5 Bold Predictions for Denver Broncos' Week 14 Matchup vs. Bills

Coming off a definitive victory on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos (9-3) are back in the Mile High city this week for a showdown with the 7-5 Buffalo Bills. 

The Bills have played very impressively this season, especially on the defensive side of the ball, yet they currently stand as only the eighth-best team in a very competitive AFC. 

If Buffalo wants to see postseason action, it can likely afford only one more loss. This week will be a grueling test for the overachieving Bills. Denver has not lost at home this season, and the rowdy Denver fanbase and thin air from the high altitude make for an especially unfriendly host environment. 

But no NFL game ever goes as planned. Here are five bold predictions for what could take place in Sunday's showdown.

Peyton Manning Throws Five Touchdown Passes

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

This has been a year of crazy quarterback performances. Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger had back-to-back weeks tossing six touchdown passes. Last week, Houston Texans passer Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for six scores as well. 

Predicting six touchdown passes for Manning is a bit too lofty, so I'll make the bold call that he throws five. 

Buffalo defends against both the run and the pass very well (seventh- and fourth-best in the league, respectively), yet I think Manning will try to take advantage of his myriad of options to run up the score quickly. 

Buffalo is a far better defensive team than they are an offensive one, so the best strategy to victory is to pressure the offense and put them in a hole. 

Kyle Orton Throws Three Interceptions

Associated Press

I am definitely a Kyle Orton fan and believer, but I don't think this Sunday will be his day.

As I mentioned in the previous slide, the Denver offense will put up early points, forcing Orton to play from behind. 

While Orton will have some success passing on Denver, he will ultimately make more mistakes than good decisions. These mistakes will result in three interceptions while trying to force the ball deep and keep up with the high-octane Denver offense. 

The Broncos Won't Be Able to Run the Ball

Ed Zurga/Associated Press

Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson, who started the season as the third-string back, looked like a freak of nature last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. He carried the ball 32 times for 168 rushing yards, breaking tackles left and right in the process. 

Naturally, the excitement about Anderson is high in Denver, and rightfully so. Denver running backs have been dropping like flies this season, and the fact that the team can find this stellar production from a former third-string back is spectacular. 

This week, however, I think Denver will realize early on that running the ball isn't the answer to victory against the Buffalo Bills.

The Chiefs are a team you beat by controlling the ball and running down the clock, but you beat the Bills by running up the score. Denver will go pass-heavy this week, giving Anderson no more than 20 carries. He'll finish with average numbers.

Dan Carpenter Will Kick Five Field Goals

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Buffalo Bills kicker Dan Carpenter will certainly earn his paycheck this weekend. I'm predicting that Carpenter will kick five field goals. 

Carpenter has been one of the highest-scoring kickers this season and has successfully converted a league-high 27 field goals. Not only does he have a great leg, but Buffalo has an offense that's good enough to get into field-goal range yet not good enough to score touchdowns consistently. This will lead to a lot of pay dirt for Carpenter. 

As is common knowledge, balls travel farther in Denver's thin air, so Buffalo will not hesitate to give Carpenter some long field-goal tries in an effort to put some points on the board. 

The Denver Broncos Win 41-22

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

As for my score prediction, I am saying Denver wins definitively by a final score of 41-22. 

The Broncos will supplement five Peyton Manning touchdown passes with two Connor Barth field goals, while the Buffalo Bills will find the end zone once in addition to kicking five goals. 

The Bills are a great team and have vastly improved this season, but they do not have the talent to beat the Broncos in Denver. If this game were in Buffalo, the score and outcome could be much different. Unfortunately for the Bills, they are walking into a tough matchup. 

All stats courtesy of NFL.com.