NFL Picks Week 13: Latest Odds, Predictions, Updates and More
By on November 29, 2011
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The NFL season is starting to wind down as teams are hitting their home stretch of games. Week 13 will see a lot of moving around in the race for division supremacy and in the battles for Wild Card spots.
For us fans, these games this late in the season become must-win games. A win will ease our minds as the regular season nears an end. With a win this week, it would further your favorite team's lead in a crucial division race. However, a win for a Wild Card team may continue their stranglehold on that No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the NFC or AFC Playoffs.
For some teams, losing may be the better option for them this week. Being 0-11 or 3-9 may not be ideal for some teams this late in the season. If they would win this week, it would be good for the fan base and team morale. However, a win moves them deeper down in the 2012 NFL Draft and away from the best prospects in the first round.
I'm not saying that a game this week is a must-lose, but being able to pick No. 2 or 3 in the draft is a lot better than picking at No. 10.
Take a look through some of our predictions, odds and updates to Week 13’s games. We will be telling you who to pick as winners, what the betting lines will be for certain games and which players will have the biggest fantasy impacts.
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That was close.
By Monday, fans of some of the best teams in the NFL will be breathing a lot easier after seeing some of the closer games involved their tried and true.
Just when you thought it was safe to put all your confidence in these powerhouses, hey will show how vulnerable they can be. The good news is that these teams will escape relatively unscathed. However, we will notice yet more kinks in their armor.
As the playoffs close in, it's important to get all the pratfalls out right now. We will have plenty to dissect as some of the best are put to the limit this weekend.
Green Bay Packers: With everyone's attention on Tim Tebow, it's become far too easy to forget about the Packers and the phenomenal season they are having.
They aren't perfect though. Consider their record a misnomer as the defense will at some point bite them in the rear. The Giants are in no position to pull off an upset.
Mentally, they are in a million pieces right now and the defense is just the thing to do them in this week. However, their offense is clicking despite their recent string of losses. Look for Eli Manning and company to stay within spitting distance, but that's about it.
New Orleans Saints: The Saints just finished wiping the floor with the Giants, but the Lions defense is not to be taken lightly.
They still have one of the best pass rushes in the league, even without Ndamukong Suh. This is going to be a closer game than the one we saw on Monday Night.
New York Jets: The Redskins will lose, of that I am certain. However, the Jets, specifically Mark Sanchez, has looked far too shaky lately.
This game has all the signs of a wake up call for Rex Ryan's boys as they head deeper in the race for a playoff spot.
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The following teams are ready to invade and conquer the city of their opposition. Winning on the road gets harder as the season goes on. However, certain matchups dictate that the task of being a victorious visiting team is not always a difficult one.
These three team will make it look fairly easy.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
The Ravens will roll into Cleveland fresh from extra rest. The Ravens have not played since Thanksgiving. And that is just the nail in the coffin for a Browns team that is not nearly as good as the Ravens to begin with.
The Ravens are third in rushing yards and fifth in passing yards allowed this year. Their defense has been as good as ever.
Meanwhile the Browns' offense has been abysmal.
Cleveland has only scored more than 13 points twice since Week 3. And both of those efforts came in losses. They are going to struggle to get any points in this one.
Meanwhile, Baltimore will have enough success on the ground against the Browns' 29th ranked rush defense to more than seal the deal.
Prediction: Ravens 20, Browns 9
Atlanta Falcons at Houston Texans
The Texans' QBs are dropping like flies. They now have to start rookie third-string QB TJ Yates against a solid Falcons' defense.
While all hope is not lost for the Texans, they don't stand a chance in this one.
The Texans will be able to rely on the NFL's third ranked rush offense. However, they will be facing a Falcons team that is second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed.
That is going to put way too much of the onus of moving the ball against the Falcons.
On the other side of the ball, the Texans will have their No. 1 ranked defense keeping the score respectable, but the Falcons balance offensive attack will be too much for them to keep down all game.
The Falcons have scored at least 23 in each of their past five games, and they will not need that many to win this one.
Prediction: Falcons 24, Texans 13
Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals
This game can only tentatively be called a road game for the Cowboys. There is likely to be as many Dallas fans at this game as there are Cardinals fans.
The real reason to pick the Cowboys in this game has nothing to do with the crowd though. It is because the Cardinals are nowhere near as good as the Cowboys.
