Broncos-Chargers and Week 17 Picks!

The Broncos finish 2018 at home against the Chargers, and the game will feature a lot of no shows, the final appearance of Vance Joseph on the Denver sideline, and probably a lopsided loss. The Broncos are going to finish 6-10 and that might actually help their draft position for 2019 based on what happens the rest of the day. The Chargers still can win the division and the #1 seed in the AFC with a win, so they have something to play for. Look for the Chargers to easily roll over the Broncos and put this dreadful season behind us.

Prediction: LA Chargers (-6) over DENVER
Final Score: Chargers-31 Broncos-10

Now onto the picks for Week 17....

Last Week's Record: 7-6-3
Overall Record: 116-107-14
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

NY GIANTS (-5) over Dallas: The Cowboys have the NFC East wrapped up, so they will probably take it easy. This could be the last game for Eli Manning as a Giant, so I think they will send him out a winner.

Carolina (+7) over NEW ORLEANS: The Saints locked up the #1 seed in the NFC last week, so they have nothing to play for here.

NY Jets (+14) over NEW ENGLAND: The Pats need to win to get the #2 seed in the AFC, and I think they will win, but I could see Sam Darnold and the Jets keeping it closer than people expect and getting that backdoor cover.

GREEN BAY (-7) over Detroit: Both teams are playing out the string, and I think GB gets to 7-8-1.

HOUSTON (-6) over Jacksonville: The Texans will win and finish 11-5, after a 0-3 start, but they will end up as the #3 seed in the AFC after NE wins.

ATLANTA (-1) over Tampa Bay: The Falcons will win to finish 7-9 on the year.

BUFFALO (-3) over Miami: The Bills will finish the year 6-10 while the Dolphins will finish 7-9.

KANSAS CITY (-13) over Oakland: The Chiefs will win the AFC West and the #1 seed by virtue of knocking off the Raiders in Arrowhead.

Philly (-6) over WASHINGTON: Nick Foles leads the Eagles to win and a 9-7 finish but they will just miss out of the playoffs.

MINNESOTA (-4) over Chicago: The Vikings will win and finish 9-6-1 and get the #6 seed in the NFC, while the Bears will finish 11-5 and the #3 seed.

SEATTLE (-12) over Arizona: The Seahawks will rout the Cards and finish 10-6 and the #5 seed in the NFC.

LA RAMS (-9) over San Francisco: The Rams will win and be the #2 seed in the NFC.

Cleveland (+6) over BALTIMORE: I'm going to have some fun and I predict the Browns will upset the Ravens in Baltimore and knock the Ravens out of a potential playoff spot. The Browns finish 8-7-1, and that sets up.....

PITTSBURGH (-12) over Cincy: The Steelers take care of their business and win the AFC North by virtue of the Ravens loss and the #4 seed in the AFC.

Indy (-3) over TENNESSEE: Game #256 of the regular season concludes with the Colts beating the Titans on the road and getting the #6 seed in the AFC.


Based on my Week 17 predictions, here is what I think the Wild Card Weekend Schedule will look like:

Saturday 1/5

(6) Indy at (3) Houston-4:30pm (ESPN/ABC)
(6) Minnesota at (3) Chicago- 8:00pm (NBC)

Sunday 1/6
(5) LA Chargers at (4) Pittsburgh (CBS)
(5) Seattle at (4) Dallas (FOX)

To go further, I think this will be the set up for the Divisional Round the following week:

Saturday 1/12
at New England-4:30pm (NBC)
at New Orleans-8:00pm (FOX)

Sunday 1/13
at Kansas City-1:00pm (CBS)
at Los Angeles Rams-4:00pm (FOX)

Broncos Lose to Raiders 27-14, Fall to 6-9

Christmas Eve was not very kind to the Broncos or their fans as Denver turned in one of its' worst performances of the year in a 27-14 loss to the 4-11 Raiders in Oakland. There is nothing really memorable to say about this game. They were down 17-0 at the half, and it looked like they didn't want to be there. The Broncos are 6-9 and headed for back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1971-1972. That is the reality for this franchise, and the reality is that Vance Joseph is going to be gone once Week 17 mercifully ends next week at home against the Chargers. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game.....

1) Dwayne Harris returned a punt 99 yards for a touchdown after Isaac Yiadom downed the ball back in play at the one, and Harris smartly picked it up and raced down the sideline for a TD. That gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead and they never looked back.

2) It was 17-0 at the half and the Raiders second TD was a 24 yard run that not one Bronco player was near the RB as he went into the endzone untouched. It was pitiful.

3) Philip Lindsay did break the 1,000 yard rushing mark in this game, but he was hurt in the 3rd quarter with a wrist injury. He will need surgery and will be out 3-4 months. Hopefully, he comes back healthy in time for OTAs. Of course, we are robbed of seeing him in Week 17, but it was great season for Lindsay and the future is bright for him.

4) Speaking of Lindsay, my 9 year old son is a huge fan of his, and he wrote him a letter a few weeks ago. ESPN was talking about Lindsay during the game and they showed fan mail that he has received and my son's letter was on the screen as they were talking about it. It was a very cool moment for me and my family. That was the only bright spot in this dreadful game.

5) The Broncos end the 2018 season at home against the Chargers, who still can win the AFC West and the #1 seed in the AFC with a win and a Chiefs loss. It will be the final game in the Vance Joseph era (Thank God) and the Broncos will be looking for a new head coach come Monday December 31st. I'll have a wrap of the season and thoughts on the new HC next week. Until then, let's just ge this season over with and move onto 2019!

Broncos-Raiders and Week 16 Picks!

The Broncos head to Oakland for a Christmas Eve showdown against the Raiders on Monday Night Football. The Broncos are 6-8 and officially eliminated from playoff contention. They are going to fire Vance Joseph at the end of the season, and now it is all about pride. It will be hard to tell how motivated they will be on MNF. They have a lot of injuries and nothing to play for. The Raiders are 3-11 but this could be the last ever game they play in Oakland. Their stadium situation is unknown for next year and since they are moving to Las Vegas in two years, there is a question about where they will play their home games next year. If this is the last ever game in Oakland, you know the Black Hole will be fired up. I could see the Raiders playing inspired while the Broncos are just looking to get the season over with.

Prediction: OAKLAND (+2) over Denver
Final Score: Raiders-26 Broncos-18

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

Last Week's Record: 9-6-1
Overall Record: 109-101-11
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

TENNESSEE (-9) over Washington: Somehow, the Redskins are still alive the playoff picture at 7-7 despite having to go with 4th string QB Josh Johnson. The Titans are 8-6 and on the verge of getting into the playoffs. Take the Titans at home on Saturday afternoon to get to 9-6.

LA CHARGERS (-4) over Baltimore: Very interesting game in the AFC on Saturday night. The Chargers are 11-3 and still have a chance to win the AFC West and get the #1 seed. The Ravens are 8-6 and still in contention for a Wild Card and possibly even the AFC North title. This game should be close throughout, but I think the Chargers will win by a touchdown late.


PHILLY (-2) over Houston: Another huge game with playoff ramifications. The Eagles are 7-7 and still have a chance at the playoffs after their big win over the Rams last week. Nick Foles played well in relief of the injured Carson Wentz, and they can definitely get to 8-7 with a big win here at home. The Texans are 10-4 and fighting for a first round bye, but I think they will get tripped up here. Remember, the Texans went to NY last week to play the Jets, and now they head back up East to play the Eagles. They might be tired.

Minnesota (-5) over DETROIT: The Vikings are 7-6-1 and have to win to make the playoffs. There is no way they can get tripped up at 5-9 Detroit. I think they will take care of their business.


Tampa Bay (+9) over DALLAS: I think the Cowboys win the game outright, but I have a feeling this game is close. It's just a hunch and I think Dallas gets it done and clinches the NFC East, but it won't be easy.

CLEVELAND (-8) over Cincy: The Browns are 6-7-1 and Baker Mayfield has the franchise playing with a different mindset. They can actually still make the playoffs. The fans will be fired up for the Browns this week at home, and I think they will get to 7-7-1 with a rout over the Bengals.

INDY (-8) over NY Giants: The Colts are 8-6 and are on the verge of a playoff spot. They won't slip up here at home to the 5-9 Giants. I think this game is a blowout from start to finish./

MIAMI (-4) over Jacksonville: The Dolphins are 7-7 and still have a chance at the playoffs,. They will get to 8-7 with a win over the lifeless Jags at home this week.

NEW ENGLAND (-10) over Buffalo: The Pats have lost two in a row and are now 9-5. They can still get a bye but they need to win their last two and the Texans have to lose one game. I can't see the Pats stubbing their toe at home to the Bills.

NY JETS (+3) over Green Bay: Meaningless game between two teams that are out of the playoff picture.

Atlanta (-3) over CAROLINA: Another meaningless game between two teams that are out of the playoff picture.

LA Rams (-12) over ARIZONA: I'm not worried about the Rams as much as everyone else is. I'll think they will be fine come playoff time. A lot of teams get worn down at the end of the season. They will get back on track with a blowout win over the 3-11 Cardinals.

Chicago (-2) over SAN FRANCISCO: The Niners have won two in a row, but I don't think the Bears will fall into this trap this week. The Bears can still get a bye after locking up the NFC North last week. They will get to 11-4 after a solid road win this week.

NEW ORLEANS (-6) over Pittsburgh: The Saints can lock up the #1 seed in the NFC and homefield advantage throughout with a win here. The Steelers are 8-5-1 and a loss here would be damaging but there is still a path for them to make the playoffs. I'll take the Saints at home to wrap up the NFC's top spot.

Kansas City (-2) over SEATTLE: The Chiefs are battling with the Chargers for the top seed in the AFC and the AFC West crown. The Seahawks are 8-6 and need a win to clinch a playoff spot. Seattle can get in with a win over the Cardinals next week, and the Chiefs need this game more. I think KC plays one of their best games of the year and rolls out of Seattle with a win.

Broncos Lose to Browns 17-16, Officially Eliminated from the Playoffs

The Browns beat the Broncos 17-16 on Saturday Night in Denver and the loss dropped the Broncos to 6-8, and it eliminated them from playoff contention. It was the first time the Broncos lost to the Browns since 1990, and the loss will have significant effects on the franchise as a result. Here are my thoughts and observations on the loss...

1) The Broncos held a 13-10 lead in the 4th quarter and were down 17-13 when the key sequence of the game and season occurred. The Broncos faced 4th and 1 from the Browns six yard line with just over five minutes to play in the game. Vance Joseph decided to go for the field goal instead of going for it on 4th down. They made the field goal but the score was at 17-16. The Browns were able to move the ball on the next drive to kill enough time that Denver got the ball back (After a great stop by Adam Gotsis on 4th and 1) with only 1:42 left at their own 27.

