Hi all:
Broncos (-6?) @ Cowboys, 4 EST
Pick: Cowboys
The Broncos are going to lose this game straight up. Yep, I'm calling for an outright Dallas Cowboys victory. Denver has succumbed both to injuries and an offensive line that is not allowed to cheat anymore, setting it up for a Thanksgiving Day debacle.
If the Denver Broncos who opened the season by thrashing the New York Giants showed up today, then Denver would be the obvious pick. But losing WR Ed McCaffrey in that game changed the course of the season for Denver. The Broncos have been struggling on offense since, and in the eight following games they've scored three TDs or less five times. Three times they've been held to one TD. And whereas in the past Denver ran the ball well no matter who carried it, this year the Broncos are mustering only 3.8 yards per carry, which is 19th in the NFL. The league has finally cracked down on Denver's chop-blocking techniques, levying hefty fines. It could get worse against a Dallas defense that allows just 3.5 yards per carry, fifth in the league. And if the Broncos can't run, they will have trouble passing. Both QB Brian Griese and WR Rod Smith are banged up, and there aren't a lot of other options left anymore.
Let's take a look at what Denver's been doing lately. The Broncos lost to Washington straight up at home Sunday, after a 10-point win over San Diego. Before that was a rivalry loss in Oakland and a home win against New England gained only because of four INTs. Road losses at San Diego and Seattle preceded that victory, with an expected home win over Kansas City and a home loss to Baltimore before that. Denver really hasn't done anything well over its past eight games.
Meanwhile, take the Philadelphia games away from Dallas' results and you have a team playing hard and coming close. The Cowboys lost by a combined 76-21 in two games vs. the Eagles, mostly because of special teams mistakes and interceptions. But check out the other games -- a 20-13 loss at Atlanta (which just won in Green Bay), a 27-24 OT loss on the road vs. the Giants, two home wins over Arizona and Washington before that, and a hard-fought seven-point loss in Oakland. Even the first game, a 10-6 loss at home to Tampa Bay, was close. The only game besides the Philly blowouts in which Dallas looked bad was a 32-21 home loss to San Diego in the second week of the season.
Dallas has been right in it most games. Expect to see RB Emmitt Smith a lot as Dallas tries to ride him off into the sunset in one of his final appearances before a national audience. The line on this game is pretty high in favor of a 5-5 SU team that is struggling in recent weeks. The public has seen Denver on MNF in the opening game and against Oakland, two times when Denver didn't look bad. But hidden away are some ugly Denver outings. This line has already dropped below the magic number of seven, which can create a middle, after opening at -8 for Denver. I don't think the line will even matter, as Dallas wins straight up.
Good luck,
Mike
[This message has been edited by TheSportsPredictor (edited 11-22-2001).]
Broncos (-6?) @ Cowboys, 4 EST
Pick: Cowboys
The Broncos are going to lose this game straight up. Yep, I'm calling for an outright Dallas Cowboys victory. Denver has succumbed both to injuries and an offensive line that is not allowed to cheat anymore, setting it up for a Thanksgiving Day debacle.
If the Denver Broncos who opened the season by thrashing the New York Giants showed up today, then Denver would be the obvious pick. But losing WR Ed McCaffrey in that game changed the course of the season for Denver. The Broncos have been struggling on offense since, and in the eight following games they've scored three TDs or less five times. Three times they've been held to one TD. And whereas in the past Denver ran the ball well no matter who carried it, this year the Broncos are mustering only 3.8 yards per carry, which is 19th in the NFL. The league has finally cracked down on Denver's chop-blocking techniques, levying hefty fines. It could get worse against a Dallas defense that allows just 3.5 yards per carry, fifth in the league. And if the Broncos can't run, they will have trouble passing. Both QB Brian Griese and WR Rod Smith are banged up, and there aren't a lot of other options left anymore.
Let's take a look at what Denver's been doing lately. The Broncos lost to Washington straight up at home Sunday, after a 10-point win over San Diego. Before that was a rivalry loss in Oakland and a home win against New England gained only because of four INTs. Road losses at San Diego and Seattle preceded that victory, with an expected home win over Kansas City and a home loss to Baltimore before that. Denver really hasn't done anything well over its past eight games.
Meanwhile, take the Philadelphia games away from Dallas' results and you have a team playing hard and coming close. The Cowboys lost by a combined 76-21 in two games vs. the Eagles, mostly because of special teams mistakes and interceptions. But check out the other games -- a 20-13 loss at Atlanta (which just won in Green Bay), a 27-24 OT loss on the road vs. the Giants, two home wins over Arizona and Washington before that, and a hard-fought seven-point loss in Oakland. Even the first game, a 10-6 loss at home to Tampa Bay, was close. The only game besides the Philly blowouts in which Dallas looked bad was a 32-21 home loss to San Diego in the second week of the season.
Dallas has been right in it most games. Expect to see RB Emmitt Smith a lot as Dallas tries to ride him off into the sunset in one of his final appearances before a national audience. The line on this game is pretty high in favor of a 5-5 SU team that is struggling in recent weeks. The public has seen Denver on MNF in the opening game and against Oakland, two times when Denver didn't look bad. But hidden away are some ugly Denver outings. This line has already dropped below the magic number of seven, which can create a middle, after opening at -8 for Denver. I don't think the line will even matter, as Dallas wins straight up.
Good luck,
Mike
[This message has been edited by TheSportsPredictor (edited 11-22-2001).]