Arizona has won three of their last four, but two of those wins are against the Rams and the other is against the disintegrating Eagles.
The Cardinals defense is getting shredded this year. They are 20th in rushing yards allowed and 25th in passing yards allowed.
Dallas' balanced offense will feast on this weak D. The Cowboys are 13th in rushing yards and seventh in passing yards. They will be able to dominate in both areas in this one.
Prediction: Cowboys 31, Cardinals 20
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Nothing will stop these bums from suiting up on Sunday.
The Colts may not be throwing games for Andrew Luck, but they might as well start trying. Nothing else is working for the biggest flop of the 2011 season.
They lead the list of teams that are looking at losses headed into a swath of enticing games for fans. I do have to hand it to the Colts. They were dealt a horrible hand in losing Peyton Manning, but they have tried to put their best out there every week.
Unfortunately for Colts fans, their best has never been as good as their opponents' best. And so the spiral continues downward.
Indianapolis Colts: Let's say that the Colts offense clicks on all cylinders. Let's get even crazier and say that their secondary is up to the task of defending the Patriots aerial attack.
I still like Tom Brady in a close game over anything the Colts have shown. Now consider that this game will be far from close and you see what I'm driving at.
The Patriots are locked in right now and just torched the Eagles secondary in their last game. The Colts have no hope, pretty much like every other week.
Kansas City Chiefs: So far, Tyler Palko looks to be the starter on Sunday. That right there should be enough to get the shovels out and bury the Chiefs against a tough Bears defense.
Even if Kyle Orton take the reigns at some point, he will be in a new system with a whole new set of players to get used to. The Bears defense has been far too hot not to expect disastrous returns.
New York Giants: Let's get mystical for a second. The Giants have the talent to upset the Packers, but they don't have the mental aspect.
I usually hate to go with intangibles, but Tom Coughlin's team looks lost. And you don't beat the best team in the league playing that way.
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Road teams in the NFL do not have the same disadvantages now, as they did in the past.
It’s why a team like the Green Bay Packers, who are seven point favorites against the New York Giants, will cover easily this week. The Packers are 11-0 on the season, have the best offense in the NFL and have a coaching staff that has this team prepared every week.
Against the Giants this week, the Packers will cruise to another victory. The Giants will exploit the Packers lack of a passing defense. However, because of the Packers ability to put points up from their own passing game, it will prove to be too much for the Giants to handle.
Because of the Giants lack of a pass rush, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have all day to find his receivers.
Green Bay wins this game 31 - 20 this week and moves onto 12-0 this year.
Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals
The Cowboys are on quite a roll, winning their last four games. In those four wins, the Cowboys offense has found a running game that escaped them in their first five games. Those five games, before DeMarco Murray saw an increase in his playing time, the Cowboys went 2-3.
Since Murray took over as the Cowboys primary running back, they are 5-1.
This week against the Cardinals the Cowboys are a four point favorite. This is a great line to take, as the Cardinals are giving up 123 rushing yards per game, while giving up 250 passing yards per game.
Dallas will cruise to their sixth win in their last seventh game this week.
San Diego Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Chargers have struggled this year. However, this is the perfect game for the Chargers to rebound after losing six straight games.
The Chargers need this game against a bad offense in Jacksonville. As a win makes them 5-7 and with a loss to Oakland they will be two games out of the AFC West division lead. They still have a game against Oakland left on their schedule, with their remaining games outside of their division.
San Diego is the more talented team this week. The Jaguars are a 3-8 this year and has the worst passing offense in the NFL.
The Chargers get a much needed victory this week, led by Phillip Rivers covering their three point spread.
These three teams not only have games where they are the more talented team. They also have games where they have an easy point spread that they will cover.
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When it comes to betting on football, the best course of action to bet on the team you expect to win, but there are times when the point spread is simply too good to be true. That would seem to be the case in several Week 13 games as many underdogs look to have a legitimate chance to cover.
At this point most of us probably believe that we have a firm grasp on most of the league's teams, but you never really know for sure what is going to happen from week to week. Here are three underdogs who I think will cover the spread this weekend despite losing the game outright.
Kansas City Chiefs (+7)
The Kansas City Chiefs have certainly fallen off since bouncing back from a miserable first month of the season, but they were quite impressive against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. The Chiefs couldn't do much of anything on offense with quarterback Tyler Palko, but their defense was stout and helped keep them in the game.
