Week 15: Broncos vs. Chargers

Denver Broncos

Another week and another tough test for the Denver Broncos.  This week the Broncos will be playing for their fourth consecutive AFC West title.  If the Broncos are able to snag a win today they will set themselves up nicely for the playoffs and inch closer to a first round bye although they will need help to secure the number one overall seed for the third season in a row.  This week look for the Broncos to get their passing attack back on track.  For those who say Peyton Manning is done, this should be evidence that he is far from done.  I think the Broncos will get the passing game rolling today and the nice weather should be a great aid to Peyton Manning.  Now that doesn't mean that the Broncos will stop running the ball.  I think that they are still going to put an emphasis on the running game, but I think their goal in this one should be to be more efficient both running and passing the ball.  Last week the Broncos were not very efficient at either, and I expect them to work to move the ball in a more efficient manner.

Denver Broncos

One positive from last week was the running game in the red zone.  If C.J. Anderson can continue to be a threat down inside the ten yard line this offense will be tough to beat when they get down near the goal line.  The running game is very important for the Broncos going forward, because it will keep defenses honest.  Having a running game in the playoffs will make a huge difference for the Broncos because they will be able to rely less on Peyton Manning.  I love the way this team is playing football right now because they can win with a subpar game from Peyton Manning.  During the last two postseasons they have relied way to heavily on Manning and if he does not play a perfect game they struggle.  Over the last few weeks the Broncos have proven that they can win football games even when Manning is not in top form.  Running the ball and defense will be the key for the Broncos going forward, and the occasional pass from #18 sure won't hurt either.

Denver Broncos

Speaking of defense, how good have they been over the last few weeks?  The defense is finally clicking on all cylinders and they have been extremely impressive over the last several weeks.  If they can continue to play at such a high level the Broncos are going to be a very tough team to beat going forward.  One player that has finally been rewarded for his stellar play is Chris Harris.  He got a five year contract extension this week and no player is more deserving of a pay raise.  He is one of the best corners in the league and it is good that he is finally paid like a top flight corner.  It seems like every single week he is making a huge play in the football game.  Last week he made a great play near the end zone that helped seal the Broncos victory.  I expect him to make another big play this week against Philip Rivers.  Rivers is a guy that Harris has made big plays against in the past and I think we could see another big play this week.

Denver Broncos

Another player on the defensive side of the ball that has been playing at a high level lately is Malik Jackson.  It seems like he does not get the credit he deserves because guys like Von Miller and Demarcus Ware get most of the accolades along the defensive line, and deservedly so.  However, if you watch the play along the defensive line Jackson is consistently making plays wether it is stopping the running game or getting after the quarterback.  He has been a big reason for the defensive improvements lately because he adds another pass rushing threat to this defense.  I expect him to make some big plays today because he often lines up at defensive tackle.  This should give him a great opportunity to rush the passer because San Diego is very weak in the middle of the offensive line, and more specifically at the center position.  They have lost three centers for the season and it has been a real problem spot for them throughout the season.  Look for Jackson and others to look to create pressure up the middle and get right in the face of Philip Rivers.

Denver Broncos

Brandon Marshall is another Bronco defender that deserves a ton of credit for the great play of the defense over the last several weeks.  He has been a huge difference maker for the Broncos, and has helped lessen the blow of losing Danny Trevethan.  Trevethan is expected to return this week and that will give defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio lots of options at the linebacker position.  It gives him two guys that are tackling machines, and have the ability to make plays in coverage as well.  One thing that I would look for the defense to do is match up one of these guys on Antonio Gates on obvious passing downs.  Tight ends have had a field day against the Broncos defense and I think they will try a few different things today against Gates to try to slow him down.

Prediction

I think this game is going to be close and it will be a back and forth contest.  I think the winner will be decided by turnovers.  Taking care of the football will be key in this game as the teams are fairly evenly matched.  The Broncos defense has been great lately at taking the ball away, but that has been slightly negated by the offense not taking care of the football.  Look for Peyton Manning to take better care of the ball today.   Ultimately I think the Broncos defense will be the difference in this one.  They have been playing great lately, and I think that will continue today.  Look for a turnover or two that will be the deciding factor in this game.

