-game lead on the Chiefs and they would own the tiebreaker due to a sweep of the season series. A Chiefs win ties them with the Broncos for first place in the AFC West, and the Chiefs would have the advantage down the stretch with the schedule. If the Chiefs were to beat the Cardinals in Arizona the next week, then they would have a good chance of winning the division. This game is very important for the Broncos because they have tough road tests in back-to-back weeks on December 14th at the Chargers and Monday night December 22nd at the Bengals. A Broncos win would certainly help them in their chances for locking up a fourth straight AFC West crown. One thing that I was looking at in preparation for this game was the fact that Denver always seems to play at Kansas City after November 1st-especially in crucial years. Here is a list of such games and the results:

1992-Loss (Dan Reeves last game as Denver head coach and Denver was eliminated from the playoff race on the last day of the season)

1997- Loss (Pete Stoyanovich nails a 54-yarder at the gun to win it)

1998-Win (The Chiefs were bad, but the Broncos cruised with Elway injured and Bubby Brister starting)

2000- Loss (Terrible loss in freezing temperatures killed Denver's chances to win the West and they had to settle for a Wild Card berth instead)

2001-Loss (An awful overtime loss effectively ended Denver's playoff hopes)

2004-Loss (Denver still made the playoffs but this game but their hopes in serious doubt because they no longer controlled their own destiny)

2005-Loss (A tough loss, but the Broncos still rebounded to win the division)

2006- Loss (First ever Thanksgiving night game was the end of the Jake Plummer era in Denver)

2009-Win (Broncos won in a rout, but KC got revenge in final game of season at Mile High)

2011-Win (Tebow Time struck again)

2012-Win (Peyton Manning and the Broncos gutted out a 17-9 win over a hapless Chiefs squad)

2013-Win (Manning's best game as a Bronco as Denver rallied from down 21-7 to win 35-28)

2014-????

KANSAS CITY (+2) over Denver: I think a few things are going against Denver is this game. One, the Broncos are banged up on defense. Aqib Talib, Kayvon Webster, and Brandon Marshall are all hurt. It will be tough to deal with Jamaal Charles and the Chiefs with a beat up defense. Second, we know how the Broncos have struggled on the road, and this is the loudest crowd they will face. Third, the Chiefs will be emotional with the news of Eric Berry possibly having a cancerous mass in his chest. It just seems like too much to overcome for the Broncos

Final Score: Chiefs-27 Broncos-17

Here are the rest of the picks for Week 13:


Last Week's Record: 10-5
Overall Record: 91-79-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)


Washington (+10) over INDY: The Colts will cruise, but I will take a shot at a late backdoor cover.

HOUSTON (-5) over Tennessee: Take the Texans and J.J. Watt at home to abuse Zach Mettenberger and the Titans.

BUFFALO (-2) over Cleveland: The Bills ride the emotion of playing in front of their home fans after last week's epic snowstorm.

San Diego (+6) over BALTIMORE: The game of the day in the AFC. The Chargers keep it close and the Ravens win it late

New York Giants (-3) over JACKSONVILLE: Tom Coughlin gets revenge on his old team.

Cincy (-3) over TAMPA BAY: The Bengals keep rolling over the crappy teams.

ST. LOUIS (-7) over Oakland: The Rams take care of business at home.

New Orleans (+5) over PITTSBURGH: You really can't trust the Saints right now, but I think they pull the upset here on the road. Why? Because no one is giving them a chance and the Steelers are very susceptible at home against below average teams.

Carolina (+3) over MINNESOTA: I think the Panthers put it together and find a way to win this game.

Arizona (-2) over ATLANTA: You can't trust the Falcons or Mike Smith at this point. Take the better team on the road.

New England (+3) over GREEN BAY: Great, great game on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady going head-to-head. The Pats in Lambeau on Thanksgiving weekend. Awesome matchup and I will take the Patriots until they lose.

Miami (-6) over NY JETS: Easy pick here. The Jets are a nightmare and go back to Geno Smith at QB. The Dolphins are 6-5 and have legitimate playoff hopes, and they won't mess around here in this spot.