Kansas City will have a tough road game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but they aren't the same Bears they have been all season long. With quarterback Jay Cutler out injured, Caleb Hanie will be under center for the second consecutive week. Hanie has some moxie, but he is mistake prone. If the Chiefs can force some turnovers, then I think they will stay within seven points.
Arizona Cardinals (+4.5)
The Dallas Cowboys are certainly a far more talented team than the Arizona Cardinals, but talent doesn't have much to do with anything when it comes to the Cowboys. Dallas has been on a roll as of late, but it has narrowly defeated bottom feeders like the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins, so a road game against Arizona won't be easy.
Quarterback Kevin Kolb is expected to start for the Cards after missing a few games due to injury, so the offense should be much improved. Arizona may not be the flashiest team out there, but it has played close games against some top teams this season, including the Baltimore Ravens. Dallas will find a way to win, but it will be extremely close.
Detroit Lions (+9)
After decimating the New York Giants in a virtuoso offensive performance last week, the New Orleans Saints are huge favorites at home against the Detroit Lions in Week 13. It is important not to overreact to New Orleans' latest game, however. The last time the Saints dominated a team offensively, it was the Indianapolis Colts, and they lost the next game to the St. Louis Rams.
I'm not saying the same will happen against the Lions this week, but Detroit is great offensively in its own right. I most definitely think Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and co. can hang with the Saints in a shootout, so this should be a much closer game than anticipated.
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In most sports, fans often love rooting for the underdog. This Sunday, there are a few underdogs in the NFL that will put up a good fight, but others are walking into a battle they cannot win.
Seeing the little guy get the victory always lifts peoples spirits, but hopefully you aren't a fan of any the teams below because they're all headed for a blowout.
With that said, here are three underdogs have no shot to win in Week 13.
New York Giants +6.5
Coming off a short week after being demolished by the New Orleans Saints, the Giants have the difficult task of taking on the undefeated Green Bay Packers.
They have what it takes to win, but stopping Aaron Rodgers will be too hard, and the Giants will crumble. Eli Manning can pass on the Packers defense, but since New York struggled to keep Drew Brees from dominating, the Giants will be in a world of hurt on Sunday afternoon.
New York has lost three games in a row now, and it will soon become four because the Packers aren't going to be denied perfection.
Prediction: Packers 34, Giants 24
Cleveland Browns +6.5
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Playing the Baltimore Ravens is never easy, but at least the Browns will feel more comfortable since it's a home game.
However, Cleveland's offense is too putrid, and the stout Raven's defense will prevent the Browns from having any success at all. Colt McCoy can be a good NFL quarterback, but he needs more talent around him to help him thrive.
With a lackluster offense, the Browns will fail to compete with Baltimore on Sunday.
Prediction: Ravens 38, Browns 16
Arizona Cardinals +4.5
The Cardinals will host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and even though the last two weeks have been a struggle for the Cowboys, they will turn things around and easily cover the spread against the Cardinals.
Beanie Wells' standout performance last week gives Arizona hope, but since his 200 plus yard rushing effort was against the Carolina Panthers, one of the worst run defenses in the league, don't think too much of it.
Tony Romo and company will take care of business this Sunday, and they'll do so in impressive fashion, which will please those fans who have been very worried these last few weeks.
Prediction: Cowboys 30, Cardinals 17
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The early season point spree has subsided in the NFL and now it’s back to 50/50 on games exceeding the over/under. It’s back to a flip of the coin…in most cases. This week there are three games that jump off the page with spreads that are just too low not to play.
(Spreads courtesy of Covers.com)
Denver Broncos @ Minnesota Vikings O/U: 37.5
The Tebow’s don’t score a ton of points, but that’s because they take what the defense gives them. When you are getting over four yards a carry, you don’t need to throw the ball. This week they play a Vikings team ranked ninth against the run and 28th against the pass. The Vikes had to place two safeties on injured reserve this week, when the unit was already one of the worst in the league.
Take the over on Tebow completions, passing yards and TDs, and take the over against a Broncos defense that will likely be without star rookie linebacker Von Miller.
Key Trends:
Over is 5-1 in Vikings last 6 home games.
Over is 22-10 in Broncos last 32 games overall.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers O/U: 42.5
Their first matchup three weeks ago hit 41 total points, and that was without WR A.J Green and CB Leon Hall for half the game.
The Cincy pass defense isn’t the same without their star corner and their pass offense isn’t the same without the rookie sensation Green.
