By Nevada Sharpshooter
The 6-5 Broncos travel to New York to take on the 8-3 Jets. The Broncos struggled badly against a bad Oakland team last week in a 10-31 loss. Having to go without injured CB Champ Bailey the defense let the normally ineffective JaMarcus Russell connect on 10 of 11 pass attempts. Once the Raiders had the lead they just ground it out and wore out the Bronco defense. Offensively the Jay Cutler had a poor outing, failing for the first time all season to throw for a touchdown. The Jets on the otherhand were giant killers as they handed the Titans their first loss of the season. The Jets have been solid in all aspects of the game. While the attention has been on Favre, the Jet defense has been playing well all season. Add a good running attack to the mix led by Thomas Jones and you have a team that is looking to go far in the playoffs. The Jets are also riding a 5 game winning streak.
By Dr. Vegas
Here is a game between couple of near-.500 teams looking to break away from the pack. Miami is 3-4 straight up and 4-3 ATS. Denver is 4-3 straight up and 1-5-1 ATS.
The Dolphins have lost their road games by an average of 1 point per game, while the Broncos’ home average - despite a 3-1 home record - is a 0.3 points per game deficit. This is because their three home wins were by 1, 2, and 3 points respectively. Their one home loss was by 7 points, thus skewing the home margin of victory average. And despite their winning record, the Broncos have been outscored 195-173 on the year. The Dolphins are about even, having scored 145 and given up 146 points in 2008.
By Totals 4 U
Tampa Bay (3-1) tallied its third consecutive victory with a 30-21 win over the Packers last week at the Disney ride that is Raymond James Stadium, controlling the ball for 36:50 while forcing 4 turnovers and topping Green Bay 327 yards to 181. The Buccaneers’ line is young with only 6’3” 291 C Jeff Faine entering 2008 with more than a pair of NFL seasons under his belt but trap and pull extremely well, consistently keeping opponents off balance long enough for the running back duo of 5’9” 225 Ernest Graham (57 for 334 yards and 2 TD) and 5’9” 180 Warrick Dunn (42 for 97 and TD rushing, 10 for 82 receiving) to slip and slide for a ground attack that has averaged133.8 yards per game at a brisk 5.0 yard per carry clip. RG Davin Joseph has been battling through a foot injury but has practiced and his unit has given 6’3” 214 QB Brian Griese (71 of 128 for 716 yards, 4 TD, 6 INT) the time with just 4 sacks allowed through 4 games to get the ball down field to receivers 6’1” 205 Antonio Bryant (17 for 220 yards), 5’11” 210 Ike Hilliard (18 for 264 and 2 TD), and 6’4” 215 Michael Clayton (9 for 88) but his accuracy has been spotty at best so – especially with Galloway still sidelined with a foot injury – expect Offensive Coordinator Bill Muir to continue to rely on Tampa’s tight ends in the mid-range. When the running game is working, the trio of 6’4” 258 Alex Smith (9 for 98 and TD), 6’7” 260 Jeremy Stevens (5 for 61 and TD), and 6’5” 257 John Gilmore (4 for 53 and TD) create major match up problems in multiple tight end sets and are the guys you must focus on in the red zone.
By Mike Wynn Sports
This one sure has all the makings of a mile high shoot out. Denver Broncos have scored 80 points in their first two games this season with Jay Cutler looking like he’s ready to bust out and have a Tom Brady like season. New Orleans certainly can points on the board as well as the Saints have scored 24 points in each of their first 2 games of the season against two very respectable defenses in Tampa Bay and Washington. Broncos were certainly lucky to get the win Sunday as a blown whistle blew an obvious Denver fumble recovered by San Diego dead and gave Denver the ball back and they scored shortly after and scored on a ballsy two-point conversion for the win. New Orleans was not as lucky on the road as the Saints gave up two fourth quarter touchdowns in 2 29-24 loss in Washington. So let’s take a look at the match up Sunday and we’ll start with the visiting New Orleans Saints.
By Computer Sports
AFC West rivals get it on Sunday in the Mile High city. Denver is 1-0 after it’s 41-14 pasting of what once again appears to be a hapless Raider franchise. While the Chargers dropped a heartbreaker on the games last snap to what looks like a vastly improved Panther squad.
2008 NFL Sneak Peek – AFC West
By TD at Totals 4 You
Welcome to the eighth and final edition of your 8-week series taking an off-season look at each of the National Football League’s divisions. This week we chase the setting sun west and drop in one of the most lopsided groups where the bottom three were outscored by an average of 6.52 points per game in 2007. Can any of these crews stop the Bolts?