Thanksgiving Tripleheader Picks!

What a Thanksgiving slate of games this year! Old-school NFC North rivalry with the 5-6 Bears and the 7-4 Lions squaring off in the early game, a huge NFC East battle between two 8-3 teams with Philly heading to Dallas, and the nightcap is a rematch of last year's NFC Championship with 7-4 Seattle traveling to 7-4 San Francisco. All meaningful games with playoff implications on the line in each one. It should be a fun turkey day with a lot of football to take in. Here are my Thanksgiving picks...

DETROIT (-7) over Chicago: I shouldn't  trust Jay Cutler and Marc Trestman on the road on three days rest. The Lions have lost two in a row, and they desperately need this game. The problem with the Lions is their offense. With Calvin Johnson hobbled all year, they just can't score a lot of points. Look for the Lions to win, and I think they do just enough to cover the spread.

DALLAS (-3) over Philly: Tough game to call, but I'm going with the Cowboys for one reason: Homfield and a short week. Yes, the Cowboys got screwed by playing the Sunday night game at the Meadowlands and then playing on Thanksgiving. But you have to like the Cowboys here and I still don't trust Mark Sanchez.

SAN FRANCISCO (-1) over Seattle: Another tough game to call, but I'll take the 49ers. I figure this game comes down to the end and Colin Kapernick makes one more play than Russel Wilson to win it late.

Broncos Rally Past Dolphins Get to 8-3

There was some doubt in Mile High yesterday as the Broncos faced deficits of 14-3, 21-10, and 28-17 at various points in the game to Miami. It looked like it wasn’t going to be their day, and they would suffer a crushing loss at home. But as doubt started to seep in, the Broncos rallied and pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat the Dolphins 39-36 in a huge game for both teams as far as the playoffs is concerned. The game had a real playoff feel to it, and it was one of the most impressive performances of the season for the Broncos. To battle back like that was just a tremendous compliment to their team, and it was a win that could really serve as a big moment for them going forward. Here are my thoughts and observations on the win…

1)    You had to worry about Denver’s defense after the first half. The Dolphins were able to do anything they wanted. They were running the ball effectively, and Ryan Tannehill was picking them apart. Three touchdown drives in the first half really put Denver in a hole. I’m not so sure that Jack Del Rio is the greatest defensive coordinator. I have been puzzled by him the last few weeks. At least Denver’s defense was able to rebound and play better in the second half because that first half was really bad.

2)    I love the Denver gameplan. They came out with a focus to run the ball, and they did just that. Give the offensive line credit because they controlled the line of scrimmage all day long. C.J. Anderson was great. He had 167 yards on 27 carries, and it seemed like everytime he ran the ball, he was falling forward for positive yardage. It was a great performance by the offensive line and the running game. Finally, we had that type of game this season!

3)    A lot of people texted me saying that Manning was off, but outside of missing Emmanuel Sanders on a couple of deep throws, I thought Manning was really solid. Being able to run the ball that well, will make Manning even more effective. When he needed to throw and spread the Dolphins out, he was great. He finished 28 for 35 for 257 yards and 4 touchdowns and no interceptions. I’ll get to his drive before the half in a minute.

4)    Down 21-10, Denver needed a score before the half because they were getting the ball to start the second half. Manning orchestrated a beautiful drive, and finished the drive off with a 14 yard laser to Demaryius Thomas to make it 21-17. The key play was a big 35 yard pass to Sanders on a 3^rd and 20 to keep the drive alive. Manning was awesome on that drive, and that changed the game.

5)    After driving down the field to start the 3^rd quarter, Manning missed a wide open Wes Welker on 3^rd and goal. It was very un-Manning like to miss Welker there, and naturally Brandon McManus missed a 33 yard field goal and the Broncos were still trailing 21-17. The McManus experiment is over and it needs to end soon. He is going to kill us going forward. They need to find a new kicker. I have been saying this for a month (On Tuesday, the Broncos cut McManus and signed former Bucs kicker Connor Barth.)

6)     The Isaiah Burse fumble and Dolphins ensuing touchdown to make it 28-17 was a moment where you felt the Broncos were going to lose this game.