2) The final sequence was another disaster as well. The Broncos moved the ball to the 50 with 52 seconds left. They only needed a field goal so 15-20 yards would have put them in FG range. After a spike and two incompletions, Case Keenum was sacked on 4th down and the game was over. The Broncos play calling in that sequence was very suspect and they needed to run better plays to get closer to field goal range.

3) Baker Mayfield was really good in the beginning of the game, and he was really good at the end of the game. He made some big throws early to give them a 7-0 lead, and then he was good late to take the lead. It definitely hurts to see Mayfield win in Denver for the Browns. I hoped he would be a Bronco all offseason.


4) Case Keenum was average at best and his two interceptions were costly. His first interception was in the end zone and killed a potential field goal near the end of the half. His second one was worse. It was with 14:41 left in the 4th quarter and it was near midfield. The Browns scored on their next possession to take the lead for good.

5) Congrats to Von Miller who passed Simon Fletcher on the Broncos all-time sack list.

6) The loss drops to the Broncos to 6-8, and they are eliminated from the playoffs for the third consecutive year. The loss also probably signals the end of the Vance Joseph era, which is probably the best thing that this franchise needs right now. The Broncos are now stuck playing two meaningless games the last two weeks of the season at Oakland and at home against the Chargers.

Broncos-Browns and Week 15 Picks!

The Broncos need a lot of help and things to go their way for any shot of them making the playoffs after losing to the 49ers last week. At 6-7, the Broncos first need to win out. That won't be easy as the Browns come to Mile High on Saturday night. The Browns are 5-7-1 and they are playing a lot better overall since firing Hue Jackson. Baker Mayfield has been on fire, and it will be tough to watch because for long time last offseason, there were a lot of people thinking/hoping that the Broncos would draft Mayfield in the draft. Unfortunately, that did not happen, so if he plays well and beats the Broncos on Saturday night, then it will sting. I think the Broncos are done after that loss last week, and I think the Browns are the better team right now. The Broncos haven't lost to the Browns since 1991. I think that streak ends this Saturday.

Prediction: Cleveland (+3) over DENVER
Final Score: Browns-27 Broncos-17

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

Last Week's Record: 11-5

Overall Record: 100-95-10
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Houston (-5) over NY JETS

MINNESOTA (-7) over Miami

CINCY (-3) over Oakland

Tampa Bay (+8) over BALTIMORE

INDY (-3) over Dallas

BUFFALO (-2) over Detroit

Green Bay (+7) over CHICAGO

Tennessee (+2) over NY GIANTS

JACKSONVILLE (-6) over Washington

ATLANTA (-7) over Arizona

Seattle (-3) over SAN FRANCISCO

PITTSBURGH (+3) over New England

LA RAMS (-10) over Philly

New Orleans (-5) over CAROLINA

Week 15 TNF Pick

KANSAS CITY (-3) over LA Chargers

Broncos Lose to 49ers, Fall to 6-7

In a game that the Broncos had to win and one in which most people thought they would win, they went out to San Francisco and lost to the 2-10 49ers 20-14 in Santa Clara on Sunday. The Broncos fell to 6-7 and now are going to need to win out and get a lot of help to get into the playoffs. Denver trailed 20-0 at halftime, and they rallied in the second half, but they fell short and suffered a very devastating loss. It was about as frustrating of a loss as they have had all season, and it might have major ramifications down the road. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) The Broncos trailed 20-0 at the half mainly because they couldn't stop TE George Kittle. Kittle had 210 receiving yards before halftime. How can you not have a plan for Kittle? The Broncos struggle at stopping TEs and yet they had no answer for Kittle. How come the Broncos always seem to be outschemed by the opposing coaches-especially on defense? Kyle Shanahan against Vance Joseph and Joe Woods is a major mismatch and it showed.

2) The key in the first half was the fact that Kittle scored on a 85 yard reception from Nick Mullens to make it 13-0, and they scored another touchdown with only 8 seconds left in the half. They went 72 yards in 59 seconds. The Broncos had 5 penalties on the drive to help the 49ers move the ball down the field. That was inexcusable.

3) The Broncos back into the game with a Philip Lindsay TD run to make it 20-7 with 6:05 left to go in the third. They turned the ball over on downs the next two possessions. I hated the 4th and 3 call to Lindsay at the Denver 44 with 12:41 to go in the game. I don't mind going for it there, but the playcall was bad. After a Darian Stewart interception, the Broncos got the ball back and moved it to the SF 22 when Lindsay was stopped short again on a pass from Keenum with 8:37 to go in the game. They had to go for it in that spot because a FG does them no good at 20-7.

4) Keenum hit DaeSean Hamilton for a 1 yard TD with 3:53 left in the game to make it 20-14. The Broncos gave the ball back to the 49ers needing only one stop with 3:46 to go and all three timeouts and the 49ers were starting at their own 20. On 3rd and 7, Mullens hit Dante Pettis for 31 yards. With 2:28 seconds left, the 49ers faced another 3rd and 3 from the Denver 39 and once again Mullens completed the pass and the first down and that ended the game. The Denver defense has to get off the field in that spot. You can't let Nick Mullens beat you in those situations and it happened twice!

5) This is about as bad of a loss that you can have at this point in the season. Denver was 6-6 with the easiest remaining schedule in the league, and they lost to a 2-10 team. I know they are banged up with injuries. I know they just lost Chris Harris and Emmanuel Sanders to injuries, but they have to win this game. That's the bottom line. This definitely falls on the coaches as well. What this loss means for the future is for another time. The immediate impact is that they are now 6-7 with the Browns coming to Mile High on Saturday night, and they need to win out and get major help to get into the playoffs. It will be hard for them to beat the Browns on Saturday anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if they lost the last three games this year. Instead of being 7-6, riding a four-game winning streak and coming home to a pumped-up fanbase in Mile High this week, the Broncos are 6-7 and wondering what might have been.

Broncos-49ers and Week 14 Picks!

The Broncos have evened their record at 6-6 and are in the playoff mix for the last Wild Card spot in the AFC. They head to San Francisco to take on the 2-10 49ers, and the Broncos are now favored for the second week in a row on the road. Last week, they were favored over the Bengals and they took care of business 24-10. This week they are favored again but the past seven days were costly to the Broncos. Against Cincy, the Broncos lost Chris Harris for at least four weeks due to a fractured fibula. On Wednesday, Denver lost Emmanuel Sanders to a torn Achilles in practice. Those are two devastating injuries and it will be hard for the Broncos to deal with that. They lost their second best defensive player and they lost their second best offensive player in the span of a few days. They signed CB Jamar Taylor this week and WR Andre Holmes and both are expected to play on Sunday. Will it be enough to get by the 49ers? A lot of people think so, but I just think the immediate impact of losing these guys will be too much for the Broncos to overcome-even against at two win San Francisco team.

Prediction: SAN FRANCISCO (+4) over Denver
Final Score: 49ers-22 Broncos-10

Now, onto the rest of the picks for Week 14 in the NFL.....

Last Week's Record: 5-10-1

Overall Record: 89-90-10
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

BUFFALO (-3) over NY Jets: The Bills are 4-8 and the Jets are 3-9, and both are going nowhere but we get to see Josh Allen take on Sam Darnold. This might be a preview of the 2021 AFC Championship Game. I'll take the Bills at home.

CLEVELAND (+3) over Carolina: The Panthers have fallen apart and are now 6-6 after a 6-2 start. Cam Newton is banged up, they fired a bunch of assistant coaches, and Ron Rivera is suddenly on the hotseat. Look for the Browns to be a feisty home underdog, and I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled the upset.

Atlanta (+6) over Green Bay: This is a stay away game for me. Both these teams have had disappointing seasons. Green Bay just fired Mike McCarthy and who knows how they'll respond at home.

Baltimore (+7) over KANSAS CITY: I think the Chiefs will win this game, but I have a feeling that the Ravens will keep it close. Look for the Ravens to move the ball effectively at times with Lamar Jackson, but ultimately the Chiefs will close it out.

New England (-7) over MIAMI: The Pats are 9-3 and can clinch the AFC East with a win. The Dolphins are 6-6 and still in the hunt in the AFC for a playoff spot. NE usually has trouble in Miami at times in the past, but I think they will take care of a pretty shitty Dolphins team.

New Orleans (-8) over TAMPA BAY: At 5-7, the Bucs are trying to hold out hope of running the table and getting in the playoffs. The Saints are still fighting for the #1 seed in the NFC, and I think they will get back on track after losing last week at Dallas.

NY Giants (-3) over WASHINGTON: The Redskins are down to Mark Sanchez at QB after losing both Alex Smith and Colt McCoy to injuries this year. I don't know how or why I'm backing the Giants, but if they can play inspired against the Bears and win last week, why not pick them to beat Sanchez and the wounded Redskins this week?

Indy (+5) over HOUSTON: Can the Texans win 10 in a row after starting 0-3? They might just do that this week, but I have a feeling the Colts will keep this game very close. I expect it to comedown to the end. I think Indy will have a better showing than their 6-0 loss to the Jags last week.

LA CHARGERS (-14) over Cincy: The Bengals are 5-7 and they are done in the AFC. Too many injuries have them in a downward spiral. The Chargers are 9-3 and they had a huge comeback win over the Steelers last Sunday night. Look for them to blowout the Bengals in LA on Sunday.

DALLAS (-3) over Philly: I'm picking the Cowboys because I would rather see them win the NFC East than the Eagles. This is a great game in the Sunday afternoon window. I'll take Dallas at home.

Detroit (-3) over ARIZONA: This is an awful game and I won't plan to watch one minute of it.

Pittsburgh (-10) over OAKLAND: The Steelers will waste no time in disposing of the Raiders on Sunday. Pittsburgh has lost two in a row, and they will make sure they won't lost three in a row.

CHICAGO (+3) over LA Rams: I think with Mitch Trubisky coming back the Bears will play well. I'm excited to see how their defense matches up against the Rams offense. This should be a fun one on SNF, and I think the Bears will pull off the upset.

SEATTLE (-3) over Minnesota: This is another huge game in the NFC playoff chase. The Seahawks are 7-5 and firmly in the mix. The Vikings are 6-5-1 and right there as well. I think it is a back and forth game, but I like the Seahawks at home on Monday night.

Titans-Jaguars Week 14 TNF Pick

TENNESSEE (-5) over Jacksonville 

Broncos Blow Past Bengals 24-10 and Get to 6-6

The Broncos evened up their record at 6-6 with a 24-10 win over the Bengals on Sunday in Cincy. It wasn't the prettiest game, but the Broncos got the job done and are in the thick of the AFC Wild Card picture with four weeks to go. Here are my thoughts and observations about the game....

1) It was a pretty game at all. With over 30 mph winds, the Broncos had to rely on the run game on offense. They were able to do that. Philip Lindsay was once again great with 157 yards on 19 carries and 2 touchdowns,. His 6 yard run gave Denver the lead late in the second quarter, and his 65 yard run gave Denver a 21-3 with 7:35 left in the third quarter. That run essentially put the game away for good. Lindsay should be the Offensive Rookie of the Year this year, and he is the Broncos MVP this year as well. It was another amazing performance by Lindsay to help propel the Broncos to another win.

