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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Week 17 Picks and Playoff Schedule Predictions!

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

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

Cleveland (-2) over CINCY

Indy (+1) over JACKSONVILLE

TAMPA BAY (-2) over Atlanta

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

LA RAMS (-7) over Arizona

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Playoff Schedule Predictions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Broncos-Lions and Week 16 Picks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Broncos-Chiefs and Week 15 Picks!

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ravens-Jets TNF Pick

NY Jets (+15) over BALTIMORE 

Broncos Crush Texans, Drew Lock Wins 2nd Straight Start

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

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

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

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

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

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

Broncos-Texans and Week 14 Picks

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

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

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

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

Baltimore (-5) over BUFFALO

GREEN BAY (-10) over Washington

San Francisco (+3) over NEW ORLEANS

Cincy (+8) over CLEVELAND

ATLANTA (-2) over Carolina

MINNESOTA (-12) over Detroit

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

JACKSONVILLE (+3) over LA CHARGERS

NEW ENGLAND (-3) over Kansas City

ARIZONA (+3) over Pittsburgh

OAKLAND (+3) over Tennessee

LA RAMS (PICK) over Seattle

PHILLY (-8) over NY Giants

Cowboys-Bears TNF Pick

Dallas(-2) over CHICAGO 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Broncos-Chargers and Week 13 Picks

It looks like the Drew Lock Era may actually be upon us. The Broncos activated Lock for this Sunday's game against the Chargers, and all signs to them starting him. It is about time for Lock. The Broncos need to see him play these next five games, and they need to get an evaluation of him before heading into the draft next year. I'm looking forward to it, and it actually gives me some excitement to watch him play these games. I'll be rooting hard for him, and I want the Broncos to win these last five games and go into next season with a clear answer on Lock and some momentum.

Prediction: DENVER (+3) over LA Chargers
Final Score: Broncos-20 Chargers-19

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

Last Week's Record: 6-6-2
Overall Record: 79-88-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Green Bay (-6) over NY GIANTS: There is no way the Packers blow this game in the Meadowlands to the Giants. They get back on track after their blowout loss to the Niners last week.

CAROLINA (-9) over Washington: Carolina is 5-6 and falling fast, but this week they get back in the win column. The Panthers get to 6-6 with a convincing win over the hapless Redskins.

San Francisco (+6) over BALTIMORE: One of the top games of the season, and I am glad I have DirecTV so I can watch this game instead of getting stuck with the Giants or Jets in NY. I think the Ravens will win the game, but look for SF to keep it close or get a late score to cover it.

Tennessee (+3) over INDY: I like what I have seen out of Ryan Tannehill and the Titans are 6-5 and right in the thick of the AFC playoff picture. I'll take them here in this spot to upset the Colts.

Philly (-9) over MIAMI: With Dallas losing on Thanksgiving to fall to 6-6, the door is wide open for the Eagles to win the NFC East. They get to 6-6 with a cupcake win over the Dolphins in Miami.

Oakland (+10) over KANSAS CITY: The Chiefs will win to get to 8-4, but I think the Raiders will keep it close. Look for an early onslaught by KC, but the Raiders will rally and fall just short.

JACKSONVILLE (+1) over Tampa Bay: Who the hell knows who will win this game, but I'll take the Jaguars at home.

CINCY (+3) over NY Jets: The Bengals go back to Andy Dalton to get their first win of the season, and I think they get it over the Jets.

LA Rams (-3) over ARIZONA: The Rams got crushed on MNF last week to the Ravens and they are 6-5 and have to win this game to keep any playoff hopes alive. I think they will get it done.

PITTSBURGH (+3) over Cleveland: The rematch from the Thursday Night Football fiasco a few weeks ago. This is a huge game in the AFC playoff race. 6-5 Pittsburgh against 5-6 Cleveland. The Steelers get revenge and take down the Browns.

New England (-3) over HOUSTON: The Pats defense will frustrate Deshaun Watson all night long and NE will win convincingly in Houston on SNF.
  SEATTLE (-3) over Minnesota: The Seahawks will keep their NFC West title hopes alive by knocking off the Vikings on Monday Night Football

Broncos Get Buried in Buffalo, Fall to 3-8

There's not much to say about Denver's woeful performance in Buffalo on Sunday. The 20-3 loss puts the Broncos at 3-8 this season, and they are certainly playing for pride and next season the rest of the way. Here are my quick thoughts and observations on the game...

1) The Broncos offense turned in its' worst statistical output since 1992. They only scored 3 points and it was truly hard to watch.

2) We know what Brandon Allen is. He is a capable backup, who can come in and win a game in a spot start. That's about it for him. He had a rough day in windy Buffalo on Sunday.

3) The Broncos were down 6-0 when they gave up a third quarter TD pass from Josh Allen to Cole Beasley to make it 13-0. Their offense was awful all day long, so you knew they weren't coming back from that.

4) All that is left for this season to see Drew Lock play. The Broncos have to see what their second round QB can do before they head into the offseason. There is a chance that Lock starts this Sunday at home against the Chargers, and if he does, then it is worth watching for the rest of the season. At this point, that is all that matters. It is time for Lock.

Thanksgiving Picks 2019

Chicago (-4) over DETROIT

Buffalo (+6) over DALLAS

New Orleans (-7) over ATLANTA

Broncos-Bills and Week 12 Picks

The Broncos come into Buffalo a wounded team both physically and mentally. After blowing a 20-0 lead last week in Minnesota and losing, Denver is now 3-7. They have to head all the way back east to take on the Bills in the early window on Sunday. Plus, they are banged up in a lot of areas. I think they will play hard for awhile, but ultimately it will not be enough.

Prediction: BUFFALO (-4) over Denver
Final Score: Bills-23 Broncos-14

Here's some quick picks for Week 12....

Last Week's Record: 8-6-0
Overall Record: 73-82-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Miami (+11) over CLEVELAND:

CINCY (+7) over Pittsburgh:

CHICAGO (-5) over NY Giants:

Oakland (-3) over NY Jets:

Carolina (+9) over NEW ORLEANS:

Tampa Bay (+5) over ATLANTA:

WASHINGTON (+4) over Detroit:

TENNESSEE (-3) over Jacksonville:

NEW ENGLAND (-6) over Dallas:

Green Bay (+3) over SAN FRANCISCO:

PHILLY (-1) over Seattle:

LA RAMS (+3) over Baltimore:

Texans-Colts Week 12 TNF Pick

HOUSTON (-3) over Indy

Broncos Blow Huge Lead and Lose to Vikings 27-23

The Broncos raced out to a 20-0 lead in Minnesota over the heavily favored Vikings and it looked like Denver was going to pull off the upset of the week in the NFL. Unfortunately, the Vikings rallied in the second half and came all the way the back and won 27-23 and handed the Broncos their seventh loss of the season in devastating fashion. The Broncos are now 3-7 and officially playing out the string the rest of the season. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) Everything the Broncos did in the first half was perfect. They played some of their best football all season long. Everything was going their way in this game. Brandon Allen was throwing bombs to Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant, their defense was getting stops, sacks and takeaways, and the Vikings were falling apart.