      7)    Great drive by Manning to cut it to 28-25. Great play call to Thomas for the touchdown. I liked the decision by Fox to go for 2 to cut it to 28-25 with 14 minutes left in the game. Even though Phil Simms didn’t like it, I thought it was the right choice.

8)    The Broncos got a big stop by their defense and forced a punt on the next drive. That drive was huge and that was the key stop that they needed.

9)    What a  championship drive by the offense and great play call to Anderson, who runs for a TD untouched to give Denver first lead of the game at 32-28.

10) Chris Harris provided blanket coverage to force a tough throw by Tannehill, which T.J. Ward picked off and returns inside the 10. That is why John Elway invested in his defense this offseason, and that is the turnover that a great defense forces late in games. Harris also proves how he is our best corner each and every week/

11)  It was nice to see Wes Welker get a touchdown on a sweet pick play with Manning to make it 39-28. Maybe we can get Welker going here in the last five games.

12) Denver’s defense couldn’t get a stop on the next Miami drive and the lead was cut to 39-36. An onside kick was recovered by Denver and the game was over. Too many times though the Broncos defense lets teams back into the game late. This game should have not come down to an onside kick. It still bothers me that they let teams drive down to make this games even closer at the end. 

13) Huge, huge win. It was a playoff type atmosphere, and a lot of breaks went against Denver. They had a bad start, trailed by 11 heading into 4^th quarter, turnovers and missed field goals looked to doom them in the second half, and they rallied back to pick up the win. Statement game to say the least

14) Great gamplan by offense. They were able to pick up for the defense who had a really bad day. The offensive line got killed by the media all week, and they just ran the ball down the Dolphins throats. It set up the play-action game, and when Manning needed to be Manning he did what he usually does.

15) Denver is now 8-3 and heading to Arrowhead for showdown with Chiefs. This win gives them some breathing room in the division. Hopefully, there is some confidence back for the Broncos and that offensive line. It will be a tough game on Sunday Night, but the Broncos definitely have what it takes to take down the Chiefs in KC.

Week 12 Picks!

All week all the talk was about how the sky is falling in Denver, and how the Chiefs are poised to win the AFC West from the Broncos. Yes, there is a lot of football left to play, and the Broncos have some serious issues. An offensive line that has been very inconsistent all year is now shuffling the unit and trying to find the right combination of players for the stretch run. That spotty O-Line play has led to some unusual erratic play from Peyton Manning and a running game that is virtually nonexistent. Throw in the injuries to Ronnie Hillman, Montee Ball, and Julius Thomas, and it looks like the Broncos are in trouble. And they are in trouble to a certain extent. Are they the same team as last year? No way. Are there some concerns that this team could beat a quality opponent on the road? Yes, but we still have Peyton Manning and we still have 6 games to figure this out. There is still time to sort out these problems and get back on track towards the Super Bowl. Everyone just needs to relax a little bit and focus on the next game. Besides, we already got some help with the Raiders knocking off the Chiefs on Thursday Night. Here are the picks for Week 12....

Last Week's Record: 8-6
Overall Record: 81-74-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Cleveland (+3) over ATLANTA: Typically, the Browns looked awful last week at home against the Texans. Now, they head to 4-6 Atlanta, who finds themselves in the thick of the NFC South race. I think the Browns will rebound this week and get the win on the road to get them to 7-4.

Tennessee (+12) over PHILLY: The Eagles will win this game, but I look for the Titans to keep it closer than the line. Too many points to give the Eagles as they still try to figure out how effective Mark Sanchez will be as their quarterback.

NEW ENGLAND (-7) over Detroit: The Lions are in 1st place in the NFC North, and they have one of the league's best defenses. This has all the makings of a big win on the road right? Not so fast. I see the Pats just doing their thing and blowing the doors off Detroit. Look for a big day from Tom Brady and that offense.

MINNESOTA (+9) over Green Bay: Now that the Vikings are playing outdoors, I can see that the weather could slow down Aaron Rodgers and that offense. I think the Packers will win, but look for the Vikings to keep it close.