2) Case Keenum's numbers weren't great, but he took care of the football and made some key throws when needed. He hit Devontae Booker on a 30 yard pass play to set up Denver's first TD. Then, he hit Courtland Sutton for a 30 yard TD to give Denver a 14-3 lead in the 3rd quarter. Give him credit for not making the big mistake and controlling the game.

3) The Broncos defense took advantage of backup QB Jeff Driskel. Justin Simmons picked off Driskel in Denver territory in the third quarter, and that led to Lindsay's big touchdown run to seal the game. They also sacked him four times. It seemed that anytime Cincy threatened, the Broncos defense clamped down and made a big play to knock them out of scoring position or field goal range.

4) The other key sequence in the game was when Denver led 7-3 and they punted after their first possession. The Bengals fumbled the punt and the Broncos recovered. Keenum hit Sutton for the 30 yard TD and the Broncos had a 14-3 lead at that point.

5) This game was a slog. It was filled with penalties, both teams played sloppy, and the Broncos were fortunate that the Bengals were starting a backup QB because for a period of time in this game, the Broncos didn't look good and were struggling. The bottom line is that they got the win, no matter how ugly, and they are 6-6 and in the thick of the Wild Card race. This team was 3-6 four weeks ago, and the season looked lost. Now, they have won three in a row and have some meaningful December football ahead of them. It's a lot more fun to think about playoff scenarios than draft scenarios. They go back on the road next week to take on the Niners, and they have to take care of business once again.

Broncos-Bengals and Week 13 Picks!

The Broncos are 5-6 after beating the Chargers and Steelers in back-to-back weeks and now they head to Cincy to take on the Bengals, who are struggling and without Andy Dalton for the rest of the season due to a thumb injury. The Broncos suddenly find themselves in the thick of the AFC playoff picture as we head into December. No one saw that coming a few weeks ago. I know Denver is the favorite here in this spot, but can you really trust the Broncos at this point? I want to and I am pumped up for Sunday's game, but I still worry this was the team that was 3-6 and played sloppy in most of the road games they had this year. I want to put my faith in them, but I'm just not ready to do it just yet. I don't want to get my hopes up and get burned.

Prediction: CINCY (+4) over Denver
Final Score: Bengals-24 Broncos-20

Now, onto the picks for Weeks 13 in the National Football League...............

Last Week's Record: 6-8-1
Overall Record: 84-80-9
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Indy (-4) over JACKSONVILLE: The Colts are red-hot at 6-5 and Andrew Luck is playing like a MVP candidate. Look for the Colts to continue their winning ways as they take down the wounded Jags in Jacksonville.

Carolina (-3) over TAMPA BAY: The Panthers have lost 3 in a row and are now 6-5. They head to Tampa to take on the 4-7 Bucs. The Panthers have to win this game, and I think they will get things straightened out this week and get to 7-5.

ATLANTA (-1) over Baltimore: The Falcons are 4-7 and have been a huge disappointment this year. They are due for a convincing win and I think this is the week they will do it. The Ravens are 6-5 and Lamar Jackson has won his first two starts, but I'm skeptical of how he will fare in his first road start.

Cleveland (+6) over HOUSTON: The Browns are 4-6-1 and they have played better since they fired Hue Jackson. Baker Mayfield has also gotten hot as well. The Texans have won eight in row, and I think they are due for a loss. I'll take the Browns and the upset in this spot.

MIAMI (-4) over Buffalo: The Dolphins are 5-6 and still in the AFC Wild Card race, and they host the 4-7 Bills. I think Miami wins this weeks and keeps their playoff hopes alive.

Chicago (-4) over NY GIANTS: The Bears will probably start Chase Daniel this week for the injured Mitch Trubisky, and I think they will be fine as they take care of the 3-8 Giants.

LA Rams (-10) over DETROIT: The Rams will continue to roll and pound the 4-7 Lions in Detroit as they move to 11-1.

GREEN BAY (-13) over Arizona: The Packers are 4-6-1, and it looks like they will need to run the table to at least have a chance to make the playoffs. I think they roll the Cards this week in Lambeau.

Kansas City (-13) over OAKLAND: The Raiders have no chance this week of upsetting the Chiefs. KC is coming off a bye and that tough loss to the Rams two weeks ago. I think they take care of business easily in Oakland.

NY JETS (+8) over Tennessee: The Titans will win the game, but I think this game will be closer. The Jets have to show some fight these final five weeks. I think they will play the Titans tough in this one.

NEW ENGLAND (-4) over Minnesota: The Pats will bring their "A" game this week, and I think they will blow out the 6-4-1 Vikings. I just have a hunch the Pats will play one of their best games of the year this week in Foxboro.

SEATTLE (-10) over San Francisco: The Seahawks are 6-5 and in the Wild Card mix in the NFC, and they will easily dispose of the 49ers this week.

PITTSBURGH (-3) over LA Chargers: The Steelers will get back on track after losing last week to the Broncos. Both of these teams figure to be AFC contenders in January, and I think the Steelers will take care of business on Sunday Night Football this week.

PHILLY (-6) over Washington: The Eagles are 5-6 and they need to basically run the table to get into the playoffs. The Redskins are 5-6 and Alex Smith is gone for the season and now they are relying on Colt McCoy. I think the Eagles will win this one at home on Monday Night Football, and get to 6-6.

Saints-Cowboys Week 13 TNF Pick

New Orleans (-7) over DALLAS

Broncos Beat Steelers in a Thriller 24-17, Improve to 5-6

The Broncos provided a little more life into their season with a thrilling 24-17 win over the Steelers on Sunday in Mile High. The win puts Denver at 5-6, and it gives them more of a reason to get excited about the home stretch of the year. The Broncos are back in the playoff chase, and they actually have some meaningful games in December ahead of them. The game was back and forth, and the Broncos held on with a huge interception in the endzone by Shelby Harris to stop the Steelers on a 3rd and goal to preserve the win. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game.....

1) The Steelers moved the ball all day on the Broncos, but they were able to come up with key stops and key turnovers. This really decided the outcome. Justin Simmons blocked a field goal in the first quarter. Will Parks forced a fumble at the goal line that resulted in a touchback in the second quarter. Chris Harris intercepted Ben Roethlisberger in the third quarter, Bradley Roby forced a fumbled in Denver territory in the third quarter, and Shelby Harris intercepted him in the final minutes of the game to preserve the win. The Steelers have these type of games throughout the year, and the Broncos capitalized on their mistakes and won the game.

2) The Broncos had a 10-3 as the final seconds were ticking down in the half, and the Steelers tied it at 10 on a fake field goal as time expired in the half. Then, after the teams exchanged punts, Big Ben hit Juju Smith-Schuster on a 97 yard pass play to give the Steelers the 17-10 lead. I really thought the Broncos were done after that sequence, but they hung in and made a comeback.

3) The offense was efficient again and Case Keenum played well again with 2 TD passes and no interceptions. The key for the Broncos was that they capitalized on two big turnovers and converted it into touchdowns in the second half. They answered the Harris pick with a TD pass from Keenum to Emmanuel Sanders to tie it at 17. Then, they answered fumble by James Connor with a TD run by Philip Lindsay. The ability to convert those scores was a huge factor in the game, and Keenum was steady throughout the game.

4) Philip Lindsay had another big day. He rushed for 110 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. He gashed the Steelers defense on multiple occasions. He is so much fun to watch every single week.

5) This game had a great feel to it, and it brought excitement to Broncos Country for the first time in over a year. You could sense that just from watching it on television. It was the late window afternoon game on CBS with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo doing the commentary. The Broncos were in their color rush orange uniforms, and the crowd could feel that this could be a season defining win if they could knock off the Steelers. It even had a little Mile High magic in there at the end with Harris' interception of Ben late in the game. It was the first time in a long time that the Broncos gave their fans some real hope for something good and exciting to happen.

6) With back to back wins over the Chargers and Steelers, the Broncos are now 5-6 with the Bengals up next in Cincy. The Bengals lost Andy Dalton for the season with a thumb injury last week, so Jeff Driskell will start the game. The Broncos have a chance to get to 6-6 and really throw their hat into the AFC Wild Card ring, but they have to get by the Bengals next week. The fact that they have life in their season is great, but they have to take care of business next week.

Broncos-Steelers and Week 12 Picks

The Broncos return to Mile High on the heels of a wild, comeback win over the Steelers. At 4-6, the Broncos actually have some life in their season. The Steelers are rolling st 7-2-1, and they look like they are threats again in the AFC. This will take everything the Broncos can throw at them: Momentum, crowd noise, color rush uniforms, and that still might be enough to beat the Steelers. I think it’s a close game for awhile, but I think the Steelers take care of business and beat the Broncos.


Pittsburgh (-3) over DENVER
Final Score: Steelers-27 Broncos-13


Last Week's Record: 6-7-0
Overall Record: 78-72-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Now, onto the picks for Week 12.........

Jacksonville (-3) over BUFFALO: The Jags have lost six in a row, but I think they break the losing streak with a win over the Bills in Buffalo.

CINCY (-3) over Cleveland: I want to pick Cleveland to pull the upset, but I think the Bengals will get back on track at home. I expect a close game, but I think the Bengals will pull away in the 4th quarter.

New England (-7) over NY JETS: The Pats had a week off to think about their awful performance against Tennessee two weeks ago. They will handle their business and dispatch the Jets rather easily.

PHILLY (-6) over NY Giants: The Giants have won two in a row, and the Eagles are struggling at 4-6. I think Philly will get it going this week and make easy work of the Giants at home.

TAMPA BAY (-3) over San Francisco: This is a tough game to watch and get into. In any event, take the Bucs laying three at home.

CAROLINA (-3) over Seattle: Very good game between two NFC playoff contenders. I think the Panthers get back on track after losing two in a row, and I think this game will be back and forth, but I'll go with Carolina to win it at home.

BALTIMORE (-9) over Oakland: The Ravens will be too much for the Raiders at home. It won't matter if Lamar Jackson or Joe Flacco starts. Either way, the Ravens roll.

LA CHARGERS (-11) over Arizona: The Chargers made so many mistakes last week in the loss to Denver. I think they rebound this week at home against the 2-8 Cardinals. They better.

INDY (-8) over Miami: The Colts are flying and at 5-5, they are legitimate playoff contenders. The Dolphins are 5-5, but they are not a playoff team. Look for Indy to continue their winning ways.

Green Bay (+5) over MINNESOTA: I think the Packers will play well on SNF, and they will keep this game close. I know a lot of people are off the Packers bandwagon, but I wouldn't count them out just yet.

Tennessee (+6) over HOUSTON: The Texans are due for a loss after winning seven straight games. I think this could be the week it happens.

Thanksgiving Tripleheader Picks!