That means more points for the Steelers, and more for the Bengals in a game that will come down to a battle of the QBs.
Key Trends:
Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
Over is 8-1 in Bengals last 9 vs. AFC.
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T
When contemplating tonight’s Thursday Night Football matchup between the 4-7 Philadelphia Eagles and the 4-7 Seattle Seahawks remember this: east coast teams traveling to the west coast are 0-12 against the spread all-time.
So when you see the Seahawks +3…jump on it faster than the last discounted big screen T.V on Black Friday.
The Eagles are the most talented team in the NFL, but have absolutely no chemistry, no toughness and now a lame duck head coach that has been tuned out. Oh, did I mention that Mike Vick, Jeremy Maclin and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be out, with Nnamdi Asomugha and LeSean McCoy listed as questionable?
This team is incredibly beat up, both mentally and physically. The “dream team” was a disaster from the start and the white flag has been raised, as evident by their complete lack of effort in the second half against the Patriots last week.
I know it’s weird to back a Seahawks team that just lost to Washington, but quietly Tavaris Jackson (60-percent completion percentage) has become a competent QB that keeps his team in games.
Take the points with Seattle for no other reason than you don’t want a team on short rest, that has to travel all the way to the other side of the country, with two days of preparation for a game they know deep down is meaningless.
It’s happened to the much more mentally strong Jets and 49ers in the past two Thursday’s…and it’s going to happen again tonight.
Because of the lack of prep time for an underrated Seahawks that is quietly allowing 21 points a game (15th in the NFL), combined with all the injuries on offense for Philly…take the under on the 43.5 total points.
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The Oakland Raiders are surging right now and if not for the play of Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos they may have locked up the AFC West division already.
There are several teams with easy matchups this week that will give them important wins as the push for the NFL playoffs really gets going.
Let's look at three teams who are destined to win big in Week 13.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles may be finally out of the NFC playoff hunt but that is no excuse not to play well for the remainder of the season.
Against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, they have an opponent they should be able to beat with the talent they have.
The Seahawks only score 16.5 points per game, and are in the bottom quarter of the league in passing and rushing yards gained per game.
The Eagles will score a ton of points on the Seahawks this week, and running back LeSean McCoy will lead the way.
2. Dallas Cowboys
While the New York Giants are playing a tough schedule as they stumble down the NFC East standings, the Dallas Cowboys will play the Arizona Cardinals as they try to extend their division lead.
Tony Romo will dominate a Cardinals pass defense that allows about 250 passing yards per game. Wide receiver Laurent Robinson has become a dependable target for Romo in Miles Austin's absence due to injury, and rookie running back DeMarco Murray has been a great player this season.
Arizona allows 23.5 points per game this season but that will get worse on Sunday.
3. Oakland Raiders
Since starting out 0-7 the Miami Dolphins have won three of their last four games, but they will lose to a talented Oakland Raiders offense on Sunday.
Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer is improving with each game since making his season debut a few weeks ago, and has mistakes and turnovers have lessened during that time.
Palmer will not find it hard to play well against a Dolphins defense that allows just under 250 passing yards per game.
Last week the Dolphins really struggled to score points against the Cowboys, and the Raiders will give them even more trouble with their toughness on the defensive line and speed in the secondary.
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Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL. When a team is getting solid production from the position, its chances of victory improve markedly. Here are three teams that will follow their QBs to double-digits wins in Week 13.
Tom Brady – New England Patriots
Brady is having a terrific season, what else is new. He's completed nearly two-thirds of his passes and is averaging 330 yards per game. Surprisingly, his yards-per-attempt ratio is on track to set a new personal best at 8.6.
He shouldn't meet much resistance from the Indianapolis Colts, who are still looking for their first win of the season. The team also fired defensive coordinator Larry Coyer, so there's a transition underway as well. It all adds up to a monster game for Brady.
Prediction: Patriots by 31
Tony Romo – Dallas Cowboys
For as much flack as Romo takes in the media, he's been remarkably consistent throughout his career. He's never posted a seasonal QB rating below 91. That's more than enough to win football games if he gets support from teammates, especially on defense.
After doing just enough to get past the Dolphins last week, look for him to get back on track against Arizona on Sunday. The Cardinals rank in the bottom third against the pass, so as long as Romo can avoid their formidable pass rush, he'll put up big numbers.