INDY (-13) over Jacksonville: This game will not be close at all, and I think this is the lock of the week. The Colts will roll in this one at home. The Colts feast on beating the crummy teams on their schedule.

Cincy (+2) over HOUSTON: I don't see why the Texans are favored here. I know they are at home, but do you really have faith in Ryan Mallet after 1 week? Cincy got a big win on the road at New Orleans last week, so I look for them to continue that this week on the road in Houston.

CHICAGO (-5) over Tampa Bay: The Lovie Smith Bowl! The 2-8 Bucs and the 4-6 Bears! Anyway, I'm taking the Bears at home for selfish reasons because I want them to be 5-6 heading into Detroit on Thanksgiving to give that game a little more meaning, so the Bears are the pick for me.

SEATTLE (-7) over Arizona: The Cards are still the story in the NFC at 9-1, but this feels like a game where the Seahawks rise up and make a statement like "Hey, don't forget about us. We are the defending Super Bowl Champs!" Look for a rout in Seattle.

SAN DIEGO (-5) over St. Louis: Has any team lost all their bandwagon supporters like the Chargers have the past few weeks? When they were 5-1, they were considered a Super Bowl contender in the AFC and Phillip Rivers was a surefire MVP candidate. Now, they are 6-4 and everyone has jumped off their bandwagon. I think they take care of business at home to the Rams this week.

SAN FRANCISCO (-8) over Washington: When Jay Gruden comes out and publicly calls out Robert Griffin III, then you know that is a bad sign for a QB and a franchise. The Niners are starting to hit a bit of a stride here at 6-4, and a big win at home over the Skins will get them to 7-4 heading into their big showdown with Seattle on Thanksgiving Night.

NY GIANTS (+4) over Dallas: I have no faith in the Giants, but I'll pick them because this is one of those games where they can basically put everything they have left and try to ruin the Cowboys season on primetime television. I could totally get burned by this, but I am going with a hunch on this one.

New York Jets (+3) over BUFFALO: Only the Bills would have their playoff hopes possibly derailed by a massive snowstorm in Buffalo and force them to play this game in Detroit on Monday night. I'll take the Jets in this one only because their players didn't have to deal with a blizzard, missed practices, snowmobiling to the facility, and relocating to Detroit for the week.

NEW ORLEANS (-3) over Baltimore: I hate this pick, but I'll take the Saints because I can't see them losing three home games in a row. This has all the makings of a Ravens romp, but I think the Saints will rise up and find a way to get to 5-6.

Miami (+7) over DENVER: This game scares me because of the Dolphins defense. They are really good, and the Broncos obviously have had some struggles on offense lately. This game just scares me and I don't have a good feeling about it at all.

Final Score: Dolphins-24 Broncos-20

Chiefs-Raiders TNF Pick!

OAKLAND (+8) over Kansas City: All of the sudden the Chiefs are the team to beat in the AFC West. After starting 0-2, they are now 7-3 and tied with Denver for 1st place. With a showdown between the Broncos and Chiefs next week in Arrowhead looming, could KC be looking ahead and not focusing on the Raiders? Oakland is 0-10, and I doubt that they will go 0-16, so at some point they have to win a game. Why not shock the world and pull the upset on the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football? I'm taking the Raiders strictly because I need KC to lose, so this pick has no real merit other than the Bronco fan in me hoping the Chiefs stub their toe here.

Broncos Get Blasted by Rams 22-7

Denver’s loss on Sunday at the hands of the 3-6 Rams may have been the low point of the Peyton Manning Era in Denver. When Denver got smoked by Seattle in the Super Bowl, at least it was the Super Bowl, and they got crushed by a really good team. Sunday’s loss was a real eye-opener for numerous reasons. The Broncos got completely outplayed from the get-go, and their road woes continued. I had a sneaky suspicion that the Broncos were in trouble because they haven’t started well on the road all year long. Also, their offensive line continues to be a problem, and that will hurt any team when they hit the road. Sunday’s loss was also brutal because Denver came away banged up. Montee Ball hurt his groin and he is out indefinitely, Emmanuel Sanders suffered a concussion, and Julius Thomas hurt his ankle. It was a bad day to say the least for the Broncos, and it creates some doubt going forward.