2) The key play of the first half and the turning point was when they took a 20-0 lead on Brandon McManus field goal and the Vikings fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Denver recovered deep in Minnesota territory. The very next play resulted in a Brandon Allen interception at the Minnesota goal line and the Broncos went into the half with a 20-0 lead instead of a 23-0 lead or a 27-0 lead.

3) The Vikings turned it on in the second half and the Broncos defense had no answer. Kirk Cousins led four straight touchdown drives and the next thing you know, they are down 27-23. You could almost see it coming after the Vikings scored on their first drive of the third quarter.

4) The huge play that probably decided the game was when Brandon McManus missed a 43 yard field goal with 8:19 left up 23-20. If he makes that kick, then the Broncos are up 26-20, and it changes everything if the Vikings score a TD, which they eventually did.

5) The Broncos put together a 19 play drive and converted three fourth downs to keep the drive alive, but Vic Fangio made the mistake of challenging a pass interference call with just over 2 minutes to go and burned a timeout when the challenge failed. They also mismanaged the clock when Allen scrambled for a first down and didn't get out of bounds with 33 seconds left. They took too long and didn't run another play until there were 10 seconds left on the clock. Three straight throws in the end zone were incomplete and the Broncos choke job was complete.

6) This is as bad of a loss as you can get, but with the way the season went this year in Denver, I'm not surprised at all. The losses to the Bears, Jags, and Colts were bad, but this takes the cake. As frustrating as it was, the truth is that this Broncos team is going nowhere anyway. Even if they won and were 4-6, they weren't going to make a miraculous run down the stretch. At 3-7, they are basically done and now it is all about 2019.

7) Denver heads to Buffalo to take on the 7-3 Bills this Sunday, and this looks like another game on paper that the Broncos will lose. It looks like Drew Lock won't be active again, but I hope that he is ready to go and start the game at home on December 1st against the Chargers. He better be because Lock is the only reason left for any Broncos fan to watch for the remainder of the 2019 season.

Broncos-Vikings and Week 11 Picks

Denver travels to Minnesota to take on the 7-3 Vikings, who are coming off a big win on SNF over the Cowboys. The Broncos are 3-6 and coming off a bye week. Can Denver go into Minnesota and knock off the Vikes and pull the upset? This seems like a really tall order. Minnesota is good at home in these early 1:00pm EST starts. I can't see them losing focus here and letting Brandon Allen come in and beat them at home. The Vikings are just too good for the Broncos in this spot.

MINNESOTA (-10) over Denver
Final Score: Vikings-29 Broncos-6

Now, onto the picks for Week 11 in the National Football League...

Last Week's Record: 5-8-0
Overall Record: 65-76-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

DALLAS (-4) over Detroit: The Cowboys will right the ship after their home loss to the Vikings to get to 6-4.

New Orleans (-5) over TAMPA BAY: The Saints will right the ship after their home loss to the Falcons to get to 8-2.

CAROLINA (-3) over Atlanta: This spread is too low. Take the Panthers at home giving the points to get to 6-4.

Jacksonville (+3) over INDY: Nick Foles returns from injury for the Jags and they go into Indy and knock off the Colts.

NY Jets (+2) over WASHINGTON: The Jets win their second in a row over the hapless Redskins.

Buffalo (-5) over MIAMI: The Bills right the ship after their road loss to the Browns last week and get to 7-3 with a win over the Fish.

Houston (+4) over BALTIMORE: This is the game of the day in the AFC. Deshaun Watson against Lamar Jackson. I'll take the Texans on the road.

SAN FRANCISCO (-9) over Arizona: Look for the Niners to bounce back after that tough loss at home to the Seahawks on MNF.

PHILLY (+4) over New England: I know the Pats are coming off a bye and a loss but I have a feeling the Eagles will pull off the upset here.

OAKLAND (-9) over Cincy: The Bengals are still winless at 0-9, and they don't stand a chance in the Black Hole. Raiders will roll.

LA RAMS (-6) over Chicago: The Rams have to get their offense going. At 5-4, they need a win here to keep pace with all the other playoff contenders in the NFC. Mitch Trubisky serves it up for them on SNF.

Kansas City (-3) over LA Chargers (Mexico City): Look for the Chiefs to get back on track after that awful loss to the Titans last week. They take care of business and get to 7-4 with a win over the Chargers in Mexico.

Browns-Steelers TNF Pick

CLEVELAND(-2) over Pitt

Week 10 Picks!

With the Broncos on their bye week, I turn my attention to Week 10 and the picks in the......National......Football........League


Last Week's Record: 7-7-0
Overall Record: 60-68-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Kansas City (-5) over TENNESSEE:  I can't see the Chiefs losing to the 4-5 Titans in Nashville. It looks like Pat Mahomes will be back in the lineup, so look for him to pick up right where he left off when he got injured. The Chiefs get to 7-3

CLEVELAND (-3) over Buffalo: The 6-2 Bills are riding high, but they haven't played a very tough schedule. They head to Cleveland to take on the 2-6 Browns. The Browns have been a disappointment this year, but I think they will get the win at home over the Bills here.

TAMPA BAY (-4) over Arizona: Tampa Bay is a tough team to predict each week. At 2-6, they are playing for next year, but Bruce Arians won't let them quit. They will play hard for him. This week, he goes up against his old team, the Cardinals. I think Arians gets the better of his old team.

NY JETS (+3) over NY Giants: The Giants and Jets are just atrocious right now. The Jets are 1-7, coming off a loss to Miami, and the Giants are 2-7, losers of five straight games. I'll take the Jets to win it.

NEW ORLEANS (-12) over Atlanta: The 7-1 Saints are not losing at home to the 1-7 Falcons. No way in hell. The Saints roll and get to 8-1.

CINCY (+11) over Baltimore: The Bengals are the last winless team in the NFL, and I'm not saying they are going to win, but everybody in the NFL wins at some point. I think they will keep it closer than people expect over the 6-2 Ravens, who are coming off a huge SNF win over the Pats.