Prediction: Cowboys by 13
Tim Tebow – Denver Broncos
It's impossible to know what to make of Tebow. He's led Denver to five wins in his six starts and, although the games are usually grind-it-out affairs, one way or another always seems to give his team a chance in the fourth quarter.
Will it last? I'm not convinced it will, but against a weak Minnesota team with the Broncos playoff hopes hanging in the balance once again, Tebow needs to come up with another big performance. Look for Tebow Mania to continue, at least for one more week.
Prediction: Broncos by 10
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A week doesn't go by in the NFL without a few underdogs picking up victories. Whether it be due to average teams playing above their talent level, a poor performance by the favorite or just a couple lucky bounces, upsets are bound to happen. Here are three teams that will defy the spread in Week 13.
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have won three straight games and control their own destiny in the AFC West. Carson Palmer is starting to settle in nicely after being thrust off his couch and into action, which bodes well for Oakland's chances against a manageable schedule.
A trip east for an early start is one of the main reasons the Raiders are underdogs against Miami on Sunday. Granted, the Dolphins have played better lately, but Oakland desperately needs to keep its winning streak alive so they can stay ahead of Tim Tebow and Co. from Denver.
Prediction: Raiders by six
Carolina Panthers
Carolina sits at 3-8, but they continue to play with impressive intensity every single week. Most of that is because Cam Newton has rejuvenated the franchise and given it hope for the future. Something that couldn't be said near the end of last season.
The Panthers finish a three-game road trip against Tampa Bay. Whereas the Panthers are happy with the progress they've made despite a bad record, the Buccaneers are disappointed that a tough schedule has derailed their playoff hopes.
The two teams clearly have different outlooks, so lean toward the positive one.
Prediction: Panthers by three
Tennessee Titans
A key victory against Tampa Bay has kept Tennessee alive in the playoff race for another week, but the Titans face another virtual must-win situation at Buffalo on Sunday. The Bills have fallen apart after one of the league's hottest starts.
Chris Johnson has finally shown signs of life in recent weeks and should have a field day against Buffalo's failing defense. The Bills have suffered too many significant injuries to be able to keep pace with a Tennessee team with postseason ambitions.
Prediction: Titans by 10
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The NFL season is entering its home stretch, which means teams are running out of time to make an impact. When picking games at this point, it's usually a good idea to consider the motivation level of both teams. Here are three teams that will use that motivation to easily cover the spread.
Atlanta Falcons (-1.5)
After a rocky start to the season, the Falcons are starting to find a nice rhythm. They've won five of their last six games, with the only loss coming against the Saints. With four teams battling for two wild card spots, Atlanta must keep winning and have a schedule that should allow them to do just that.
Sunday's game against Houston is a tricky game. T.J. Yates will starting for the Texans, which is a huge advantage for Atlanta. But, since their defense is strong, Matt Ryan will still need to bring his 'A' game for the Falcons to succeed. If they fancy themselves playoff contenders, it's a game they need to win.
Prediction: Falcons by eight
Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5)
To put it plainly, things haven't gone according to plan in Philadelphia. Michael Vick wasn't able to replicate his success from last season and has constantly battled injuries. And the defense, which made some key additions, hasn't lived up to the hype.
That said, the Eagles should have more than enough ability to beat Seattle. The Seahawks are coming off a loss to the lowly Washington Redskins and lack significant contributors on offense. It won't be a pretty game by any means, but Philadelphia will show glimpses of what could have been.
Prediction: Eagles by 10
Dallas Cowboys (-4.5)
Dallas is riding a four-game winning streak and might finally be living up to Jerry Jones' sky-high expectations. If it weren't for Aaron Rodgers' greatness, the unfairly criticized Tony Romo would be getting some serious MVP consideration.
The Cowboys can't afford to slip up against Arizona on Sunday because the Giants are only one-game back in the NFC East and the teams still have to play twice. New York's schedule is tougher, so if Dallas takes care of business (and it should), they should be playoff bound.
Prediction: Cowboys by 13
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If you're alive in Week 13 of a survivor pool than you must almost be out of options.
There must also not be a ton of competition left.
This week has some intriguing matchups as well as some traps to avoid.
Here are those trap games you must be mindful of.
Packers over Giants
Going undefeated is extremely difficult. If you watched the Giants on Monday Night Football you could easily assume they'll roll over once again at even the mention of Aaron Rodgers' name.