CHICAGO (-3) over Detroit

Washington (+8) over DALLAS

NEW ORLEANS (-13) over Atlanta

Broncos Pull Off Shocker in LA, Beat Chargers 23-22

The Broncos won their first divisional road game since 2015 with a wild 23-22 win over the Chargers in LA on Sunday. Denver trailed 22-20 with 1:51 left in the game and the ball at their own 8. Case Keenum made two huge throws on the drive. The first one was to Emannuel Sanders for 38 yards to the Chargers 49. The second one was to Courtland Sutton for 30 yards down to the Chargers 16. It led to a Brandon McManus 34 yard field goal as time expired and the Broncos had their first AFC West road win since December of 2015. It was about as good of a win the Broncos have had in the Vance Joseph era, and it put them at 4-6 on the year and actually breathed some life into their season. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) I liked the Broncos being gutsy and going for a fake punt down 6-0 in the second quarter. The gamble paid off and Colby Wadman completed a pass to Andy Janovich for a first down, and the Broncos converted the drive with a Philip Lindsay TD run to make it 7-6.

2) I think VJ should have elected for the field goal instead of going for it on 4th and 1 inside Chargers territory later in the quarter. The Broncos got an interception from Chris Harris, and they failed to convert it into points as Lindsay was stopped on a 4th and 1. I would have taken the points there and made it 10-6.

3) The Chargers took control of the game from there and built a 19-7 lead and they were driving in Denver territory when the game turned. Von Miller read a screen pass and picked it off and returned it deep into LA territory. The Broncos capitalized with a short Royce Freeman TD run and pulled within 19-14. Denver then took the lead early in the 4th quarter on another short TD run-this time by Lindsay-and Denver had the lead at 20-19. Case Keenum didn't get in for the two-point conversion and it looked like it might come back to haunt Denver-especially after the review showed that it looked like Keenum crossed the goal line, but VJ never challenged it.

4) Down 22-20, the Broncos had a chance but Jeff Heuerman dropped a key third down pass and Denver was forced to punt with 3:53 left to play and three timeouts left. The Chargers got a first down on a 3rd and 6 and it looked like the Broncos were going to lose this one. However, the Chargers had other ideas. On a 2nd and 3 with 2:39 left, Philip Rivers had a miscommunication with Melvin Gordon and he had to take a sack. They led to the 2:00 warning. After that stoppage, Rivers came back on 3rd down and inexplicably threw an incomplete pass and it only wasted 2 seconds off the clock. Denver caught the break of the game at that moment, and that helped enable them to victory.

5) The final drive was terrific by Keenum. He made some gutty throws, and once again he showed some guts late in the game. It was a great drive and great moment for Keenum.

6) The Broncos offensive line held up and Keenum wasn't sacked all day. They did a great job in the run game as well.

7) This is the kind of game that can galvanize a team. It was the best win the VJ era and a game that no one saw coming. Yes, the Chargers and their mistakes and penalties helped them, but give the Broncos credit for hanging in there and fighting to the end.

8) The Broncos are now 4-6 and host the Steelers on Sunday in Mile High. The win gives them another week of hope and maybe they can pull off the upset of Pitt at home and really give Broncos fans a reason for hope down the stretch.

Broncos-Chargers and Week 11 Picks!

The Broncos return from the bye week at 3-6, and they head to LA to take on the 7-2 Chargers. The Broncos are holding on to very slim playoff hopes at this point, and it would take a miracle run for them to make the playoffs. Although that is highly unlikely, it would nice to see the Broncos get a win here and keep their season somewhat alive one more week. Is that likely in this spot? Most likely no. The Broncos haven't won a divisional road game since 2015, and it won't happen this week because the Chargers are red hot, and Phillip Rivers is putting together a great season. Look for the Broncos to be competitive, but they don't have enough to win this game on the road.

Prediction: LA CHARGERS (-7) over Denver
Final Score: Chargers-34 Broncos-17

Now, onto the picks for Week 11 in the NFL....

Last Week's Record: 4-9-1
Overall Record: 72-65-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

ATLANTA (-3) over Dallas: Both teams come in at 4-5, so this is a huge game in the NFC Wild Card race. I'll take the Falcons at home but a touchdown.

JACKSONVILLE (+6) over Pittsburgh: This is last stand type of game for the Jags. At 3-6, they need a win here to keep any playoff hopes alive. I could see the Steelers stumbling in this spot.

Carolina (-4) over DETROIT: I think the Lions are done for the year at 3-6, and I think the Panthers are going to be playoff bound. They take care of business on the road in this one.

INDY (-2) over Tennessee: Big game in the AFC South. The Colts are suddenly 4-5, and the Titans are 5-4. This will have some serious playoff ramifications. Look for a close game, but I like the Colts to win late.

Tampa Bay (+2) over NY GIANTS: I won't watch one minute of this game. This is a rough one to get into.

WASHINGTON (+3) over Houston: The Texans are riding a six-game winning streak, but I don't see them winning seven in a row. I think the Redskins will prevail at home as underdogs.

Cincy (PICK) over BALTIMORE: This game is tough to call because there is a question mark about who is going to play QB for the Ravens. Joe Flacco might not play due to a hip injury, and Lamar Jackson was sick during the week. The Ravens desperately need the win at 4-5, but the Bengals are 5-4 and need to get back on track. I'll take the Bengals with a huge win on the road.

Oakland (+4) over ARIZONA: This is another game I won't be watching on Sunday, but I have to think the Raiders will win again at some point. This might be the spot.

Philly (+8) over NEW ORLEANS: The Eagles are 4-5 and they need a win to get themselves going in the right direction for the playoffs. The Saints are 8-1 and look like the Super Bowl favorite in the NFC. I think the Saints will win at home, but look for the Eagles to keep it close.

Minnesota (+3) over CHICAGO: A good old-fashioned battle in the NFC North between these two longtime rivals. I like the Vikings to go into Chicago and pull out the win. I don't think the Bears have beaten anyone good so far this year, and I think this spot might be too much for them at this point.

LA RAMS (-2) over Kansas City: Great game on Monday Night Football. Two 9-1 teams battling it out in the famous LA Coliseum. I think we will see a lot of points and both offenses will be able to do what they want to do against these struggling defenses. I think the Rams will be a little too much for the Chiefs in what should be a very entertaining game.

Week 11 TNF Pick

Green Bay (+3) over SEATTLE

Week 10 Picks!

Here are my quick picks for Week 10.............

Last Week's Record: 9-4
Overall Record: 68-56-7
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Detroit (+7) over CHICAGO:

CINCY (+5) over New Orleans:

Atlanta (-4) over CLEVELAND:

TENNESSEE (+7) over New England:

Jacksonville (+3) over INDY:

KANSAS CITY (-15) over Arizona:

NY JETS (-7) over Buffalo:

TAMPA BAY (-3) over Washington:

OAKLAND (+9) over LA Chargers:

GREEN BAY (-8) over Miami:

Seattle (+10) over LA RAMS:

PHILLY (-6) over Dallas:

SAN FRANCISCO (-3) over NY Giants:

Steelers-Panthers Week 10 TNF Pick!

PITTSBURGH (-4) over Carolina

Broncos Suffer Brutal Loss to Texans, Fall to 3-6

Sunday's 19-17 loss at the hands of the Houston Texans in Denver felt like the end of the road for the 2018 Broncos and most likely their head coach. The Broncos blew a game that they should have won and fell to 3-6, which means they are not making the playoffs this year unless they embark on an amazing run. There were different parts of the game that contributed to the loss, but here are my thoughts and observations on the loss....

1) Demaryius Thomas returned to Denver a week after being traded to the Texans and he had 3 catches for 61 yards right off the bat. It was kind of symbolic that he was able to do that right away, and it was fitting that he got involved early in the game against the Broncos.

2) This game was lost in two sequences. The first one came near the end of the first half. The Broncos had the ball and faced a 4th and 9 from the Houston 44 with 18 seconds left and instead of punting, Vance Joseph had Brandon McManus attempt a 62 yard field goal. Naturally, McManus missed it, and the Texans completed two passes down to the Denver 28 which set up a 44 yard field goal right before the half ended. VJ decided to ice the kicker, who missed the first attempt, but then made the second one, and the Texans led 16-10 going into halftime. VJ should have never went for the long field goal there-especially with 18 seconds left. If there was 3 seconds left, then fine, give it a shot, but not with enough time to give the Texans the ball bake and chance to score. That was a terrible job by Joseph and it would play a factor later on.

3) Vance Joseph then officially cost the Broncos the game with his decision making at the end. The Broncos converted two 4th down plays, one on a great throw by Case Keenun to Emmanuel Sanders on a 4th and 8, and now they had the ball at the Houston 37 with 43 seconds left. After a 5 yard pass to Jeff Heuerman, the Broncos still had a timeout or the option to spike the ball. Instead they huddled up, and decided to run the ball up the middle with Philip Lindsay and he actually lost a yard. They then called a timeout with a few seconds left and settled for a 51 yard field goal by McManus. Naturally, McManus missed the kicked wide right, and the Broncos lost 19-17. Why not try to get closer? Why not take a deep shot on the sideline? Why just settle for a 51 yarder? Once again, it was just a horrific display of coaching and game management by VJ.

4) It is obvious that Vance Joseph is in over his head as a NFL head coach, and he is not intellectual enough to handle this position. His decisions blew this game on Sunday and it cost the Broncos this season. He doesn't deserve to be back next year, and he should be fired at the end of the season. This was the final nail in the coffin for VJ.

5) For the second straight year, the Broncos are 3-6 and their season is over by early November. This team is not going anywhere this year, and there is no need to fire VJ now, just do it at the end of the year. It is not like a coaching change is going to spark the team and get them on a run. That never works in the NFL. The Broncos need to continue to play some young guys the rest of the year, and start to look at drafting a QB early in the draft next year and groom that guy behind Case Keenum for one year. The VJ era will thankfully be over after Week 17, and now is the time to start thinking about 2019.

Demaryius Thomas Traded, Broncos-Texans Preview, and Week 9 Picks!

Before I delve into the Broncos-Texans game this coming week, I want to take time to address the Demaryius Thomas trade to Houston. Thomas was traded to Houston for a 4th round pick at the trade deadline on Tuesday. The teams also trade 7th round picks as well. Thomas is obviously a great Bronco, and he will one day be in the Broncos Ring of Fame. He is declining a bit as a player, and the Broncos were looking to get Courtland Sutton into the lineup more. Also, it was hard to think that the Broncos were going to bring Thomas back next year on a salary that owed him $14 million. I'm old enough to understand that it is a business and I know players are going to go to other teams, but it still sucks to see him go. DT will always be one of my favorite Broncos and I will never forget how dominant he was when Peyton Manning arrived in Denver from 2012-2015. I will also never forget the touchdown pass he caught from Tim Tebow on the first play of overtime in the 2011 Wild Card game against Pittsburgh. I've watched that play like a million times on YouTube over the years. It's sad to see him go, and it will be tough to see him in another uniform, but the NFL is a harsh business and this was a business decision.

