Predicting the Future: Broncos vs. Jets

A fan of the Baltimore Ravens hangs a Bronco doll during the game against the Denver Broncos. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

I can’t apologize for last week, I was within three points of my predictions (I just attributed the points to the wrong teams, that’s all– a simple typo (similar to the one that brought Wall Street to its knees a few months back)).

The entire game I couldn’t stand the fact that we were running the ball, yes a balanced offense is a good offense, but a team that rushes so poorly and passes the ball incredibly well should probably pass the ball. Then I looked at our stat line, we ran the ball 13 times total. Really? That was a painful 13, I would have guessed somewhere around 30, not 13.

Kyle Orton only passed 38 times himself, completing 23 (his smallest number of completions this season), he still managed to pass for 314 yards. The Denver Broncos‘ offensive line also him upright, as the Baltimore Ravens defense only sacked Orton once.

A turnover and ten penalties for 90-plus yards ultimately negated any type of run Denver could have made at the Ravens.

So in the words of Alicia Keys new beau, Swizz Beatz, “On to the next one…”

What do you think is going to happen when the 32nd ranked rushing offense meets the 4th ranked rushing defense?

Absolutely nothing, you’re correct.

When an opposing team is hoping that the New York Jets best defensive back Darrelle Revis is actually going to play, that’s a good thing. Speculation late in the week is that Revis (if able to play) will participate in a nickle type role and cover the Broncos slot receiver (likely Eddie Royal). Orton and the Four Horsemen should have little if any difficulty putting up number on the Jets 23rd ranked passing defense.

The Jekyll and Hyde rushing defense the Broncos are currently employing could be more Hyde than Jekyll (Hyde being a bad thing, not a Brian Dawkins thing). However, it should be noted that the Denver defense has had LaDainian Tomlinson‘s number in their last four match-ups. New York is coming to town with the number one rushing offense, in this season the Broncos have shut down a piping hot Chris Johnson and made a very cold Ray Rice look like he was… Well, Chris Johnson.

If the Jets are going to beat the Broncos they’ll do it on the ground and against Denver’s defense. Not via a steady defensive attack, Josh McDaniels offense has beaten Rex Ryan‘s defense six of the eight times they’ve faced each other. The Jets are also getting back to the point where they’re already talking Super Bowl (after taking out Brett Favre‘s Minnesota Vikings). So they’re due to have their brains bashed in with a big ol’ reality stick.

Knowshon Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos goes over linebacker Lofa Tatupu. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The X-factor in this entire thing is whether or not the Broncos will have the participation of Knowshon Moreno, in years past it didn’t matter who Denver put in at running back, but that era is over. According to Kyle it is likely that Moreno will play tomorrow.

As of Friday McDaniels hadn’t decided whether Ryan Harris or Zane Beadles would be starting at right tackle. Harris could have been a pro bowl tackle last season, but after his injury Denver never really played the same. It’s interesting that less than a year later the young man is being challenged by an even younger rookie. At left guard will be veteran Russ Hochstein most likely; though I feel more comfortable with Stanley Daniels, McDaniels must feel more comfortable having Hoschstein’s veteran leadership on the field.

This isn’t a must win game for Denver, but if they are able to come out of the Tennessee/Baltimore/New York trifecta with two wins instead of one, playoff chances will be increased tenfold.

It will be fun to see what the young guns in Denver’s secondary can do, I always love watching the upstarts for some reason and there will be plenty to see with Perrish Cox, David Bruton and Syd’Quan Thompson all likely to get significant time (if not starting). I am also looking forward to the possibility of seeing Cassius Vaughn on defense. The Jets have only given up one turnover in the first five games and are bordering on record setting if they stay stingy against the Broncos.

Broncos win 28-24.

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