GREEN BAY (-5) over Carolina: Good game in Lambeau on Sunday. The 5-3 Panthers come into Titletown with the news that they are shutting down Cam Newton for the rest of the season with a foot injury. The good news is that Kyle Allen is playing well, and Christian McCaffrey is a legit MVP candidate. The bad news is the Packers are 7-2 and coming off a humiliating performance to the Chargers in LA last week. They will win the game by a touchdown.

Detroit (+3) over CHICAGO: The Bears are in a must-win at 3-5, but their offense is struggling and Mitch Trubisky is taking a lot of the blame. I think Detroit will find a way to get the win in Soldier Field on Sunday.

INDY (-10) over Miami: I don't plan on watching one second of this game. The Colts have been in close games the entire season and are fortunate to be 5-3, but they will take care of business over the Dolphins.

LA Rams (-3) over PITTSBURGH: Sneaky good game on Sunday afternoon as the Rams travel to Pitt to take on the 4-4 Steelers. Somehow, the Steelers are still alive in the AFC playoff picture. The weather could be a factor because it will be cold in the northeast on Sunday.

DALLAS (-3) over Minnesota: I have a hard time deciding on who will win this game. The Vikings never win a big game on the road, and I worry that Dallas could be complacent in this one. Good game and pivotal game in the NFC, but I'll go with the Cowboys.

Seattle (+7) over SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco is 8-0, but they are due for a loss, and I think it happens this week at the hands of the Seahawks. Look for Russell Wilson to do his thing in this game and pull out the win for Seattle. Good game for MNF though.

Broncos Improve to 3-6 with Win over Browns

The Broncos got to 3-6 with a 24-19 win over the Browns in Denver on Sunday. It was the first career start for Brandon Allen, who was subbing for the injured Joe Flacco. Allen played well and gave the Broncos a chance to win the game. A late 4th down stop and a first down sealed the victory for the Broncos. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) Denver looked good early with Allen hitting Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant on two touchdown passes. Fant's TD was really impressive because it was a 75 yard catch and run in which he broke three tackles along the way. It was only one game but it is amazing what a different QB can do for your team. Allen is mobile enough to avoid pressure and he can run the bootlegs that are a staple of this system. It was refreshing to watch a QB other than Flacco run this offense.

2) The defense played great in the redzone. They limited the Browns to only 1 TD in five appearances. They were able to make the key stops when they had to and frustrated Baker Mayfield all day long.

3) The key drive of the game was when the Broncos were backed up inside their own 10 in the third quarter and drove down for a touchdown to extend the lead to 24-12. That was a huge sequence in the game. Allen made some big throws and Philip Lindsay scored the touchdown to finish off the drive.

4) This game was more of a reflection of the Browns and their shitshow of a team and season. At 2-6, they face long odds to make a run for the playoffs. Their head coach, Freddie Kitchens, is lost and in over his head. Baker Mayfield has regressed from last season, and Odell Beckham doesn't really do much. They are about as overrated as a team that I have seen in a long time. Their whole program is a disaster.

5) The Broncos are now 3-6 and headed into their bye week. It is nice to win and head into the bye, and it will be interesting to see how their QB situation plays out after the bye when they return to action in Minnesota. I still think we need to see Drew Lock sooner rather than later, but I don't think it will be until after the Bills game on November 24th.

Broncos-Browns and Week 9 Picks

No Broncos fan really cares what happens on Sunday in Denver against the Browns. The Broncos are 2-6, headed for another losing season, playing out the string, and now they are starting backup QB Brandon Allen in the place of Joe Flacco, who is on IR for the rest of the season due to a neck injury. All that matters at this point is when Drew Lock can get on the field for the Broncos. After this week, they have a bye then back-to-back road games against the Vikings and Bills. I suspect they don't want to throw him out there to start on the road, and they would probably like to get him starting at home against the Chargers the following game, but I have a feeling that Allen will be so bad that they might be tempted to get him in there against the Vikings and start him against the Bills. That's my prediction on that one. Until Lock plays, no one cares how the Broncos will fare. I would expect the Browns to take them to the woodshed on Sunday in Mile High.

Prediction: Cleveland (-3) over DENVER
Final Score: Browns-27 Broncos-6

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

Last Week's Record: 8-6-1
Overall Record: 53-61-6
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Jacksonville (+2) over Houston (London): I think the Jags will play well and get to (Gulp) 5-4 with a win over the 5-3 Texans over in London.

BUFFALO (-8) over Washington: Dwayne Haskins gets the start for the 1-7 Redskins in Buffalo. Maybe the Skins can take some positive karma from the Nationals World Series win and use it in this game on Sunday. Most likely that won't happen, and the Bills will get to 6-2 on the heels of another weak victory over a weak team.

CAROLINA (-3) over Tennessee: The Panthers got throttled last week in SF, but they are still 4-3 and in playoff contention. The Titans are 4-4 and look better on offense with Ryan Tannehill at QB. Look for a close game, but the Panthers will win and get to 5-3.

Chicago (+5) over PHILLY: This looks like an obvious win for the Eagles, but I would call this my hunch of the week. The Bears are desperate at 3-4 and need a win badly. They go on the road to take on a Philly team that is 4-4 after a huge win in Buffalo. It looks like a Philly lock on paper, and I think they will win, but I see this game being close to the end.

Minnesota (+2) over KANSAS CITY: It is hard to pick the Chiefs when it looks like Pat Mahomes will be out again this week. I know it is unlikely for them to lose four in a row at home, but without Mahomes, I could see them struggling with the Vikings defense.

NY Jets (-3) over MIAMI: Awful game in the AFC East. I'll take the Jets to get their second win.

PITTSBURGH (+2) over Indy: Indy has been in close games all season long, but they are 5-2 and they look like they are a playoff caliber team. The Steelers are 3-4 and not dead yet. A win here would get them to .500 and a chance to do something with their season. I think the Colts are due for a loss and this might be the spot.

OAKLAND (-2) over Detroit: This is an easy game to pick. The Raiders are 3-4 but they will get to 4-4 with a smooth, effortless win over the visiting Lions.

SEATTLE (-5) over Tampa Bay: The Seahawks are not losing to this Bucs team at home. Look for them to get to 7-2 with a win over the 2-5 Buccaneers. I've seen enough of Jameis Winston to realize he is not the guy in Tampa.

Green Bay (-3) over LA CHARGERS: The Packers will feel like it is a home game when to head to LA to take on the Chargers. It will look like Lambeau West in this game. Look for the Packers to get to 8-1 with a win over the 3-5 Chargers.

NEW ENGLAND (-3) over Baltimore: This is a really good Sunday Night Football game to end the day of football. I'm looking forward to it. I have to think that the Pats and Bill Belichick will have something up his sleeve for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Should be fun regardless.