This week's game against Houston features Thomas coming back to Denver as a Texan. It will be weird to say the least, and I think he will be able to give some intel on the Broncos, but how much that makes a difference is unknown. I think the Texans are playing better with Deshaun Watson getting healthier, and I have a feeling they will come into Denver and play well. I still can't trust the Broncos or Vance Joseph to win a must win game, which this game clearly is.

Prediction: Houston (Pick) over DENVER:
Final Score: Texans-26 Broncos-18

Now, onto the picks for Week 9......

Last Week's Record: 8-6-0

Overall Record: 59-52-7
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Chicago (-9) over BUFFALO: The Bears can go to 5-3 with a win over the hapless Bills, who are 2-6 and have to turn to Nathan Peterman at QB again with Josh Allen and Derek Anderson both injured. Look for the Bears to get it done in Buffalo.

Kansas City (-8) over CLEVELAND: The Browns fired Hue Jackson after a 2-5-1 start to the season. With Baker Mayfield struggling right now, I can't see the 7-1 Chiefs stubbing their toe on road this week.

MIAMI (-3) over NY Jets: The Dolphins might be the crappiest 4-4 team in NFL history and they host the 3-5 Jets this week. I think Miami will win the game and get to 5-4, but you can't take them seriously as far as playoff contenders go.

MINNESOTA (-5) over Detroit: The Vikings come in a 4-3-1 after getting buried at home to the Saints last Sunday night. The Lions are 3-4, so this is a big game in the NFC North. I like the Vikings to get back on track with a big win on Sunday.

Atlanta (+3) over WASHINGTON: The 5-2 Redskins lead the NFC East, but I kind of like this matchup for the Falcons. I could see Atlanta giving the Skins some problems on defense, and I think this is a shootout. I'll take the Falcons to get to 4-4.

CAROLINA (-5) over Tampa Bay: The Bucs are 3-4 and now go back to Ryan Fitzpatrick after benching Jameis Winston. Look for a solid victory by the Panthers at home as they improve to 6-2.

BALTIMORE (-3) over Pittsburgh: The Ravens have fallen to 4-4 while the Steelers are 4-2-1. I have a feeling that Baltimore finds their way in this one at home and takes down their rival for the second time this year.

SEATTLE (-3) over LA Chargers: Seattle is 4-3 and host the 5-2 Chargers. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out, but I like the Seahawks at home in front of their fans to get to 5-3.

NEW ORLEANS (+3) over LA Rams: The marquee game of the week in the NFC features the 6-1 Saints hosting the 8-0 Rams. I think this could be a shootout, and it should be, and I like the Saints to outlast the Rams in what could be a NFC Title Game preview.

Green Bay (+7) over NEW ENGLAND: Great game on Sunday Night Football as the 6-2 Pats host the 3-3-1 Packers. Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady. It will be fun to watch and I'm picking the Packers because I think they will cover and will win it outright.

Tennessee (+4) over DALLAS: Both teams come in at 3-4, so the loser is going to be 3-5. I think the Titans will win it late. I still don't trust the Cowboys and their offense. Look for a low scoring affair either way.

Week 9 TNF Pick

Oakland (+4) over SAN FRANCISCO

Broncos Fight Hard But Fall to Chiefs 30-23

The Broncos entered Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday against the Chiefs as big underdogs. Although the game went back and forth and the Broncos kept it close, ultimately the Chiefs were too much and they defeated Denver 30-23. The loss drops the Broncos to 3-5 at the halfway point, and it will be an uphill climb the rest of the way to make the playoffs. The Broncos had the lead early, 7-0, and they had the game at 16-14 going into the half. The Chiefs offense was too much for Denver in the early third quarter, and another round of sloppy mistakes and penalties was too much for the Broncos to overcome. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) The Broncos played hard, but couldn't overcome bad penalties and sloppy play once again. These penalties kill this team each week. Two big runs by Philip Lindsay for over 20 yards were called back. There were the key holding penalties on the offensive line once again, and the usual undisciplined penalties on the defense. It is the same story every week-especially on the road. It is so frustrating because the Broncos actually could have pulled this game out.

2) One key sequence was getting a TD right before the half to make it 16-14, but three possesions later it was 30-14 in the third quarter. Case Keenum hit Tim Patrick for the touchdown pass right before the half, and then you thinking to yourself that the Broncos are back in it and have a shot. The next thing you know it is 30-14 after two KC possessions. That is how deadly that offense has become.

3) Another key sequence was the section of the game where Denver scored to make it 30-20 late in the third quarter. After Keenum hit Jeff Heuerman on a 4th and goal touchdown, the Broncos missed the two-point conversion and the game was 30-20. After forcing a KC punt, Denver then turned it over on two straight possession. First, Keenum fumbled on a drive that they were moving the ball. Then, Keenum got picked off after Justin Simmons picked off Pat Mahomes. That was their shot to pull the upset. Keenum showed why is simply Kyle Orton 2.0 in that sequence. He has to protect the ball at all costs and get points, and the Broncos couldn't do it.

4) Close doesn't count in the NFL. No one cares about moral victories either. Yes, the Broncos went into Arrowhead and played the Chiefs tough for the entire game. Yes, they showed some fight and didn't quit, and proved they were a tough out, but the bottom line is that they still lost and that is all that matters. There are no style points in the NFL.

5) The Broncos now at 3-5 must win next week at home against Houston to keep their very slim playoff hopes alive. I don't think anyone is expecting this team to get on a run in the second half of the season and go something like 10-6, but if they want to keep something alive for this year, then they have to win Sunday and get to 4-5.

Broncos-Chiefs and Week 8 Picks!

Before we get to the Chiefs-Broncos game this week, a little housecleaning from last Thursday's 45-10 Broncos win over the Cardinals. It was fun game to watch and it was great seeing Denver cruise to a blowout win, but let's remember that the Cardinals are one of the worst teams in the league. The Broncos are not good, and we took advantage of a really bad team, so as excited as I was to watch them kick the crap out of the Cardinals, I have to take it with a grain of salt. It was fun to watch Todd Davis and Chris Harris both have pick-sixes in the first quarter. It was also great to see Emmanuel Sanders throw a TD pass on a trick play to Courtland Sutton, and then catch a 64 yard bomb to help give the Broncos a 35-3 lead going into halftime. Overall, it was nice to get the win, but let's see how it goes this week in Kansas City. Speaking of KC, I really don't give Denver much of a chance this week. Arrowhead is always a tough place to play, and the Chiefs are 6-1 and rolling along in the AFC. I think they will jump on Denver early and continue the barrage all game long. I can't see how Denver's defense will keep this game close.

Prediction: KANSAS CITY (-10) over Denver
Final Score: Chiefs-38 Broncos-10

Now onto the picks for Week 8....

Last Week's Record: 7-6-1

Overall Record: 51-46-7
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Philly (-3) over Jacksonville (London): Two teams that are 3-4 and having disappointing seasons head over to London in a very important game. Someone will be 3-5 after this game is over, and I think the Eagles will get the win.

Seattle (+3) over DETROIT: The Lions have rebounded to get to 3-3 and Seattle comes in at 3-3. I like the Seahawks in this spot, and I think they will do enough to get the win on the road.

CINCY (-5) over Tampa Bay: The Bengals got thumped by the Chiefs last week and now they return home to take on the 3-3 Bucs. I see the Bengals getting back on the winning track this week with a big home win.

PITTSBURGH (-7) over Cleveland: I think the Steelers are getting their grove back and I would expect them to win at home over the Browns. I can the Steelers start to make a run at this point in the year.

Baltimore (PICK) over CAROLINA: This is a really good game Carolina on Sunday. The Panthers are 4-2 and coming off a huge road win in Philly after being down 17-0 in the 4th quarter. The Ravens lose a tough one at home to the Saints, and I usually don't like the Ravens on the road, but I like them in this spot. I think this will be a battle that could go either way.

CHICAGO (-7) over NY Jets: I think this will be a tough one for the Jets on the road in Chicago. I like the Bears and their defense in this spot. Look for the Bears to win this game and put the Jets at 3-5.

Washington (-1) over NY GIANTS: The Giants are a mess at 1-6, and the Redskins are 4-2 and in the lead in the NFC East. I think they will do enough to get the win on the road and get to 5-2.

OAKLAND (+3) over Indy: The 1-5 Raiders host the 2-5 Colts. I think the Raiders will rally around and play well in this spot at home, and I think they will get their second win.

Green Bay (+9) over LA RAMS: This is the only marquee game in the late window on Sunday afternoon. I could see the Packers getting blown out in LA, but I'm picking them because I could see Aaron Rodgers getting the backdoor cover. I think the 7-0 Rams will remain undefeated but I think the Packers will cover the number.

San Francisco (PICK) over ARIZONA: The 1-6 Cardinals take on the 1-6 49ers. I won't watch one minute of this game. I'll take SF.

New Orleans (+3) over MINNESOTA: This is a great game on SNF featuring the 5-1 Saints and the 4-2-1 Vikings in Minnesota. It is a rematch of last year's epic NFC Divisional Playoff won by Minnesota on the "Minnesota Miracle." I think the Saints get revenge in a great back and forth game.

New England (-13) over BUFFALO: What an awful game for Monday Night Football. The Pats will roll over the Bills in a snoozefest.

Week 8 TNF Pick

Miami (+7) over HOUSTON

Week 7 Picks!

Here are my picks for Week 7 in the National Football League.......

Last Week's Record: 8-6-0
Overall Record: 44-40-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Tennessee (+7) over LA Chargers (London): Interesting game in London that starts at 9:30 am EST and 6:30 am PST. I think the Titans will keep this game close. Everyone is going to pick the Chargers, but remember they played in Cleveland last week and now are over in London. I'll take the Titans as a live dog.

JACKSONVILLE (-5) over Houston: At 3-3, the Jags return home and need to get back on the winning track. I think they will overwhelm Houston at home, and their defense will play much better.

Detroit (-2) over MIAMI: I like the Lions to go on the road and get to 3-3 with a win over the Fish, who have to start Brock Osweiler for the second straight week, and I can't see him playing as well as he did last week in the win over Chicago.

Carolina (+5) over PHILLY: The Panthers head to Philly, and although I don't think Carolina is a good road team, I think they will play well here in this spot. I still think the Eagles are finding their way. Expect a close game, but look for a field goal to decide it late.

INDY (-7) over Buffalo: With Josh Allen hurt for the time being, the Bills have to go with newly signed Derek Anderson at QB because Nathan Peterman is just that bad. Now, Indy comes to town at 1-5, but very competitive the last few weeks. The Colts will get their second win of the season this week.

New England (-3) over CHICAGO: I like this game a lot in the early window. It will be interesting to see how the Bears defense matches up with the Pats offense. I was going to take the Bears, but I can't go against the Pats. I think they will be locked in.