Final Score- Denver Broncos 27, San Diego 21

Week 10: Broncos vs. Raiders

Yikes! Last week did not go as expected for the Broncos, and raised some serious concerns about this Denver Broncos team.  Everyone expected the game to be tough playing at New England but the Broncos were dominated in every single phase of the game.  However, we all need to take a page from Aaron Rodgers book and R-E-L-A-X.  The NFL season is long and there are sure to be moments of disappointment as the season rolls along.  In fact it was just a month or so ago that New England got dismantled by the Kansas City Chiefs and everyone was saying that the Patriots dynasty was done, and Tom Brady was washed up.  A few weeks later and they are suddenly the Super Bowl favorites.  So Broncos fans don't panic after a big loss on the road to a tough opponent.

Denver Broncos

There were some real concerns that surfaced during the Patriots game.  Peyton Manning would have you believe that he stunk, and was the reason for the loss.  However, had Wes Welker caught the pass that became a Brandon Browner interception Peyton had a day that should be good enough to beat anybody.  He made one big mistake in the game, and even Peyton Manning makes mistakes.  To me the real problem that is surfacing with the Broncos is the play of their special teams.  This was a huge factor in the lose to the Patriots.  The punt return for a touchdown was a huge play for the Patriots, and it turned all of the momentum in their favor.  The Broncos never really got back into the game following the return.  The Broncos have actually been pretty solid on kick coverage this season and that was the first return touchdown they have allowed this season.  The biggest area of concern for me is in the kicking game.  Brandon McManus has not demonstrated the ability to make kicks that an NFL kicker has to be able to make.  Most would point to his missed field goal in this game, but I think the most telling play was when the Broncos went for it on 4th down from the Patriots 34 yard line.  Granted, that is a 51 yard field goal but with Matt Prater there would have been no hesitation to kick the field goal at that point in the game.  Peyton Manning was sacked on 4th down and the Patriots quickly drove down the field and scored a touchdown.  If the kicking game does not improve the Broncos may have to explore other options at kicker.  Overall, I felt the Broncos offense actually looked pretty good and they moved the ball well, but they struggled to make big plays in big moments and they also had a couple of critical turnovers.  If the Broncos can clean up the mistakes and convert in big moments they will be just fine going forward.

Denver Broncos

Enough of the struggles of last week, it is time to move past the loss and look at this weeks game against the Oakland Raiders.  Most are expecting this game to be a laugher.  I think the Broncos will win this one but I do think that people are taking the Raiders too lightly.  They are not a very good team but they have shown more fight this season than in seasons past.  They are still winless but they have competed in almost every single game, and they have come close to upsetting some quality teams.  They actually played the New England Patriots very close and almost won that game.  They have also had close games against the San Diego Chargers and the Seattle Seahawks.  It will be important for the Broncos to take the Raiders seriously, and come out ready to play.  I rarely worry about this team coming out flat, as they have Peyton Manning at quarterback.  Speaking of number 18 expect him to have a big game in this one.  He has always played well against the Raiders and that trend should continue this week.  The Raiders defense will be overmatched in this one, and that is going to be obvious in the defensive secondary.  The Raiders do not have the personnel to match up with all of the Broncos weapons.  The Broncos wideouts have been on fire lately and Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders should both have big games again this week.  So far this year they have been the best receiving duo in the NFL bar none.  I would also look for Julius Thomas and Wes Welker to get back on track this week.  People are bailing on Wes Welker way too quickly.  I think that he will still play a very important role for the Broncos this season.  Even if he is just getting a couple catches a game, if those catches are for third down conversions he will be doing his job.  Look for Wes and Julius to get going soon, as the two receivers on the outside will begin to receive extra attention.

