6 Bold Predictions for Denver Broncos Entering Week 6
After handing the Arizona Cardinals their first defeat of the season, the Broncos appear ready to go on a big run. This Sunday, they get the 1-4 New York Jets.
The Broncos and Jets are two teams going in completely different directions, and that will be on display on Sunday.
It's not a bold prediction to say the Broncos will beat the Jets, but how will they do it and just how bad could things get for New York?
Here are six bold predictions for Sunday's game, which kicks off at 1 p.m. ET.
Demaryius Thomas Duplicates Feat
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Well, maybe Demaryius Thomas won't set another Denver Broncos single-game receiving yardage record, but he should still be in line for a big game.
After a slow start to the season, Thomas responded following the team's bye week in a big way. He caught eight passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns. The 226 yards broke a 12-year record held by Shannon Sharpe.
The New York Jets rank No. 14 in the league against the pass, giving up 237.8 yards per game through the air. But Peyton Manning won't shy away from getting the ball to his favorite target.
"Congrats to @DemaryiusT on my breaking my single gm Bronco recieving record.Dinners now r always on you. Most important. Tm won. Love ya bro
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) October 5, 2014"
Manning recognized the fact that getting Thomas going against Arizona was huge for the rest of the team. Now that the two have put together a game like that, they'll look to carry the momentum throughout the rest of the season, starting with the Jets.
While Thomas won't see 226 yards again, 150 yards and at least one touchdown is not out of the question.
Von Miller Will Have Three Sacks
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The Denver Broncos defense is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with. A big reason for that has been the play of Von Miller, who has clearly returned to the player fans remember.
After missing most of last season due to a league-mandated suspension followed by a season-ending injury, Miller needed to bounce back in 2014. He has done that.
Miller has regularly put pressure on the quarterback, collecting 3.5 sacks on the season. But on Sunday, look for him to have a massive game.
"LB @Millerlite40 posted 1.5 sacks to increase career totals to 38.5 in 44 gms. That's the 2nd-best sacks per game avg (.875) in NFL history.
— Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) October 6, 2014"
Miller will be chasing New York quarterback Geno Smith all over the field. While Smith's mobility will allow him to avoid Miller on occasion, he will still fall victim to multiple sacks due to the relentless play of the Denver linebacker.
If Denver gets a big lead, look out. Miller will be able to do what he does best, and that will lead to him sacking Smith three times.
Denver Will Have a Big Day on the Ground
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It hasn't been determined exactly how long Montee Ball will be out with the groin injury he suffered in Week 5, but according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post, it will be at least a couple of weeks.
Strangely, the team was able to move the ball on the ground better once he went out. Getting his first real action of the season, Ronnie Hillman was able to run for 64 yards.
The team ran for a season-high 92 yards against Arizona, but it took them 28 carries to do so—a measly 3.3 yards per carry.
If there is one thing the Jets do well, it is stop the run. Coming into Week 6, the Jets rank No. 6 in the league against the run, giving up just 83 yards per game.
However, with Peyton Manning on the other side, you always have to worry about him throwing the ball against just about any coverage.
The Broncos will use this to gain big yardage on the ground out of the shotgun formation. Quick running backs Hillman and Juwan Thompson should be able to find holes to squeeze through, giving the Broncos their best day running the ball this season.
As a team, look for the Broncos to crack the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time this season.
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Denver Defense Creates Four Turnovers
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The Broncos have played very well on defense this season, but they have yet to put together a dominant performance.
Enter the New York Jets.
The Jets are a perfect opponent for the Broncos defense to assert themselves against, taking advantage of a team that averages just 15.8 points per game this season.
On top of that, Eric Decker and David Nelson, two of Geno Smith's weapons in the passing game, have been limited in practice, according to the team's official website.
On the season, Smith has a very low 69.3 quarterback rating and he has turned the ball over eight times. His troubles will only get worse on Sunday.
Denver will be able to neutralize the running game, forcing Smith to try to beat them through the air. If the Jets fall into a big hole on the scoreboard, that's when things could get really ugly for them.
After forcing a fumble on a sack and taking a big lead early on, the Broncos will force turnovers when a frustrated Smith starts forcing throws.
Chris Harris and the rookie Bradley Roby will both come up with interceptions in this game.
Isaiah Burse Breaks a Big Punt Return
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The Broncos obviously have an incredibly talented offense and a vastly improved defense. But they have yet to get a big play from their special teams.
That will change on Sunday.
Isaiah Burse was trusted to return punts, making the team as an undrafted rookie. He appears to be getting closer and closer to breaking open a big punt return.
"Isaiah Burse was the @PFF punt returner All Star of the week. #Broncos
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) October 6, 2014"
He started out shaky in the role, but that's to be expected from a rookie. With each game he looks better, and a huge return is in the making.
Burse has just 57 yards on 11 punt returns this season, with a long of 15 yards. Look for him to break a return for at least 30 yards against the hapless Jets.
Denver Wins by 35 Points or More
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The New York Jets are a team in turmoil and have lost four games in a row. Their slide will continue with the Broncos paying a visit.
The Broncos are just hitting their stride, and they'll come into MetLife Stadium riding a lot of momentum. This game has all the makings of a blowout.
The Jets offense has been inept, and their defense won't be able to stop Peyton Manning and his litany of weapons.
Currently, Odds Shark lists the Broncos as an 11-point favorite on the road. The Broncos could easily triple that margin.
Denver will go into New York and humble the Jets by a score of 44-7. This will leave head coach Rex Ryan more frustrated than perhaps he ever has been as the team's leader.
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