Cleveland (+3) over TAMPA BAY: The Bucs have lost three in a row and they fired their offensive coordinator Mike Smith this week. The Browns come to town 2-3-1, but got buried at home to the Chargers last week. I'll take the Browns on the road getting the points.

Minnesota (-3) over NY JETS: The Jets have won two in a row and are 3-3. The Vikings are 3-2-1, and I think the Jets are in for it this week. This could be a tricky spot for the Vikings, but I think they will take care of business.

BALTIMORE (-2) over New Orleans: Great late game on Sunday afternoon. The Ravens are always as different team at home. I give their defense the advantage against the high-flying Saints. I'll take them at home only laying two points.

WASHINGTON (-1) over Dallas: Big game in the NFC East. I think the 3-2 Redskins will find a way to get it done at home over their bitter rivals. I'm still not sold on Dallas even after their blowout win over Jacksonville last week.

SAN FRANCISCO (+9) over LA Rams: This is the third game of a three game roadtrip for the Rams and they have to be feeling a little from the last two weeks. I think the Rams will win and get to 7-0, but look for the 49ers to be a tough out and keep it closer than people think.

Cincy (+7) over KANSAS CITY: The Chiefs will win the game at home, but look for the Bengals to keep it close. I would expect a back and forth game for awhile.

ATLANTA (-5) over NY Giants: The 1-5 Giants are done, and now they head to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. The Falcons are banged up all over the place, and injuries have taken their toll. Look for the Falcons to win and get to 3-4.

Broncos-Cardinals TNF Pick!

The 2-4 Broncos head to Arizona to take on the 1-5 Cardinals. Not exactly the thriller that FOX had for this week's Thursday Night Football game. The Broncos need to win to keep their season somewhat meaningful. A loss tonight could put the nail in the coffin of Vance Joseph. Of course I want to see the Broncos win, but even if they win, they are doing anything this season. They head to KC next week, so they will be 3-5 after eight games. They aren't going on a run the second half of the season-especially with two games against the Chargers, one against Pitt, and one against Cincy. If they lose tonight, then maybe John Elway admits the mistake of hiring VJ, and puts him out of his misery. We'll see, but I can't trust the Broncos to win a road game since they are 1-9 under Vance Joseph and haven't won a road game since December of 2016.

Prediction: ARIZONA (+1) over Denver
Final Score: Cardinals-24 Broncos-17

Broncos Can't Get Past Rams, Lose Fourth in a Row

The Broncos didn't get blown out on Sunday, and they were able to mount a comeback against the Rams but ultimately they fell 23-20 after they couldn't recover the onside kick in the waning moments. It was the fourth loss in a row for the Broncos and they now stand at 2-4, and the hot seat under head coach Vance Joseph just got engulfed in flames. It is starting to look like 2017 all over again, and if it doesn't get fixed soon, there are going to be heads that will roll in Denver. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game...

1) This sequence just about sums up everything that is wrong with this Broncos team. Trailing 6-0, Case Keenum hits Emmanuel Sanders for a deep ball that appears to be a touchdown. Sanders scores, then points his finger at the cornerback of the Rams, and then draws a taunting penalty. The play is reviewed and it shows that Sanders was actually down by contact at the one, but the penalty stands and now the Bronocos don't get the touchdown, and have to start from the 16 instead of having the ball at the one. Of course, Denver settles for a field goal and makes it 6-3 instead of taking a 7-6 lead.

2) The Broncos were down 13-3 with 39 seconds left in the half and they faced a 4th and 3 from the Rams 39 yard line. VJ elected to go for it, and Case Keenum got sacked. Now, the Broncos defense bailed them out by forcing a punt, but it was a risky move by VJ. I don't have that much of an issue going for it but the playcall was awful. They needed three yards, and the receivers all ran downfield routes. What an awful call and execution as Devontae Booker missed the blitzer. Just bad football all around.

3) The Broncos offensive line is pretty bad. Garrett Bolles holds every game, they can't give Keenum time, and its a bad mix. Keenum holds the ball too long and the team is terrible in the red zone. They ran a fade to Jeff Heuerman in the endzone in the 4th quarter when they were attempting to comeback. It's a bad line, with a below average QB, and spotty playcalling. That's why they are struggling on offense.

4) The Broncos run defense got gashed once again-this time by Todd Gurley. Gurley ran for 208 yards, and the Broncos simply couldn't stop him. They did a nice job on Jared Goff and the passing attack, but got overrun by Gurley, and that proved to be the difference. I can't believe how bad their run defense has been the last two weeks.

5) On a positive note, Bradley Chubb had three sacks and played well throughout. Von Miller also added a sack and the Broncos had six on the day. An interception by Darian Stewart off a deflection got the Broncos back in the game after a Keenum pick in the 3rd quarter. The defense certainly isn't where it needs to be but they did a pretty good job at times on the Rams offense.

6) I never thought the Broncos were going to win this game, but they did make it close in the 4th quarter, and they had chances throughout the game to take the lead and take the game over, but they couldn't do it. It is a fourth straight loss and at 2-4, it looks like another lost season. They head to Arizona to take on the 1-5 Cardinals this Thursday night. If they lose, I think Vance Joseph is gone, but even if they win to get to 3-4, they still have a trip to Arrowhead to take on the Chiefs next week. Do you really think this team and this coaching staff are going to turn this thing around this year? Part of me wants them to lose to see it get blown up now, but a part of me wants them to win to keep this season competitive. The sad part is the losing is becoming the norm now for Broncos fans, and that is something that hasn't ever lasted in my lifetime as a fan.

Broncos-Rams and Week 6 Picks!

The Broncos come home to Mile High after a terrible loss at the Jets last week and on a three game losing streak at 2-3. The Rams come into town 5-0 and the best team in the NFC. The Broncos are big underdogs at home and the weather is calling for snow and 30 degree temps. I think the only advantage the Broncos have in this game is the weather and the homefield. How the hell is Vance Joseph and Joe Woods going to find a way to outcoach Sean McVay and the Rams offense? I can't see it happening. The Broncos are in for a rough one, and I think the Rams will pull away in the second half and send the Broncos to their fourth straight loss.

LA Rams (-7) over DENVER
Final Score: Rams-30 Broncos-20

Now onto the picks for Week 6...
Last Week's Record: 9-5-1
Overall Record: 36-34-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

MINNESOTA (-9) over Arizona: The Vikings are 2-2-1 and coming off a big win over the Eagles last week. They blew a bad one at home to the Bills earlier in the season, and I don't see it happening to the 1-4 Cards this week.

CLEVELAND (+1) over LA Chargers: Interesting game in the AFC this week. The Browns are 2-2-1 after a big win over the Ravens last week, and the Chargers are 3-2 but have to come all the way to Cleveland in the early window. I think the Browns will find a way to beat the Chargers and get to three wins.

MIAMI (+4) over Chicago: Everything points to a Bears win here, but I have a feeling that the Dolphins will pull the upset at home.

WASHINGTON (-1) over Carolina: I think the Redskins will rebound after getting blown out against the Saints last week. I think the Panthers aren't a great road team, and the Skins win a close one.

Indy (+3) over NY JETS: Andrew Luck finds a way to keep the Colts in the game and wins it late on a last minute drive.

CINCY (-2) over Pittsburgh: I think the Bengals are the best team in the AFC North and I think they prove it once again with a big home win over the Steelers.

ATLANTA (-3) over Tampa Bay: Atlanta is more desperate at 1-4 and they need the win badly. I can't see them losing three in a row at home.

Seattle (-3) over Oakland (London): The first London game of the year and the Seahawks will take care of business and send the Raiders to 1-5.

Buffalo (+10) over HOUSTON: No way this Texans team should be favored by 10 points over anyone-even the Bills.

Jacksonville (-3) over DALLAS: Jacksonville's defense will be too much for the Cowboys offense. Look for the Jags to get back on track and get to 4-2.

TENNESSEE (+3) over Baltimore: This is a pretty big game in the AFC. I like the Titans at home as a home underdog in this spot. I still don't trust the Ravens on the road.

Kansas City (+4) over NEW ENGLAND: It is hard to bet against Belichick and Brady at home on a Sunday night, but I think the Chiefs will do enough to find a way to win the game.

GREEN BAY (-9) over San Francisco: The 49ers look done at 1-4 and are probably headed for a top five pick in the draft. The Packers are shaky and Aaron Rodgers is still banged up, but they should find a way to win the game easily at home on MNF.

Eagles-Giants Week 6 TNF Pick!

Philly (-3) over NY GIANTS

Broncos Get Embarrased by Jets 34-16, Fall to 2-3

The Broncos got buried in the Meadowlands on Sunday by the Jets 34-16. It was about as an embarrassing of a performance I have seen from them since......last year! They got gashed on the ground and they gave up big play after big play. It was another terrible road performance for this team, and it leaves them at 2-3 with the Rams coming to town on Sunday. It was a bad loss that makes me think we are headed for a repeat of 2017. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) The Jets ran the ball all over the Broncos defense. They had over 500 yards in total offense, and ran for 323 yards! That is just crazy. Isaiah Crowell had 219 yards rushing and Bilal Powell had 99 yards. It was an ass-kicking up front that I haven't seen on the Broncos run defense in a long time.

2) The game turned on this sequence. After Denver recovered a Jets fumble and Case Keenum found Courtland Sutton for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead, Crowell broke a 77 yard run for a TD to tie it at 7. Then, the next series Sam Darnold hit Robbie Anderson for a 76 yard TD to take a 14-7 lead. You can't give up or even recover from giving up TD plays over 70 yards.

3) The Jets pretty much put the game away when Darnold hit Anderson with a 35 yard TD with only 1:13 left in the half. That gave the Jets a 21-10 and that was pretty much it for the Broncos.

4) The only glimpse of hope after that was when Sutton took a short pass from Keenum and raced down the sideline deep into Jets territory down 24-10 in the 3rd quarter, but the play was called back due to a ticky-tack pass interference call on Sutton.

5) This game was an embarrassment and it leaves the doubt that the Broncos are just not a good team. They are now 1-9 under Vance Joseph on the road. They have lost their road games by an average of 16 points, and they have the most double-digit losses of any NFL team in the year and a half since VJ took over. The Broncos are in a bad way right now and they are looking at a second straight awful season.

6) There is no confidence in Vance Joseph, the defensive staff, and Case Keenum right now. The Broncos defense gets outcoached every week, VJ is lost as a HC, Joe Woods is not a good fit as DC, the defensive players are openly questioning the coaching staff, and the team is a mess. Case Keenum is a backup and playing like it. He is just not the answer, and we are headed for another brutal year offensively. I know that a season can turn on a dime, but do you have any confidence in the Broncos this week-even at home-with the 5-0 Rams coming to town? Although the Rams are banged up, I can't see Sean McVay being outcoached by VJ and Joe Woods. The Broncos are in trouble once again by mid-October-just like last year.