Denver Broncos

Another key in this game will be the Broncos running game. Last week the running game struggled to get much of anything going.  This team has to be able to run the ball against 6 man fronts, and last week they were not able to do so.  This week the Broncos will look to re-shuffle their offensive line once again.  With Paul Cornick down with an injury, I expect Orlando Franklin to slide back out to right tackle.  Manny Ramirez should then move from center to left guard, and Will Montgomery will make his first start as a Bronco at center.  It should be very interesting to see how this re-vamped offensive line performs in this one.  So far this season the Broncos have struggled to stop pressure that comes in between the center and either one of the two guards.  It will be worth watching the middle of this line to see if they can fix the problems that have plagued them so far.  If they can create a few holes for Ronnie Hillman I would look for him to get back on track this week.  Last week he struggled running the ball, but he was still able to make a big impact on the game by being a receiver out of the backfield.  As the season moves along I would look for Hillman to continue to be a big part of the passing game.  With his explosive running ability he is a big threat once he has the ball in his hands, and I expect for the Broncos to continue to try to get Hillman the ball in space.

Denver Broncos

Defensively look for the Broncos to get back to being a dominant defensive unit.  Last week they only had one sack but they did generate good pressure most of the game, but Tom Brady got rid of the ball so quickly they were not able to get to him.  One player that I was very impressed with last weekend, and the last several weeks is Malik Jackson.  He has been a guy that has been getting consistent penetration.  Players like Jackson making plays will be very important to the Broncos going forward.  If the Broncos can get enough plays from Jackson and Derek Wolfe in the pass rush they will be able to put constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks.  That will be very important today against a rookie quarterback.  Derek Carr has actually played pretty well this season and has a only been sacked 8 times this year, which is tied for the least in the league (with Peyton Manning).  If the Broncos can find a way to get pressure on this young quarterback they can force him to make mistakes and get some big time turnovers.  If the defense can shut down the run once again look for the pass rushers to make some big plays and cause turnovers.

Denver Broncos

Reports surfaced this week that the Broncos have started contract negotiations with free agent to be Chris Harris.  This is great news for Broncos fans.  Harris does not get the respect around the league that he deserves as he has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league over the last several seasons.  The biggest reason for his greatness is his versatility.  Harris has the ability to play at any corner spot on the field.  He is one of the best corners on the outside, and he is easily the best slot corner in the game once he moves inside to cover the slot receiver.  Locking Harris up long term will ensure the Broncos have one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL for years to come.  Hopefully they can lock him up soon and begin contract negotiations with players like Terrance "Pot Roast" Knighton and Demaryius Thomas.  As I was saying earlier I think the defense will force a couple of turnovers today and I would look for Harris to make a big play today.

Prediction

While I do think the Raiders are better than they are given credit for, they are still no match for a much more talented Denver Broncos team.  I would look for the Broncos to get back on track today in all three phases of the game.  One thing that bears watching today is the ability of Brandon McManus to make tough kicks.  If he misses another field goal or two I would not be surprised if the Broncos brought in another kicker to compete for the starting job.  I expect the Broncos to win this one, and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw some more of Brock Osweiler today.

Final Score- Denver Broncos 38, Oakland Raiders 17

Manning vs. Brady 16

Another week in the NFL and another huge game for the Denver Broncos.  It seems like every game so far has been a "must win" for the Broncos and this week they face another tough test against the New England Patriots.  The Patriots have been on a roll lately, scoring 51 points last weekend against the Chicago Bears.  This game is so important for the Broncos because if they are able to win this game they will be in control of the AFC's #1 seed.  If they lose things will become a little more difficult for them although not impossible.  As always this game takes on added significance because of the quarterback matchup.  Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time so anytime they face off against one another, it is a media spectacle.  This game also marks the third consecutive year that this matchup has taken place, all of which have been played in Foxborough.  The Broncos have not fared too well the last two seasons, but this year could be different and I'll tell you why.

Keys to Victory

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

The biggest key in this game has to be the turnover battle.  The Broncos have to avoid beating themselves in this game.  In the last two regular season meetings against the Patriots the Broncos have been careless with the ball and it has cost them the game.  We all remember last years game where the Broncos managed to squander a 24-0 lead because of two turnovers deep in their own territory.  That is how the Patriots beat you.  They play good disciplined football and when you make a mistake they are sure to capitalize on it.  In this one the Broncos need to make sure that they are not helping the Patriots out with turnovers.  If Denver can win the turnover battle I think they will win this game, if they cannot then it could be a different story.