Dallas (-6) over NY GIANTS: The Giants are headed to another shitty season and at 2-6, it is all about the development of Daniel Jones now. The Cowboys are 4-3, and they can sit alone atop the NFC East with a win at the halfway point of the season. I think they roll on Monday Night Football.

Cardinals-Niners TNF Pick

ARIZONA (+10) over San Francisco

Broncos Lose To Colts on Last Second Field Goal, Fall to 2-6

The Broncos are now 2-6 with a last second loss to the Indianapolis Colts 15-13 on a 51 yard field goal with only a few seconds left. The Broncos led the entire game but lost on a last second kick for the third time this season. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) The Broncos defense played really well throughout the game and it is a shame that they gave up a 51 yard field goal at the end of the game to lose it. A missed sack by Von Miller led to Jacoby Brissett scrambling and finding T.Y. Hilton for a huge first down and a penalty for a horse collar on Al Johnson gave the Colts the field position they needed to win the game late.

2) The Broncos offense continued to struggle. They had 6-3 lead at halftime and only managed one touchdown in the second half on Royce Freeman run. Other than that, they did nothing. They had the ball near midfield three times in the 4th quarter and couldn't get any yards or any points to put the game away.

3) The key play that everyone is talking about is the 3rd and 5 with just under two minutes to go in the game. Denver elected to run it up the middle and play it safe, and Indy called their final timeout. A first down there by the Broncos ends the game. They played it too conservative and they got beat for it.

4) Joe Flacco criticized the coaching staff for that play call, and he was right. It was too conservative. But, Flacco is part of the problem on offense. He just isn't good anymore. He also airmailed three straight passes out of the endzone in the first half, so he needs to pipe down a little.

5) At 2-6, the Broncos are playing for next year. Flacco had a sore neck and it looks like he will be out awhile. Brandon Allen with start in his place this week at home against Cleveland. The Broncos have a bye, and then it will be a matter of getting Drew Lock ready to go and start at QB. The only thing worth watching at this point is when Lock will play and how he will do once he gets in.

Broncos-Colts and Week 8 Picks

It's hard to find a way to be confident that the Broncos will go into Indy and beat the Colts this week. Indy is coming off back to back wins over KC and Houston. They look like one of the better teams in the AFC. Denver comes in after trading Emmanuel Sanders to SF, and getting waxed by KC last Thursday night at home. At 2-5, the Broncos are looking at another dismal season, and I just can't see them turning this around this week in Indy. It is too tall of an order for this group.

Prediction: INDY (-6) over Denver
Final Score: Colts-33 Broncos-14

Now, onto the picks for Week 8....

Last Week's Record: 8-5-1
Overall Record: 45-55-5
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

DETROIT (-6) over NY Giants: The Lions are 3-3-1 but could easily have five wins. The Giants are 2-5 and falling fast. I think the Lions will roll at home.

Tampa Bay (+3) over TENNESSEE: I have a gut that Tampa Bay goes into Nashville and knocks off the Titans. The Bucs are always good for one or two upsets a year when no one expects it.

LA Chargers (+4) over CHICAGO: The Chargers are 2-5 and the Bears are 3-3. This is a big game for both teams. I have a feeling that the Chargers will somehow find a way to knock off the Bears in Chicago.

Seattle (-6) over ATLANTA: The Falcons are 1-6 and falling apart. They are headed for another disaster of a season. In comes Seattle this week, and the Seahawks are 5-2 coming off a loss at home to the Ravens. Look for a bounce back game by Seattle this week.

NY Jets (+7) over JACKSONVILLE: I think the Jags win this game, but I think the Jets keep it close and it comes down to the end.

Philly (+2) over BUFFALO: The Bills are 5-1 and I think they might be one of the worst 5-1 teams in history. Look for the Eagles to get to 4-4 with a convincing win in Buffalo.

LA Rams (-12) over Cincy (London): The Rams are 4-3 after a blowout win last week over the Falcons. The Bengals are 0-7 and looking at a lost year. Look for the Rams to take care of business in London.

NEW ORLEANS (-10) over Arizona: Drew Brees might be back this week and the Saints were rolling without him at 6-1. Arizona is surprisingly 3-3-1 but they will struggle to keep this close.

Oakland (+7) over HOUSTON: I think the Raiders will keep this game close after getting blown out by the Packers last week. The Texans are 4-3, and I look for them to win the game, but this one will come down to the end.

Carolina (+6) over SAN FRANCISCO: The Niners are 6-0 and atop the NFC West, but they are due for a bad game. I could see the Panthers giving them a really close game and maybe even pulling off the upset.

Cleveland (+14) over NEW ENGLAND: The Pats will win, but look for the Browns to keep it close or get the backdoor cover.

Green Bay (-3) over KANSAS CITY: This game changed with the injury to Pat Mahomes. I think the Packers will be able to do just enough against the KC defense to get the win in Arrowhead.

Miami (+14) over PITTSBURGH: The Steelers will win this dud of a Monday night game, but I can see the Fish keeping it closer than people expect.

Vikings-Redskins TNF Pick

MINNESOTA(-13) over Washington

Broncos-Chiefs Review and Week 7 Picks

The Chiefs came into Denver on Thursday night on short rest, with a bunch of starters out, a defense that had been shredded the last month, and a gimpy Pat Mahomes, and still buried the Broncos by 23 points. The 30-6 KC win in Denver was so symbolic of everything that is wrong with the Broncos and their organization. Eventhough Mahomes left the game early in the second quarter with a dislocated kneecap, the Chiefs still rolled and their defense completely suffocated the Broncos offense. It was about as bad of a performance as you would expect. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) After the Broncos drove down the field for an opening drive touchdown by Royce Freeman, nothing went right for them. After KC went offside on the extra point, the Broncos took the penalty and elected to go for the two-point conversion. Philip Lindsay got stuffed from the 1 yard line and that was it. 6-0 Denver and then it was a shitshow.

2) KC answered with a Mahomes TD pass to make it 7-6, and then the Broncos preceded to try a fake punt down 10-6 in their own end. I don't like fake punts when punters are trying to throw a pass and that is what the Broncos tried with Colby Wadman. It didn't work out and failed miserably and the Broncos gave KC the ball back in their own end which led to another field goal.

3) A strip sack of Joe Flacco and a fumble return TD for the Chiefs made it 20-6 and you could feel the air just come out of the stadium for the Broncos.

4) A missed field goal by Brandon McManus just added to the list of mistakes. Garret Bolles got called for another few holding calls and it was just an embarrassing at that point. The Broncos offense converted one third down conversion and Flacco got sacked nine times. Noah Fant dropped numerous passes that drew a lot of boos from the crowd. It was ugly.