Broncos-Jets and Week 5 Picks!

Every game in the NFL is big, but some games feel more important than others. The Broncos have one this week. They are 2-2 and coming off a tough loss on Monday Night Football to the Chiefs. Now, they have to go all the way East to take on the Jets in the Meadowlands in the early window on Sunday. Should the Broncos win this game? Yes, they should but it will be tough because the Broncos have not played well on the road in a few years. With that said, they simply can't lose to the Jets this week. With the Rams in two weeks and a trip to KC at the end of the month, the Broncos can't lose this game and fall to 2-3. They can't come out flat, they can't lose to a rookie QB, and they have to get out of there with a win on Sunday. I'm not so sure Vance Joseph and this crew can be counted on at any point.

Prediction: NY JETS (-2) over Denver
Final Score: Jets-23 Broncos-17

Now, onto the picks for Week 5................

Last Week's Record: 7-5-3
Overall Record: 27-29-5
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

CLEVELAND (+3) over Baltimore: The Browns are 1-2-1 and could be 4-0. I think the home crowd will be pumped up, and I'm always worried about the Ravens and Joe Flacco on the road.

KANSAS CITY (-3) over Jacksonville: Very interesting game in the AFC in Arrowhead. I think this game will be close, but I'll take the Chiefs at home to outlast the Jags.

Tennessee (-3) over BUFFALO: I still don't know how the Bills beat the Vikings a couple of weeks ago. At 1-3, they host the 3-1 Titans. I've been impressed by the Titans so far this year, and I think they keep it rolling with a road win. 

CAROLINA (-5) over NY Giants: Nothing makes me think the 1-3 Giants are going to go into Carolina and beat the Panthers. I think the Panthers will have a field day with the Giants and take care of business at home.


PITTSBURGH (-3) over Atlanta: Huge game for both teams on Sunday. The Steelers come in at 1-2-1 and the Falcons come in at 1-3. I don't have a great feel for this game, but I just can't see the Steelers losing their third straight home game to start the year.

DETROIT (+2) over Green Bay: At 2-1-1, I don't really love what the Packers have done so far this year. The Lions are 1-3 but have looked better since their Week 1 debacle. I have a feeling the Lions will play well this week at home and get the win.

CINCY (-5) over Miami: Miami is 3-1 after getting killed by the Pats last week. Now, they head to Cincy to take on the 3-1 Bengals after Cincy beat the Falcons late on the road last week. I think the Bengals are just too much for the Dolphins in this game.

Oakland (+7) over LA CHARGERS: Don't trust the Chargers with a significant point spread as a favorite. They are just too unreliable. Look at last week in their win over the Niners. The Raiders are 1-3, but I think they will keep this game close in LA.

PHILLY (-3) over Minnesota: Good game in the NFC in the late Sunday afternoon slot. I think the Eagles will get back on track. At 2-2, everyone is worried about them, but I think they will be fine. This should be a good test, but I think they will outlast the Vikings.

Arizona (+4) over SAN FRANCISCO: I have a feeling the 0-4 Cardinals get off the hook and go into SF and beat the Niners. I think Josh Rosen gets his first win as a NFL QB, and I think the 1-3 Niners are feeling the effects of losing Jimmy G to a torn ACL. I don't see them recovering.

SEATTLE (+7) over LA RAMS: Interesting game in the NFC West. I think the Rams win the game, but I could see Seattle giving them everything they can handle.

HOUSTON (-3) over Dallas: The Battle of Texas is on Sunday Night Football this week. The Texans are 1-3 after a crazy OT win over the Colts last week. The Cowboys are 2-2 after a late win over the Lions. I think the Texans get to 2-3 with a win over their in-state rival.

NEW ORLEANS (-7) over Washington: The Saints are 3-1 and look like they are rolling on offense. I think they will be too much for the Redskins to handle on Monday Night Football in the SuperDome.

Week 5 TNF Pick!

NEW ENGLAND (-8) over Indy

Broncos Lose Heartbreaker to Chiefs 27-23, Fall to 2-2

The Broncos lost to the Chiefs 27-23 on Monday Night Football in an absolute gut-wrenching defeat to fall to 2-2. The Broncos had this game and a 23-13 lead in the 4th quarter, and they just couldn't hold off Pat Mahomes and that Chiefs offense as KC came back and won the game late. It was a great game that went back and forth and the Broncos played the Chiefs as well as anyone as played them this year, but they fell short. There are no moral victories in the NFL, and the Broncos are 2-2. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game.............

1) The Broncos were able to get the ground game going. Royce Freeman had 67 yards on only 8 carries and Philip Lindsay had 69 yards on 12 carries. Freeman had a great 14 yard TD run on 3rd and 1 to tie the game at 10 with 6 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter to tie the game at 10. Lindsay scored a 1 yard TD run to give the Broncos a 20-13 late in the 3rd quarter. Both backs continue to impress and I think the Broncos need to ride these two young backs going forward the rest of the year.

2) When you think about this game you will think about how the Broncos should have closed out this game and how Pat Mahomes made so many plays in the 4th quarter to win it. They Broncos were all over all game long, and he had this amazing ability to evade the rush and throw bullets while be tackled. That is where Mahomes is different then a lot of other young QBs. His left handed throw just summed up what kind of game he had last night. Mahomes is going to be a star player in this league for awhile and the Broncos found out firsthand.

3) With the game 23-13 Denver early in the 4th quarter, the Chiefs put back-to-back drives together to win the game. One the first drive, Mahomes completed a 15 yard pass to Tyreek Hill on 3rd and 16 and then converted a 4th and 1. He also converted a 2nd and 20 to Travis Kelce and it eventually led to a Kelce TD reception. After forcing a Broncos three and out, Mahomes completed a left-handed throw to Hill on a 3rd and 5, and 23 yard completion on 2nd and 30 and a 35 yard completion on 3rd and 7 to set up the winning run by Kareem Hunt with 1:39 to go. It was unreal, but he also got the help of a non-call on a delay of game as the official missed the play clock hitting 0 before the ball was snapped. It was amazing how the Broncos could not finish this game off on defense.

4) Case Keenum  did not play terrible in the game but he finished with 0 TDs and 1 interception. He made some gutty throws and he got the Broncos in position to win the game at the end, but he missed a throw to Demaryius Thomas at the end of game and overthrew him by a few yards. If he hits Thomas, DT walks into the end zone for the game winning score. The bottom line is that Keenum needs to play better. Right now, he one of the lowest rated QBs in the NFL. He has to get better.

5) The big picture of this game is no matter how close the Broncos were to winning the game, and no matter how close they were to stopping Mahomes and the Chiefs, they still couldn't get it done. Close doesn't count in the NFL. This reminded me of one of those primetime home losses the Broncos suffered in the early 2000s with Mike Shanahan  A loss is a loss, and I still wonder if Vance Joseph and Case Keenum can win a big game against a big time opponent. This Sunday is a must win for the Broncos as they head to the Meadowlands to take on the Jets. They have to get to 3-2 with the Rams on next the week after.

Broncos-Chiefs and Week 4 Picks!

The Broncos are rare home underdog as they take on the red-hot Chiefs in Denver on Monday Night Football. I read that the Broncos are home underdogs to the Chiefs for only the second time in 20 years. The Chiefs and Pat Mahomes are on fire, and it is hard to think that Denver can slow them down. The Broncos are giving up big plays in the secondary the first three weeks, and I can't see how they are going to figure out a way to stop Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce. Plus, you have Andy Reid scheming against Vance Joseph and Joe Woods. Not a good matchup in Denver's favor. The Broncos will have the advantage of being at home with that crowd noise, but I think they won't be able to keep up with the Chiefs.

Prediction: Kansas City (-3) over DENVER
Final Score: Chiefs-31 Broncos-17

Now, onto the picks for Week 4 in National Football League....

Last Week's Record: 6-9-0
Overall Record: 20-24-2
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Cincy (+5) over ATLANTA: I don't like what I have seen from the 1-2 Falcons so far this year. The Bengals are 2-1 coming off a road loss at Carolina last week, but I think they rebound and might win outright in Atlanta this week.

CHICAGO (-2) over Tampa Bay: The Bears should be able to use their homefield advantage and let that defense unleash on the Bucs offense. Both teams come into the game at 2-1 and it will be interesting to see who leaves at 3-1.

DALLAS (-3) over Detroit: Both teams come in at 1-2, so the loser is in trouble at 1-3. I don't think the Cowboys are very good, but I can see them doing enough here to win the game and get to 2-2.

GREEN BAY (-9) over Buffalo: I know the Bills went on the road and beat the Vikings, but I think that game is an anomaly. I don't believe the Bills have turned around their season. The Packers are 1-1-1, but I would think that they will do enough to get going at home and win the game comfortably.

Philly (-3) over TENNESSEE: I think Carson Wentz is the best young QB in the league, and I would take him over almost anyone else. I think he does enough to get the Eagles by with another win in a tough spot at Tennessee.

Houston (+2) over INDY: Houston has to win at some point right? Everyone is taking the Colts, but I like the Texans to get their first win and get to 1-3.

NEW ENGLAND (-6) over Miami: Miami is 3-0 but I don't think they are very good. Now, they head to NE to take on the 1-2 Pats. Until the Pats are dead and buried, I won't go against them in certain spots. I'll take them here to get to 2-2.

NY Jets (+9) over JACKSONVILLE: I know Sam Darnold is going up against that Jacksonville defense on the road, and I think the Jags will win, but I'm not taking Blake Bortles with a nine point spread. I'm just not doing that.

Cleveland (+3) over OAKLAND: I think the Raiders probably get their first win of the year, but I want to root for Baker Mayfield, and I want to root against the Raiders, so I'll go with the Browns to make it two in a row.

Seattle (-3) over ARIZONA: Josh Rosen makes his first start of his career, and the Seahawks get to tee off on him. This is probably going to be an ugly game, but I'll take Seattle to pull it out and get to 2-2.

New Orleans (-3) over NY GIANTS: The Giants saved their season with a win over Houston last week to get to 1-2. The Saints are 2-1 with a win over the Falcons last week. I think the Saints take it on the road and overwhelm the Giants and get to 3-1.

LA CHARGERS (-7) over San Francisco: Jimmy G is done for the year and so are the hopes for the Niners. The Chargers will get to 2-2 with an easy home win.

PITTSBURGH (-3) over Baltimore: Great game Sunday night featuring the 2-1 Ravens and the 1-1-1 Steelers. Classic rivalry game, and I think the line is low enough to pick the Steelers and I think they righted the ship early in this season.

NFL Week 4 TNF Pick!

Minnesota (+7) over LA RAMS

Broncos Fall to 2-1 After 27-14 Loss to the Ravens

The Broncos got beat for the first time on Sunday 27-14 by the Ravens in Baltimore. In their first big road test of the season, the Broncos failed. They had a 14-7 lead early in the game, but then they unraveled. Untimely penalties, undisciplined plays, and bad play on offense and defense put them in a 20-14 hole at halftime, and they couldn't recover. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game...