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

One player that could play a big role today for the Broncos is Emmanuel Sanders.  If the weather is going to be as bad as they say then the Broncos may not be able to push the ball down the field in the passing game.  This could mean that the Broncos run a lot of underneath routes, and bubble screens that give their playmakers the ability to run after the catch.  Sanders is one of the most dynamic pass catchers that the Broncos have and he is always fun to watch when he has the ball in his hands.  In the last several games the Broncos have run a downfield screen that has been very effective.  They ran this play twice last week on third and long situations and I think they could look to run this play on a more consistent basis if the weather is bad.  On this play the Broncos set three receivers in a trips formation to the right with one receiver (Demaryius Thomas) set to the left.  The three receivers on the right side of the formation come flying off the line of scrimmage which forces the defenders to back off quickly.  The receiver on the left of the formation then runs a shallow crossing route, once the ball is thrown the three receivers who are downfield find a man and block.  So far this has been an effective play for the Broncos and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Broncos try it a few times.

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

Assuming the weather is as bad as predicted the Broncos will have to rely on the running game, and given recent performance that might not be such a bad thing.  Ronnie Hillman has been a fresh breath of air for the Broncos running game.  He has transformed the running attack from an area of concern to a real strength of this team.  Since taking over as the starter Hillman has consistently shown the ability to hit a hole and get as many yards as he can.  He has also shown great quickness.  His ability to break big plays has shown up in each game so far and I would not be surprised to see him bust loose for a big play again this week.  The last two weeks he has had runs of over thirty yards, and I think that trend will continue this week.  The fun thing about Hillman is that once he gets past the second level he has the ability to run away from everybody.  Last year against the Patriots the Broncos ran for 280 yards and seemingly had their way with the Patriots defense.  I think that this trend will continue against a Patriots defense that is missing it's leading tackler as well as its best pass rusher.

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

As for the Broncos defense they will have their hands full against a Patriots offense that is firing on all cylinders at this point in the season.  At the start of this season the Patriots looked out of sync and there were some who said that this was the end of the Patriots dynasty and that Tom Brady was done.  Well a few weeks later and those ideas have been solidly laid to rest as the Patriots have been on fire over the last several weeks.  What changed? One word: Gronk.  The biggest difference for this Patriots offense has been the play of the tight end known only as GRONK.  Over the first four games Gronk just did not look like the same dominant player that we are so used to seeing.  He ran mostly crossing routes and did not challenge the defense vertically.  Things have changed over the last few weeks though and it appears Gronk is healthy and back to terrorizing opponents.  He has been running down the seams and dishing out punishment when he makes contact with a defender.  So how do the Broncos slow down this Patriots offense?  I think that if the Broncos are able to stop the running game and make the Patriots one dimensional Tom Brady could be in for a long day in this one.  The Broncos are the #1 run defense so far this season and if they can continue to stop the run they can make life tough for the Patriots today.  If the Broncos can stuff the run that means the pass rushers can pin their ears back and get after Tom Brady.  This is important because the Patriots offensive line has been suspect at times this season and going against Von Miller and Demarcus Ware is no small task.

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

These two pass rushers have been terrorizing opponents all season long, and they show no signs of slowing down.  Von Miller in particular has been practically unstoppable and he now has a sack in six consecutive games which is the best current streak in the NFL.  Von Miller is a great pass rusher there is no doubt about that, but one thing that often goes overlooked with Von is just how dominant he is against the running game.  If you watch him on running plays he regularly gets into the backfield and at the very least forces the play to go the opposite direction of him.  If the Broncos pass rush can get to Brady quickly they should have the ability to either bring him down for a sack or force him to throw it before he is ready.  This should provide the defense with opportunities for takeaways and I would look for the Broncos to get at least one interception in this one.  Rahim Moore has looked great so far this season and he seems to be seeing the field really well.   I was particularly impressed with his interception last week against the Chargers.  On the play Moore had deep responsibility and as he saw Malcom Floyd head down the sideline he immediately drifted that way and made a great play on the ball to pick off Phillip Rivers.  This shows just how far he has grown as a player.  We all remember the play against Baltimore where Moore failed to make the play on the ball.  I think he has really developed as a safety and he is a major cog in one of the best secondaries in football.