5) The final nail in the coffin was when backup Matt Moore hit Tyreek Hill on a wheel route for a 57 yard TD to make it 27-6 Chiefs in the third quarter. That put the game away for good and it probably put the Broncos season away for good too.

6) This was one of the most embarrassing home losses I have seen in my lifetime as a Broncos fan. I thought of the blowout loss to the Raiders at home in 1994, the blowout losses to the Chargers in 2007 and 2009, and the loss to the Giants in 2017 as similar games. It was terrible. The Chiefs have now won 5 straight game in Denver! That's ridiculous.

7) This game magnified the issues with the Broncos. Joe Flacco is the guy who we all thought he was, and he showed no fight or spirit in this game at all. Garret Bolles is a bust at LT and he has to be benched when Juwan James comes back from injury. Our offense is terrible overall and we just can't score points. We have no depth on defense as well. It's just a really bad team. They are 2-5 and going nowhere, and for the third straight year the Broncos are looking at a really bad season, and that is unheard of for a Broncos fan my age or my generation.

8) I know he might get killed out there and it might not be pretty, but we have to play Drew Lock when he comes off IR. We have to at least find out what we have in this young kid as a QB of the future. Play him. Let him learn and see what you got with him. That is only thing left to possibly look forward to as a Broncos fan.

Now, onto the picks for Week 7...


Last Week's Record: 6-8
Overall Record: 37-50-4
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

NY GIANTS (-3) over Arizona

INDY (-1) over Houston

Miami (+17) over BUFFALO

DETROIT (+2) over Minnesota

Oakland (+5) over GREEN BAY

Jacksonville (-3) over CINCY

LA Rams (-3) over ATLANTA

San Francisco (-7) over WASHINGTON

LA Chargers (+3) over TENNESSEE

SEATTLE (-3) over Baltimore

New Orleans (+3) over CHICAGO

Philly (+3) over DALLAS

New England (-11) over NY Jets

Chiefs-Broncos TNF Pick

The Chiefs come to Denver for Thursday Night Football with a two game losing streak and a 4-2 record. The Broncos are 2-4 after a two game winning streak. Can the Broncos slow down the Chiefs offense and pull the upset? I think the Broncos can definitely win this game and the Chiefs are coming in beat up on a short week, but ultimately I think Pat Mahomes will be just too much for the Denver defense, and I see KC winning in Denver for the fourth straight season.

Prediction: Kansas City (-3) over DENVER
Final Score: Chiefs-30 Broncos-16

Broncos Shutout Titans, Win Second in a Row!

The Broncos posted a shutout on Sunday as they blanked the Tennessee Titans 16-0 at home in Denver to improve their record to 2-4. It was a dominating performance on defense that saw them register 7 sacks and 3 interceptions. The Broncos defense posted the shutout and now have a two-game winning streak as they get ready for the Chiefs to come to Denver on Thursday night. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game...

1) Denver's defense was dominant. They completely shut down the run game for the Titans and Derrick Henry did nothing all day. Also, they got to Marcus Mariota all game, and he actually got benched for Ryan Tannehill in the fourth quarter. It was the type of performance we have been waiting for from Vic Fangio's defense all year long. They held the Titans to 2-14 on 3rd down conversions, 204 total yards, and forced 3 turnovers. That's about as good as it gets for a defense.

2) Alexander Johnson continues to make plays and impress at ILB. He had 1.5 sacks and led the team with 9 total tackles. He continues to stand out on the field.

3) Kareem Jackson really looks like a difference maker as well. He is all over the field and makes play after play. I was happy to see him get an interception at the end of the game to seal the win. Chris Harris Jr. was also his stellar self. He had an interception and was just a force all game long. Derek Wolfe had two sacks and played his best game of the year as well.

4) The Broncos offense wasn't good but it did enough to put up 16 points and win the game. They got a field goal on their first possession, a field goal late in the first half, and a TD late in the third quarter to basically seal the win. I think they did play it a little too safe at times, but the way the game was playing out, they needed to do that with the way their defense was playing. Philip Lindsay had over 70 yards rushing and punched in the TD to make it 13-0.

5) It was nice to see the Broncos go with the blue jersey and white pants combination for this home game. They were also honoring Champ Bailey at halftime and putting him in the Ring of Fame. Champ is one of my all-time favorite Broncos and I even got my son his first Broncos jersey when he was born with #24 Bailey.

6) Two wins in a row is nice but the Broncos still have a hole to get out of before they can start to make something out of this season. They are 2-4 and host the 4-2 Chiefs on Thursday Night Football in Denver. The Chiefs come in losing two in a row at home, but it will be very tough to try to slow down that KC offense-even at home. Win this game on Thursday night and we might have something brewing.

Broncos-Titans and Week 6 Picks

The Broncos return home to Denver to host the 2-3 Titans. Tennessee is a hard team to judge week-to-week, but the Broncos really can't be favored to win any game at this point in the year. Even after getting their first win on the road against the Chargers, they could still get buried at home by the Titans. I do think that they are due for a home win. They have lost four straight home games dating back to 2018. That could play into their favor. When was the last time the Broncos lost their first three home games to start a season? It's going to be tough and I think Denver will have trouble moving the ball on this Tennessee defense. Also, the Broncos are dealing with so many injuries-especially in their secondary. Add it all up, and I think the Titans go into Denver and beat up the Broncos.

Prediction: Tennessee (+3) over DENVER
Final Score: Titans-26 Broncos-13

Now, onto the picks for Week 6....

Last Week's Record: 5-9-1
Overall Record: 31-42-4
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Carolina (-3) over Tampa Bay (In London): Back in London for the second straight week, and now we get the 9:30 am start time on the East Coast. Ugh, I hate this early morning window for a game. At least it is the Bucs and the Panthers, so it isn't much of a marquee game.

Cincy (+11) over BALTIMORE: At 3-2, I'm still not totally sold on the Ravens, and I think they are giving way too many points here-even at home. I know the Bengals are 0-5 and terrible, but I could see them keeping this game somewhat close.

CLEVELAND (+2) over Seattle: This is the classic "Bounce Back Game When Everybody Thinks We Suck" game for the Browns.

KANSAS CITY (-4) over Houston: This is another bounce back game and it involves the Chiefs getting back on track at home. I am excited for Pat Mahomes and DeShaun Watson though.

JACKSONVILLE (-1) over New Orleans: This is the hunch of the week. I'm going to ride Gardner Minshew till the very end-whenever that comes.