But New York has been in this position before and has the quarterback to make it happen. The Giants defense might not want to win, but Eli Manning sure does.
Don't go near this game for fear of something insane happening. Heck, we saw the Giants already do it on the biggest stage possible and they were also the team to knock off the 13-0, and eventual Super Bowl champion Broncos, in 1998.
Big Blue has done this before.
Raiders over Dolphins
Oakland is 7-4, but it still a huge question mark. The Dolphins have problems of their own.
This game is too risky to put your survivor pool chances on the line.
Matt Moore has surprised us for most of the season and the Dolphins are a top 10 run defense.
Cowboys over Cardinals
Dallas has been in this position before and blown it.
The Cardinals are a strange team, but the Cowboys are even stranger. Don't be fooled by their current winning streak and don't be shocked if the Cardinals put a fight.
Never trust Tony Romo with anything.
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One of the most dangerous teams in sports is a desperate one that has to win just to stay alive and as we head into Week 13…there are plenty of them.
The time is now to rip off a five game winning streak with an early January vacation being the alternative. Here are two teams in must-win situations that will still have a pulse come Monday morning:
New York Jets @ Washington Redskins
The ‘Skins pulled off a small miracle in their comeback win at Seattle, but there are way too many issues with this team to think they can handle a Jets team that might have to win out in order to surpass the Bengals for the final wild card spot in the AFC.
The pass defense is going to give Rex Grossman fits and you have to expect at least two interceptions out of the seventh ranked unit, especially with that Washington receiving core.
Mark Sanchez may be horrific moving the chains, but he has been very effective around the redzone and his 18 TD passes are ninth in the NFL, ahead of Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger. His chemistry with Plaxico Burress is getting better by the week and the duo is becoming one of the best
goal line combinations in the league.
Add it up and it’s enough against a Redskins team just playing for pride at this point.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Chicago Bears
This is a must win for the Bears because they are likely playing Tyler Palko. The guy has six interceptions in two games and has shown no flashes of any sort of progress. He threw two picks against the Steelers on Sunday that were directly at a Pittsburgh defender. It was a complete disaster.
QB Caleb Hanie certainly isn’t as bad, and the Bears need to take care of business with a trip to Denver against the Broncos looming and a date with the Packers still on the slate.
With the Falcons looking like a Wild Card lock; they need this to keep up with the Lions. Behind a decent performance by Hanie and a monster game by RB Matt Forte against a Chiefs team with the 26th worst run defense, the Bears set themselves up nicely for the final quarter of the season.
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Everyone is waiting for this incredible run of the Denver Broncos to come to a screeching halt as Tim Tebow returns back to the planet earth.
Hate to break the news to you but it’s not happening on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Broncos have won five of Tebow’s first six starts in 2011 with a running game that has gone from middle of the road to No. 1 in the NFL, averaging just under 160 yards per game. A ton of the credit goes to Willis McGahee (775 yards, three TDs), but you can’t deny the impact Tebow (455 yards rushing and three TDs) has had. With the option now in full swing, teams have to wait that extra second to determine if the running back or Tebow has the ball. That allows the ball carrier to penetrate the second tier of a defense almost every time.
That’s why the Broncos have, and will continue to succeed against the hapless Vikings. A 2-9 team that has only beaten Arizona and Carolina, they look to be throwing in the towel on a disappointing season.
As long as the Broncos vastly improved O-Line can contain Jared Allen (not an easy task), the Vikings pass rush will be a complete non-factor. As he showed last week, when Tebow has time in the pocket to set his feet, he is a capable passer.
The Vikings 30th ranked pass offense (179 YPG) is going to really struggle against a suddenly ferocious Broncos defense. Rookie QB Christian Ponder (1141 yards, six TDs, six INTs) is starting to hit the wall now that the league has tape on him. He is going to really struggle getting comfortable in the pocket with linebacker and fellow rookie Von Miller lurking in the backfield. Miller has teamed up with Elvis Dumervil to create the best pass rushing duo in the league over the last month.
Miller has 10.5 sacks this season and Dumervil, has registered 4.5 sacks in the last four games. You may be able to block one, but the Vikings fragile offensive line certainly can’t handle both.
Expect the Broncos to grab a lead early and run the ball down the Vikings throats as they wear down the defense, control the clock and take the Metreodome crowd out of it early.
Tebow Time is a full blown phenomenon after this one.
Prediction: Broncos 23 Vikings 13
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