Prediction

This one is hard to predict because of the weather.  If it is cold and windy that takes away the Broncos ability to throw the ball downfield and forces them to dink and dunk a lot more.  However, even if the weather is bad I still think the Broncos have the better team.  The Broncos have superior talent and as long as they do not make mistakes with the football they should take care of business.  I look for Peyton Manning to get his first regular season win in Foxborough as a Bronco in this one.

Final Score- Denver Broncos 24, New England Patriots 17

AFC West showdown: Broncos vs. Chargers

It’s hard to believe that it is gameday it is but these Thursday night games roll around very quickly especially after a Sunday night game.  The Broncos face yet another tough test as they face off against the division rival San Diego Chargers.  Every division game carries extra importance, but that is especially true when you are facing off against one of the best teams in the league.   A win would put the Broncos in great position to win the division and secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.  The Broncos players have said all week that they will come out ready to play after facing a short week.  They were faced with the exact same situation last year and laid an egg against this same Chargers team. 

Keys to Victory

Denver Broncos

To win this one the Broncos will have to come ready to play as they are facing another great opponent.  It seems like I say that every week but the Broncos really do play tough team after tough team.  While it is hard right now these tough tests could really benefit this team down the road and especially come playoff time.  I think the fact that the Broncos get this game at home should be a big plus for them.  The chargers have also suffered quite a few injuries that will hurt their chances in this game. 

Denver Broncos

One key to this game will be the Broncos run defense.  The chargers will look to control the ball to keep Peyton Manning on the sidelines for as long as possible.  This was the strategy they used last year to beat the Broncos, and they have used this strategy this season to beat teams like Seattle.  The Broncos defense has to stop the run to force the Chargers to make big throws on third and long.  Although stopping the pass could be easier said than done.  Philip Rivers has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season and is playing at an elite level.  Denver will have it’s hands full with the Chargers offense in this one.  Look for Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware to try to get pressure on Rivers early to try to make him uncomfortable in the pocket. 

The pressure will also be on the Broncos secondary as they will have to try to slow down the pass catching weapons that Philip Rivers has to throw to.  They will have their hands full with players like Keenan Allen, Antonio Gates, and Eddie Royal.  I look for Chris Harris to have another great game.  Last week against the 49ers he was aggressive at the point of attack, coming up and making some pick time stops on quick screens to receivers.  He has been phenomenal coming off of his ACL surgery and is looking like an even better player than the one we saw last year.  Between Harris and Aqib Talib the Broncos have one of the best cornerback duos in the league.  Look for these two players to have a huge game, and expect one of them to make a game changing play in this one. 

Denver Broncos

Offensively the Broncos just have to keep things rolling.  Over the last two weeks the Broncos offense has looked like it has found a rhythm.  The running game has been the most impressive part of the offense so far in the last few games.  Early on I was concerned about the running game but Ronnie Hillman and Juwan Thompson have made some big plays in the running game over the last few weeks.  Hillman has shown great explosiveness to the hole and has shown the kind of burst that you like to see from running backs.  If the offensive line can create decent holes for him against the Chargers he could have some big gains on the ground.  I am looking for Hillman to have a major impact in the passing game this week.  It looks like each week he is getting more comfortable in this offense, and I think he will have a big impact in the passing game. 

Denver Broncos

I am looking for the Broncos passing game to have a big game as the Chargers will be without several key players in the secondary.  Cornerback Brandon Flowers has already been ruled out with a concussion, and rookie corner Jason Verrett is questionable as well.  If Verrett is unable to play in this one, the Chargers secondary could be in for a very long day.  When I watch chargers game Verrett already appears to be their top cover corner, and losing him would be a major blow to the Chargers.  Look for Peyton Manning to test the secondary early and often in this one.  One player who should continue his recent success is Demaryius Thomas.  Thomas has been on an absolute terror lately, and this should be an opportunity for him to continue his recent dominance. 