MINNESOTA (-3) over Philly: Two 3-2 teams in a very important game in the NFC. I like Minnesota because they are at home and I think the Eagles are just too banged up. It is a fun game though and I wouldn't be shocked if Philly won. This one is hard to figure out.

Washington (-3) over MIAMI: Remember when these two franchises met in Super Bowl XVII? The Skins won 27-17 on the famous 4th and 1 call with John Riggins scoring the game-winning TD in the Rose Bowl. Times have certainly changed and both of these teams are winless and looking towards the 2020 Draft.

LA RAMS (-2) over San Francisco: Great game in the late window on Sunday afternoon. The 4-0 Niners take on the 3-2 Rams. I'm not totally buying the Rams as a team that is going to have a disappointing season. They lost by a point at Seattle on a short week last Thursday night. I think they right the ship and give SF their first loss of the season.

ARIZONA (+2) over Atlanta: The 1-3-1 Cardinals host the 1-4 Falcons. I have to think Atlanta gets the win this week......right? I'm not so sure.

Dallas (-7) over NY JETS: Sam Darnold returns from mono for the first time since Week 1. I think he gives the Jets a boost, but look for the Cowboys to get to 4-2 after losing two straight.

Pittsburgh (+5) over LA CHARGERS: This is a dog of a Sunday night game. The Chargers are favored to take down the Steelers, who are down to third-string QB Dalvin Hodges, but you never know what you will get with this Chargers team. Plus, the Steelers fans will invade LA and make it a home game for Pittsburgh.

GREEN BAY (-4) over Detroit: Fun Monday Night Football matchup between two longtime rivals. I give the slight edge to the Packers because they are at home, and I think it will be close throughout. I could see the Lions pulling off the upset, but I don't know if I have the guts to pick them here.

Giants-Patriots TNF Pick

NEW ENGLAND (-14) over NY Giants

Broncos Upset Chargers in LA, Get First Win of 2019

Finally, the Broncos won a football game. Going back to last season, the Broncos had lost eight games in a row, which was the longest streak in the NFL. Sunday they went into LA and defeated the Chargers 20-13 to notch their first win of the year and improve their record to 1-4. Denver jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, and they held on to get the win. Here are my thoughts and observations about the game....

1) The Broncos scored the first two drives of the game and it was like "Where was this offense all year?" Philip Lindsay capped the opening drive with a TD run and Courtland Sutton hauled in a Joe Flacco pass for a 70 yard TD to make it 14-0 early for the Broncos. What a start for this offense.

2) The Broncos got their first turnover of the year when Justin Simmons picked off Philip Rivers in the first quarter. I didn't expect it would get to Week 5 before Denver got its' first takeaway of the year.

3) Kareem Jackson made the defensive play of the first half when he dove and stopped Austin Ekeler at the goaline on 4th and Goal with no time left in the half to preserve the 17-0 halftime lead.

4) The Broncos got sloppy in the second half. A Joe Flacco interception was bailed out by an Al Johnson interception of Rivers in the endzone. The Broncos gave up a punt return for a TD in the 3rd quarter to cut the lead to 17-7. To be honest, there were at least two blocks in the back that were not called. The Chargers kept cutting into the lead and cut the score to 17-10 in the 4th quarter.

5) When the score was 17-10, Brandon McManus missed a 52 yarder to make it 20-10, and I thought to myself that the Broncos are going to blow another game late. But, give their defense credit because they forced a punt and got the ball back. The Broncos, behind Philip Lindsay, got some big first downs and iced the game on a field goal to make it 20-10.

6) Philip Lindsay was great on offense all game long, and the Broncos defense did a great job on Rivers and that LA offense. Kareem Jackson was all over the field, Chris Harris shut down Keenan Allen, and Al Johnson filled in for the injured Josey Jewell and was all over the field. He was the best player on the Broncos defense.

7) Congrats to Vic Fangio on getting his first win as a head coach. It should have happened earlier this year, but they got the win and now hopefully they can string some wins together. They host Tennessee next week in Denver with the hopes of getting to 2-4.

Broncos-Chargers and Week 5 Picks

The Broncos head to LA to take on the Chargers this Sunday and they are facing the possibility of starting a season 0-5 for the first time in franchise history. To make matters worse, Bradley Chubb is out for the season with a partially torn ACL. The Broncos season is basically over, and I am waiting for the inevitable blowout loss in which the team quits in the second half. I think this could be that week. Look for the Chargers to be in command throughout and look for Denver to head to an 0-5 record with a beatdown in LA.

Prediction: LA CHARGERS (-6) over Denver
Final Score: Chargers-33 Broncos-10

Now onto the picks for Week 5....

Last Week's Record: 6-8
Overall Record: 26-33-3
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

PITTSBURGH (+3) over Baltimore:  I don't believe in Lamar Jackson yet, and I don't believe in the Ravens defense. I don't believe in Mason Rudolph either, but I'll take the Steelers as a home dog.

Oakland (+5) over Chicago (In London): I wonder if the Bears will be better with Chase Daniel running the offense with Mitch Trubisky out with a shoulder injury. This game is weird to me because of the London factor. The Raiders are 2-2, and I'll take them getting the five points.

CINCY (-2) over Arizona: 0-4 Cincy takes on 0-3-1 Arizona. I would assume that the Bengals will get their first win of the year this week at home against the Cardinals. Both teams are headed for Top 5 picks next spring as well.

Jacksonville (+3) over CAROLINA: Gardner Minshew has the Jags at 2-2 and they head to Carolina to take on the 2-2 Panthers. Carolina has won two in a row without Cam Newton and I also wonder if they are better off with Kyle Allen at QB at this point. This is a tricky game, and I have no idea what will happen, but look for Minshew Mania to continue.

Minnesota (-4) over NY GIANTS: The Giants have righted their ship a little as they are now 2-2 after an 0-2 start and Daniel Jones has breathed some life into this franchise. The Vikings come in at 2-2, but their passing game is really sputtering. Kirk Cousins could get it going this week against that weak Giants defense.

New England (-14) over WASHINGTON: The Redskins are 0-4 and in disarray, and now the Pats come to DC. I can't see this game being remotely close as the Pats move to 5-0.

NY Jets (+14) over PHILLY: I think that Philly wins but I can see the Jets covering the number. The Eagles will get to 3-2 while the Jets will fall to 0-4 while they wait for Sam Darnold to come back from Mono.

Tampa Bay (+4) over NEW ORLEANS: I'll take the Bucs in a game that I think will come down to the wire. TB is at 2-2 after a wild, road win over the Rams last week, and the Saints outlasted the Cowboys to get to 3-1. Look for a back and forth game and this will come down to field goal at the end.