Here are my thoughts and observations from the game…

1)    The Broncos again got off to a slow start on offense, and the next thing you knew they were down 13-0. Shaun Hill’s bomb to Kenny Britt gave the Rams the 10-0 lead, and you just knew that this was going to be trouble for Denver.

2)    The Broncos and John Fox can say what they want about the confidence in rookie kicker Brandon McManus but when you go for it on 4^th and 5 in the 1^st quarter that to me tells the story. They have no confidence in McManus! The worst part is that at least with Matt Prater once you got inside the other team’s 40, you were in field goal range. The Broncos 4^th down play failed, and the Rams capitalized on the next play to make it 10-0.

3)    I’m not going to kill the Denver defense for giving up over 100 yards to Tre Mason and giving up 22 points to Shaun Hill. The defense was put into an awful spot time after time during the game. They forced the Rams to kick 5 field goals, and they were able to get some key stops when they needed it. Don’t hang this loss on the defense.

4)    The blame for this loss goes on the coaching staff and the offense. First, our offensive line is still a mess. We can’t run the ball, and now they have problems picking up blitzes and stunts on critical downs. Also, Adam Gase completely abandoned the running game right from the start. I know Denver was down early, but at least try to keep the defense honest. I know he lost some of his weapons due to injury, but Peyton Manning wasn’t sharp at all on Sunday. He did have a sweet touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders for 42 yards to cut the lead to 13-7 in the second quarter, but he threw two awful interceptions into coverage in the second half. He now has 6 interceptions in his last 3 games. That could be very alarming, but all three of those games were on the road. He missed an open Demaryius Thomas on a deep post that would have given Denver a 14-13 lead in the 3^rd quarter. He overthrew him and Thomas would have walked into the endzone if it is a good throw. Manning needs to get back on track a little here.

5)    John Fox’s decision to not call timeouts at the end of the half and give Manning a chance to get the ball back was awful. Even Manning was shaking his head on the sideline. You have to wonder about Fox’s game management at times. It really makes you wonder if you can trust him in these big games. With 2:00 minutes left in the half, Denver had all three timeouts. They stop the Rams on 1st down on a short pass for no gain. On 2^nd down, with 1:16 to play in the half, the Rams run the ball up the middle for a gain of six. Call timeout there! Make them run a play to get the first down on 3^rd down. Fox elects not to do that for some reason, and the Rams let the clock run down and then run the ball on 3^rd down and then Denver finally takes a timeout with 30 seconds left. There wasn’t enough time after the punt and the Broncos just knelt down to end the half. Awful, awful job by Fox and his use of timeouts in that situation.

6)    It was the lowest points scored by the Broncos in the Peyton Manning Era, and it was definitely the low point for them as a franchise in the last three years. It makes you nervous because this team still has 3 really tough road games left on the schedule: at KC, at SD, and at Cincy. Now, they are tied at 7-3 with KC atop the AFC West. This is going to be a dogfight just to win the division. Their offense is not even close to last year, their running game is terrible, their offensive line is a mess, and they are very inconsistent. Throw in the fact that they have no threat in the return game, and their kicker has no confidence from the coaching staff. It is safe to say that there is a lot to be worried about in Denver right now. The Broncos are at a crossroads, and they didn’t face this type of adversity all year last year. After 10 games this year, adversity has hit them square in the face.

7)    With all that said, every team faces tough times during the season. Last year, the Broncos didn’t really have that, but this year they do. As a fan, you can’t think too far ahead. Don’t worry about homefield advantage, seeding, and division titles. Just worry about winning the next game. For the Broncos, that is this Sunday at home against a dangerous Miami Dolphins team. This will not be an easy game at all-especially with the injuries and uncertain statuses of Julius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. All week you are going to hear how Denver is fading. All week you will hear about the decline of Peyton Manning and all the other flaws that this team has. That doesn’t mean anything as long as they go out and win at home over the Dolphins on Sunday. Get to 8-3 and worry about the next game. That has to be the mindset.