Prediction

These Thursday night games are very hard to predict as you really can never tell which team is going to come out ready to play.  It is also hard to gameplan when you only have three days to prepare for the upcoming game.  I think that these teams will both show up ready to play in this one, as I am sure they understand the significance in terms of the division standing.  In the end I think the injuries that the Chargers are facing on defense will be to much for them to overcome.  I expect Peyton Manning to have a big day against a weakened Chargers secondary.  However, I expect Philip Rivers and the Chargers to put up quite a fight in this one.  They are a very talented team and will be able to stay with the Broncos for most of the game.  In the end I think the Broncos having this game at home will be the biggest difference. 

Final Score- Broncos 34 Chargers 27

Week 2 Preview: Broncos vs. Chiefs

Week 2 Preview

It's time for football again, as week two is already here and the Broncos are getting ready to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.  The Chiefs will be looking for a win after a disappointing 26-10 loss in week one to the Tennessee Titans.  The Broncos will be looking for win number two, although they hope to have a good performance for the full 60 minutes this weekend.  The Broncos looked dominant for the 1st half in week one but struggled to close out their opponent.  I think the Broncos will look to score early and never look back.  They need to do a better job of playing for a full 60 minutes.

What to watch for

One thing that bears watching in this game will be how the Chiefs respond after losing two defensive starters during week one.  I think the loss of Derrick Johnson is going to be a crushing blow for the Chiefs.  He is the heart and soul of that defense, and one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL.  His loss leaves a huge hole in the middle of the Chiefs defense.  The Broncos should look to take advantage of the weakened Chiefs defense and run the ball early and often.  This game should be a great opportunity for the Broncos to get their run game on track.

Last week it appeared that the running game was struggling to get things moving, and I think a big reason for that was Montee Ball missing most of the preseason.  It just seemed like he was a step behind and it appeared he was not in sync with the offensive line.  Once they get more game action together he should get his timing down better and the running game should greatly improve.  People have been to quick to panic about the running game in week one but really it isn't anything to worry about.  I have heard some people saying that the Broncos made a bad decision in getting rid of Knowshon Moreno.  I will admit that he looked very good last week for the Dolphins but the notion that he is better than Montee Ball is just not right.  People forget that in the last six weeks of the season last year Montee Ball had the second best yards per carry in the NFL.  He is a far superior runner and as the season goes on we should see huge improvement from the ground game.

Players to watch

Earlier today I was going to focus on Wes Welker but it appears that he will not be playing this Sunday after the NFL council drug their feet on approving the new drug deal, which is ridiculous.  So on offense I think the player to watch this week will be Demaryius Thomas.  After struggling last week with three drops and only 48 yards receiving I think that DT will be in for a big week.  He has always had big games against the Chiefs and this week shouldn't be any different.  They have a pretty pedestrian secondary and after losing two starters I expect the Broncos to move the ball easily against the Chiefs defense.

Defensively, I will be watching to see how Chris Harris Jr. plays.  It appeared last week that he was back to full speed and he played well when he was in the game but it looked like his conditioning needed a lot of work as he was not on the field very often.  He is a huge player for this defense, and he is one of the most underrated cover corners in the NFL.  The Broncos will need him at full strength this season if they want to be successful.  It will also be interesting to watch Von Miller and see how he does this week and in the weeks that follow.  The recovery of these two players is essential to the success of the Broncos defense this season, and without them the Broncos defense could struggle just like they did last season.  Hopefully both of these players will continue to improve each and every week.  If they do I think that the Broncos defense could be one of the top units in the NFL.


Game Prediction

I think this game is going to be a bit of a blowout as long as the Broncos take it seriously and come out ready to play.  If they play like they did in the first half last week for the entire game they should be able to take down the Chiefs with no problem.  The chiefs offense has not looked good and the injuries and inexperience along their offensive line should mean Alex Smith is uncomfortable all night.  I look for the Broncos to bring pressure early and often to keep him off balance.  I would not be surprised if he ended the night with a turnover or two.  On the other side of the ball the Broncos offense should have no problem moving the ball against a Chiefs defense that is missing two starters.  Peyton Manning has had no problem with the Chiefs since joining the Broncos and tomorrow afternoon should be no different for him.  Expect the Broncos to score plenty of points, and win this one easily.

Final Score- Broncos 38, Chiefs 14