HOUSTON (-4) over Atlanta: I have no faith in the 1-3 Falcons. I think they are in for a dreadful season. The Texans are 2-2 after a bad home loss to the Panthers last week. I think Houston gets it going this week at home and gets to 3-2.

TENNESSEE (-3) over Buffalo: The Bills are 3-1 and coming off a home loss to the Pats last week. The Titans are 2-2 after a win in Atlanta. I like the Titans at home this week to get after Josh Allen, and look for them to get to 3-2.

DALLAS (-3) over Green Bay: Huge game in the late window on Sunday afternoon. 3-1 Cowboys take on the 3-1 Packers in a game that is very big for the NFC. I think the Cowboys will find a way and knock off the Packers and get to 4-1.

KANSAS CITY (-10) over Indy: This game will be a blowout win for the Chiefs in Arrowhead on SNF. I don't think Indy has enough to keep up with the Chiefs, who will get to 5-0 in convincing fashion.

Cleveland (+4) over SAN FRANCISCO: The 3-0 Niners host the Browns on Monday Night Football. This game will be a pretty good game to watch, and I think the Browns will pull the mini-upset and knock off the 49ers to get to 3-2.

Broncos Blow Lead and Fall to Jaguars, Drop To 0-4

Any Sunday and another loss for the Broncos. This time it was at the hands of the Jaguars and Gardner Minshew in Denver. The Broncos had a 17-3 lead late in the second quarter, but squandered the lead in the second half, and then watched as the Jags hit the game-winning field goal as time expired to win it 26-24. The loss drops Denver to 0-4 for the first time since 1999. Here are my thoughts and observations about the game....

1) The Broncos started fast and looked really good early on. Two Joe Flacco TD passes gave Denver a 17-3 in the second quarter. I really did not think that the Jags would be able to mount the comeback on the road at that point.

2) The turning point of the game was when Flacco got intercepted deep in Jax territory near the end of the half. It was a terrible throw and the Jaguars converted it into a field goal and a 17-6 deficit.

3) Jacksonville took control from there behind the play of Minshew and Leonard Fournette. Fournette gashed the Denver defense for over 200 yards, and Minshew made some big time plays to give the Jags a 23-17 lead late in the fourth quarter.

4) Give Joe Flacco credit because he drove the Broncos down the field and hit Courtland Sutton for the go-ahead score to make it 24-23 with over a minute and a half left. The Broncos defense had to be able to get a stop on Minshew, but they didn't. They are the goats of the game. You can't let a rookie QB drive down the field to win the game late in Denver against your defense. Unfortunately, it happened for the second time in three weeks and the second time at home.

5) This loss hurts because at 0-4 the Broncos season is essentially over by the time we hit October 1st. You don't come back from 0-4 in the NFL. The Broncos should have NEVER lost this game, and it is a shame that they did. They are really bad in my opinion. This franchise continues to hit all-time lows over the past three seasons. Now, they head to LA to take on the Chargers with the possibility of going 0-5 for the first time in franchise history.

Seattle-Rams Week 5 TNF Pick

SEATTLE (-1) over LA Rams

Broncos-Jaguars and Week 4 Picks!

This is the Broncos last stand of the 2019 season. If they lose at home to the Jaguars, then they will fall to 0-4 and this season will be lost before we get to October. I still think they can somehow turn this season around, but they have to win this game at home. The Jags come in at 1-2, but they have some life with the play of QB Gardner Minshew, subbing for injured Nick Foles. They are also dealing with the Jalen Ramsey drama as he continues to demand a trade. I know it is dicey to pick the Broncos but I have to think they can win this game at home to get to 1-3

Prediction: DENVER (-3) over Jacksonville

Final Score: Broncos-20 Jags-16

Last Week's Record: 6-9-1
Overall Record: 20-25-3
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

HOUSTON (-4) over Carolina: The Texans are 2-1 with all three of their games very close. The Panthers are 1-2 and QB Kyle Allen looked really good last week in relief of the injured Cam Newton. This game will be close again, but I think the Texans will win by a late touchdown.

Cleveland (+7) over BALTIMORE: The Ravens are 2-1 and gave the Chiefs everything they could in Arrowhead last Sunday. I know the Browns are 1-2 and everyone is killing them, but I have a sneaky feeling that they go into Baltimore on Sunday and pull off the upset.

NY GIANTS (-3) over Washington: How about that debut for Daniel Jones last week to give the Giants their first win of the season over Tampa Bay? At 1-2, they now host the 0-3 Redskins, who are a mess of a franchise right now. I still can't trust the Giants defense, and with Saquon Barkley out, you get a little nervous, but the G-Men should get to 2-2.

Oakland (+7) over INDY: The Raiders are 1-2 after getting killed in Minnesota last week. They now head back to the midwest for an early game at Indy. I know everyone is picking the Colts at home here and they may win, but I think the Raiders cover the seven points.

Kansas City (-6) over DETROIT: I don't care if the Lions are 2-0-1 and at home this week. I'm taking KC and the unstoppable Pat Mahomes every week.

New England (-7) over BUFFALO: Everyone in Buffalo is pumped up for this matchup of two 3-0 teams, but I think the Pats will take care of business and win easily.

ATLANTA (-3) over Tennessee: Two 1-2 teams battle in Atlanta in a must-win game for both teams. The Falcons are a weird team, and I'm trying to figure out if Matt Ryan is still good. I also think that Marcus Mariota is on borrowed time for the Titans as their QB. I'll take Atlanta at home.

LA RAMS (-9) over Tampa Bay: The Bucs are 1-2 and they lost an absolutely awful game to the Giants last week at home. Now, they head out to LA to take on the 3-0 Rams. I think the Rams get to 4-0 with a dominating win at home.

Seattle (-5) over ARIZONA: Seattle laid an egg at home in a loss to the Saints last week. At 2-1, I think they will get back on track and get an easy win in Arizona.

Minnesota (+3) over CHICAGO: This is the marquee game in the late afternoon window on Sunday. The 2-1 Vikings head to Soldier Field to take on the 2-1 Bears. I think the Vikings are the better team at this point, and you still have to worry about Mitch Trubisky, so I'll take the Vikes on the road.

Dallas (-2) over NEW ORLEANS: I like how the Cowboys and their offense have looked so far in their 3-0 start. Dak Prescott has been awesome in the first three games, and I think this will be a very close game, but I give the Cowboys the edge and win to get to 4-0.

PITTSBURGH (-4) over Cincy: What a rough game on Monday Night Football as the 0-3 Steelers, without Big Ben, take on the 0-3 Bengals. I'll take the Steelers to get to 1-3.

