Rain is in the forecast in Cleveland today when the Browns host the Kansas City Chiefs. No inclement weather is forecasted at the rest of the outdoor Sunday venues and five games on today’s schedule are played in dome stadiums. On Monday night, the National Football League is offering up a pair of Monday Night Football contests that also find the home teams, Minnesota and Las Vegas, with domed stadiums.
The Denver Broncos opened this season with a rookie quarterback and Super Bowl odds in the triple figures. Now, after their win two weeks ago over the Cleveland Browns, the Broncos currently own one of the seven playoff spots in the American Football Conference. Their success is multiple pronged.
It begins with the solid coaching of Sean Payton, who won a Super Bowl and consistently had the New Orleans Saints among the NFL best during his nine seasons in the Big Easy. Payton mentored quarterback Drew Brees to a career that guarantees him a first ballot election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Now he has Bo Nix, and the signal caller who played five college seasons is showing the maturity of his age, 24, over what most rookie quarterbacks display. Nix has both avoided being sacked, he has been caught behind the line of scrimmage only 19 times, and a solid completion percentage while completing 17 touchdowns against only 8 interceptions. Only two teams have a better sack against number than Denver. The Buffalo Bills have protected Josh Allen for a league low 13 sacks and the Packers have protected their quarterbacks from being caught attempting to pass 16 times.
The Broncos success is also pinned to solid defensive play. In the entire league, only the Los Angeles Chargers have allowed fewer points than the 234 surrendered by Denver. The Chargers have limited opponents to 207 points.
So, an easy ride to the playoffs in Nix’s rookie season in the Mile High City?
Well, maybe not.
Mature or not, the pressure of winning down the stretch to secure a playoff berth in one's rookie season can be a daunting task. Today, they host the Indianapolis Colts, who come into play two games behind Denver for the final AFC Wild Card spot. That can be trouble for a team looking to extend an advantage to three games as opposed to their opponent needing a win to cut the deficit to one.
The final three games for Denver are against the Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs, all games that could be a challenge for the young Broncos particularly when taking into consideration the Chargers and Bengals games are on the road.
What that means is Denver really wants this game to enhance their Wild Card prospects, while Indianapolis needs this game to keep their legitimate playoff hopes alive. Need over want every time.
The Colts plus the points is one of the three money rated plays now posted on this site. As for the public, they don’t agree with our Indianapolis choice, and their favorite plays this week are first the Cincinnati Bengals (-5) over the Tennessee Titans. Their next two most-bet games are the Broncos (-4) over the Colts and Washington Commanders (-7½) over the New Orleans Saints.
All of our money rated plays are now posted on this site, and if a Bullet Play develops in the final hour leading up to the day’s first kickoff, it will be added to the list of recommendations by 9:45 a.m. Pacific Time.