1) You can't ask for a better start. The Broncos forced a 3 and out, blocked a punt deep in Baltimore territory, scored on a Royce Freeman run and then scored on an Emmanuel Sanders 35 yard run on a reverse to take a 14-7 lead in the first quarter. That was the beginning of the end though.

2) Terrible pass defense just killed the Broncos all game. Bradley Roby and Isaac Yiadom got torched all day, and Joe Flacco and the Ravens threw the ball at will. That led to the 17-14 lead in the second quarter.

3) Vance Joseph killed the Broncos with two useless challenges on two plays that didn't and shouldn't have been challenged. Then, he calls timeouts to get the ball back when the Ravens had three timeouts and the Broncos are forced to punt and give the Ravens the ball back near the end of the half and they get a field goal to make it 20-14. Joseph continues to show that he is not capable of being a quality head coach in the NFL.

4) The Broncos block a field goal down 17-14 and Chris Harris returns it for a touchdown but it gets called back on an awful block in the back call. It was a turning point because Case Keenum got sacked on the next play, fumbled, Denver recovered, but Philip Lindsay got ejected for throwing a punch in the pile. The result also moved the Broncos back and they were out of field goal range. Just a terrible sequence of events right there.

5) The Broncos had chances in the third quarter and fourth down 27-14 but one drive was negated by holding calls and a terrible personal foul on Ronald Leary. It took them out of field goal range. The next drive was ended when Keenum was intercepted deep in Baltimore territory with about 7 minutes to go and the Broncos needing a score to get back in the game.

6) The game was marred by terrible penalties on the Broncos, undisciplined play (That's on Vance Joseph too), bad execution and sloppiness on both sides of the ball. It was about as ugly of a game I have seen the Broncos play in a while.

7) Case Keenum threw another killer interception and now he has 3 TDs and 5 INT on the season. He is giving the Broncos a C- performance so far this year, and they needed him to be at least a B+. He looks like nothing more than Kyle Orton 2.0. He needs to step it up or else fans will be calling for Chad Kelly.

8) Denver now sits at 2-1 and hosts the Chiefs on Monday Night Football next week. KC comes in 3-0 with the best offense in football and Pat Mahomes breaking records left and right. This will be a huge game for Denver, and it will be very tough-even at home. It will be tough to see how they matchup with KC's offense, and it will be interesting to see if Keenum can get back on track against a suspect Chiefs defense.

Broncos-Ravens and Week 3 Picks!

The Broncos head to Baltimore for their first road game of the season after starting 2-0 with home wins over Seattle and Oakland. Last year, Denver was 2-0 heading into their first road game of the season and they lost at Buffalo. They are hoping to avoid that same fate this year. It will be tough and they are going against a good team, on the road, and a team that had 10 days rest. It's hard to think that the Broncos can win this game, but if they do, then it could set them up for a very good season. I just don't know if they have it in them to do it this week in Baltimore.

Prediction: BALTIMORE (-5) over Denver
Final Score: Ravens-27 Broncos-10

Last Week's Record: 6-9-1
Overall Record: 14-15-2
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

MINNESOTA (-14) over Buffalo:

Cincy (+3) over CAROLINA:

New Orleans (+3) over ATLANTA:

HOUSTON (-6) over NY Giants:

Oakland (+3) over MIAMI:

Indy (+7) over PHILLY:

JACKSONVILLE (-6) over Tennessee:

KANSAS CITY (-6) over San Francisco:

WASHINGTON (+4) over Green Bay:

LA Chargers (+7) over LA RAMS:

Chicago (-5) over ARIZONA:

New England (-6) over DETROIT:

TAMPA BAY (+2) over Pittsburgh:

Browns-Jets Week 3 TNF Pick!

CLEVELAND (-3) over NY Jets

Broncos Cap Comeback and Defeat the Raiders 20-19!

The Broncos survived and advanced on Sunday in a game that they trailed for the entire time until Brandon McManus nailed a 36 yard field goal to win the game 20-19. The Broncos trailed 12-0 at halftime and 19-7 in the 4th quarter, but Case Keenum rallied the Broncos once again and the Broncos won a thriller to go to 2-0. The Broncos still have some issues, but we'll take 2-0 at this point. There is something to be said about their ability to rally the last two weeks and anyone would take this start with this team. Here are my thoughts and observations on the win....

1) The Broncos offense couldn't do anything in the first half and Case Keenum struggled throughout, and he threw a killer interception near the Raiders goal line in the second quarter when they were down 6-0. Keenum has thrown 4 interceptions so far this year, and it has become an issue.

2) The most underrated play of the game was Shaq Barrett blocking the extra point attempt after Marshawn Lynch scored to make it 12-0 going into the half instead of 13-0. That block was a key moment in the game and it came back to haunt the Raiders later on.

3) Philip Lindsay and Royce Freeman continue to be a solid 1-2 punch. Lindsay finished with 107 yards and Freeman added 28 yards and a big third quarter 1 yard TD run to make it 12-7 and get the Broncos on the board.

4) The defense had trouble with Derek Carr and passing game and Carr wasted no time in getting the Raiders back on the board with a 20 yard TD pass to Seth Roberts to make it 19-7. I am worried about the big plays that the Broncos defense has given up in the first two weeks. They let Carr slice and dice them, and they is something that have to get figured out. I thought the Broncos were done at that point after going down 19-7.

5) Give Keenum credit because he didn't play well and he put it together in the late 3rd quarter and in the 4th quarter. He led three scoring drives. It thought it was ballsy of Vance Joseph to go for it down 19-10 on a 4th and goal from the 1 with about six minutes to go in the 4th quarter, but Keenum delivered with a TD run on QB draw to make it 19-17. He was cool as ice on the final drive and had big throws to Emmanuel Sanders, Jake Butt, and Tim Patrick. Patrick's catch and run set up the game-winning field goal by McManus. Keenum has to improve, but you have to like his moxie and his ability to lead this team to a victory once again in the 4th quarter.

6) The Broncos are 2-0 and now they have a huge test on the road in Week 3 at Baltimore. This will be tough because it will be the Broncos first road game of the year, against a good defense, in the early window on Sunday afternoon, and as a big underdog. Let's see what this team is made of in this spot. Last year, they were 2-0 and lost a bad game at Buffalo in Week 3. Now, if they can get to 3-0, they might be on their way to a good year.

Broncos-Raiders and Week 2 Picks!

The Broncos host the Raiders in Week 2, and Denver comes in at 1-0 after a comeback win over the Seahawks, and the Raiders come in at 0-1 after a Monday Night Football loss to the Rams. The Raiders just melted down in the second half of that game and they come in a wounded animal. Everyone is critical of Jon Gruden and how they handled the Khalil Mack situation and it didn't help that they got smoked by 20 the other night to the Rams. I would be careful here if I'm a Broncos fan. Denver looked very good at times, and then sloppy at others in the win over the Seahawks. We dominated the game, yet the Seahawks hung around and were winning the 4th quarter. I think this is a close game, and I would expect the Raiders to come ready the play. I'm a little wary about this game.

Oakland (+6) over DENVER
Final Score: Raiders-23 Broncos-22

Now, onto the picks for Week 2.............

Last Week's Record: 8-6-2
Overall Record: 8-6-2
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Indy (+6) over WASHINGTON: I think the Redskins will win the game, but I think Andrew Luck will keep it close and he is always dangerous for the backdoor cover. The Skins will get to 2-0.

Carolina (+6) over ATLANTA: I was disappointed in what I saw in Atlanta in the season opening loss to Philly. I think they win this game, but I like Carolina to keep it close. I think it comes down to a field goal at the end and close Atlanta win.

Minnesota (-1) over GREEN BAY: Aaron Rodgers is questionable, and even if he plays, I like the Vikings. Right now, I just Minnesota is the more complete team, and I like what I saw out of Kirk Cousins in his Vikings debut last week.

LA Chargers (-6) over BUFFALO: The Bills got killed in Week 1 by the Ravens, and they turn to Josh Allen to get his firs career start at home. The Chargers are 0-1 after a convincing loss at home to KC. I think the Chargers have to win this game and they are the better team, so I'll take them as road favorites.

TENNESSEE (+3) over Houston: This is a weird game for me to pick, and I'm not sure where to go with it. I have a feeling the Titans win at home, but I'm not confident in this pick at all.

Kansas City (+5) over PITTSBURGH: Why in the world are the Chiefs that big of an underdog in this game? The Steelers looked like crap in a tie last week in Cleveland, and the Chiefs looked like the second best team in the AFC. I like the Chiefs on the road here in an early statement win over the Steelers.

NY JETS (-2) over Miami: The Jets destroyed the Lions in Week 1, but let's slow down with the Sam Darnold hype. Everything went well for the Jets in that game. The Dolphins are 1-0 after beating the Titans at home, but the Jets usually have the Dolphins number. I'll take the Jets to get to 2-0 with a big home win.

Philly (-3) over TAMPA BAY: Tampa Bay shocked everyone with a big road win in New Orleans last week. The Eagles held off the Falcons at home, so both teams come into the game at 1-0. I think it goes back and forth, but I think the Eagles find a way to pull it out at the end.

NEW ORLEANS (-9) over Cleveland: The Browns tied the Steelers last week and they are off to their best start in years at 0-0-1. The Saints got shocked at home by the Bucs, and I can't see the Saints starting off 0-2. I think they bring it this week and put a whipping on the Browns at home.

LA RAMS (-11) over Arizona: The Rams might be the juggernaut of the NFC, and they took care of business at Oakland in Week 1. The Cardinals looked really bad in their defeat at the hands of Washington. I think the Rams will roll in their home opener and get to 2-0.

SAN FRANCISCO (-6) over Detroit: San Fran had a tough loss in Minnesota last week, but I think Jimmy G will rebound and I think they will pound the Lions at home. The Lions looked lifeless in Week 1 at home to the Jets, and I think their troubles will continue.

New England (-1) over JACKSONVILLE: The best game of Week 2 features the 1-0 Pats heading to Jacksonville to take on the 1-0 Jags. It is a tough game to call because I can see Jax winning the game and suffocating Tom Brady, but I usually get burnt when I go against the Pats. I think NE wins a very close game.

NY Giants (+3) over DALLAS: Both teams need a win after losing in Week 1 and someone is going to be 0-2 after this game on SNF. I think the Giants are more talented than the Cowboys, so I'll take the Giants to win outright and send Dallas to 0-2.

Seattle (+4) over CHICAGO: The Bears blew a 20 point lead in Lambeau Field last week and got beat by the Packers 24-23. Seattle got outplayed by Denver and still only lost by three. I think Seattle comes out and pulls off the upset in Chicago and Russell Wilson makes a play at the end of the game to win and get Seattle to 1-1 while the Bears fall to 0-2