Packers-Eagles Week 4 TNF Pick!

Philly(+4) over GREEN BAY

Broncos Lose at Lambeau to the Packers 27-16, Drop to 0-3

Another football Sunday and another loss for the Broncos. Denver fell 27-16 at Lambeau Field yesterday afternoon to the Packers. The loss puts the Broncos at 0-3 for the first time since 1999. This game boiled down to the turnovers the Broncos had and it eventually cost them the game. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) The outcome of this game comes down to three parts. Part 1 is when Joe Flacco got sacked and fumbled near the end of the first half deep in his own end. This turnover set up a Green Bay rushing touchdown to make it 17-10 at the half.

2) Part 2 was when the third quarter started, and Noah Fant caught a pass from Flacco and fumbled in Denver territory and the Packers recovered. This turnover led to another Packers touchdown and a 24-10 early in the second half. A 10-10 game turned on two turnovers that closed the half and started the half.

3) Part 3 was when Denver was driving down 24-16 late in the third quarter and Flacco was intercepted in Green Bay territory. It was a killer interception and no one was even around the ball. It was the third turnover that put the game out of reach for the Broncos. Flacco then pulled a classic Flacco move when he checked the ball down to Royce Freeman on 3rd and long for a gain of four yards and Denver had to punt. There was your ballgame right there.

4) There really isn't anything else to write or say. The Broncos are 0-3 for the first time since 1999. They have lost seven games in a row going back to last season. They are 4-13 in their last 17 games. They have not scored over 17 points in the past seven games, and their defense has no sacks and no turnovers the first three games this season.

5) I thought the Josh McDaniels/Kyle Orton era was bad in Denver, but this is starting to get to that level. 2017 was awful. 2018 wasn't much better, but 2019 looks like it might get worse. The Broncos have become an irrelevant franchise in the NFL. They are boring to watch and I expect them to lose every week. It is really disappointing and their season could be over by the beginning of October. They host the 1-2 Jaguars next week, but I don't have any confidence that they will win the game. Its' that bad in Denver right now.

Broncos-Packers and Week 3 Picks

The Broncos lost an absolute heartbreaker last week at home to the Bears 16-14 on a 52 yard field goal by Eddy Piniero as time expired. Now, they have the tough task of heading to Lambeau Field to take on the 2-0 Packers. 0-2 and on the road against Aaron Rodgers is not the way to start your season. Teams can come back from 0-2, but they won't come back from 0-3. This will be tough and it's hard to make a case for the Broncos to win the game, but I could see them playing hard and keeping it somewhat close for awhile. The Packers haven't looked that great the first two games anyway and maybe they are overlooking Denver and have the Eagles on their mind for Thursday night.

Prediction: Denver (+8) over GREEN BAY
Final Score: Packers-24 Denver-17

Now, onto the quick picks for Week 3.....


Last Week's Record: 9-7
Overall Record: 14-16-2
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Detroit (+7) over PHILLY

KANSAS CITY (-6) over Baltimore

Cincy (+7) over BUFFALO:

Atlanta (+3) over INDY:

Oakland (+8) over MINNESOTA:

NEW ENGLAND (-18) over NY Jets:

Miami (+21) over DALLAS:

TAMPA BAY (-6) over NY Giants:

ARIZONA (+3) over Carolina:

SEATTLE (-4) over New Orleans:

LA CHARGERS (-3) over Houston:

Pittsburgh (+7) over SAN FRANCISCO:

LA Rams (-2) over CLEVELAND:

WASHINGTON (+4) over Chicago: 

Jags-Titans Week 3 TNF Pick

JACKSONVILLE (+3) over Tennessee

Broncos Lose a Heartbreaker to the Bears, Fall to 0-2

The Broncos fell to 0-2 on Sunday with a crushing home loss at the hands of the Bears 16-14. Eddy Piniero hit a 52 yard field goal as time expired to give the Bears the win. Denver took the lead on a Joe Flacco to Emmanuel Sanders two-point conversion try to take 14-13 lead with 32 seconds left. It was a thrilling ending to the game, but this was a tough loss for the Broncos and it could derail their season very early on. Here are my thoughts and observations about the game....

1) The Broncos shut down Mitch Trubisky and the Bears offense for most of the game. They had one drive in which they gave up a touchdown but that came after a reverse by Corradelle Patterson that put the Bears deep into Denver territory. The Broncos defense played well, although they didn't get any sacks or any takeaways. As expected, the Bears defense played well and held Denver to only a field goal until the final drive for the Broncos.

2) Joe Flacco played pretty well. He threw a bad pick with about four minutes to go in the game deep in Chicago territory down 13-6, but he did lead Denver down the field late in the game and converted a few 4th downs to keep the drive alive. He hit Sanders for the touchdown to make it 13-12 and then hit Sanders again for the two-pointer to make it 14-13. Flacco wasn't the problem on Sunday.

3) Garrett Bolles continues to kill the Broncos with the holding penalties. His penalties negated some big plays and it bogged down the offense for the second and third quarter. It is at the point where Bolles should be benched, and it looks like he is not going to have a future in Denver.

4) This game was pretty mundane throughout but the 4th quarter was pretty wild. Denver was down 13-3 but rallied to make it 13-6, then Flacco hit Sanders for the touchdown. Vic Fangio signaled to go for two, but a delay of game knocked the Broncos back and they settled for the extra point. Brandon McManus missed it wide, but the Bears were offside. Denver then took the penalty and decided to go for two again. Flacco hit Sanders and the Broncos took an improbable 14-13 with only 32 seconds left. At that point, I was feeling pretty good as a Broncos fan but the game turned rather quickly.

5) Bradley Chubb's roughing the passer on Trubisky was a really, really bad call. He hit him as he was throwing it. It was so bad, and it gave the Bears life, 15 yards, and a first down. Trubisky then hit a big throw down the middle and the Bears got a timeout with one second left to set up the 52 yard field goal. I think the timeout was generous by the referees, and I wished it was at least reviewed by the booth but it wasn't. In any event, how the hell did that receiver get so wide open down the middle of the field like that? Where was Von Miller and Chubb on that play?

6) This was about as brutal of a loss as you can have for a team, and now the Broncos find themselves at 0-2 for the first time since 1999. They also lost their home opener for the first time since 2011. It is a shame because this could have been one of those wins that you look back on as a game that propelled your season, but now it is a loss that could really put this team into a tailspin. The Broncos are now faced with the task of heading to Green Bay to take on the 2-0 Packers in Lambeau Field. I feel like this team can come back from 0-2 and have a good season, but 0-3 would be too much to ask.