Skidding Broncos face Arizona test
Things are spiralling in Denver. At least the Broncos won’t have to worry about the cold and the snow when they journey to Arizona for a Thursday night game.
The Broncos have dropped four straight after opening with two wins. Their defence is dead last against the run and 27th overall.
With the Cardinals going with rookie quarterback Josh Rosen, the temptation will be to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible in this prime-time, uh, thriller.
“Oh yeah, anytime you’re losing, everybody’s fighting for their lives and fighting for their job every week at every position, it doesn’t matter,” says veteran cornerback Chris Harris Jr.
“There’s always fingerpointing and you don’t want to have that. We don’t want to have that at all.
“We know everybody’s fighting for their lives. That’s the NFL, though. If you don’t have that in your mind every week, that you’ve got to go out here and play great, and if you don’t your job can be on the line, then you haven’t woken up to the NFL.”
Arizona (1-5) wasn’t awake for much of the early season and was the last team to win a game. Surprisingly for such a record, the Cardinals have 11 takeaways. Not surprisingly, they have 10 giveaways.
Denver is a 2½-point choice at Arizona.
Upset Special: Cardinals, 1916
NEW YORK GIANTS (+5½) AT ATLANTA, MONDAY NIGHT. Falcons can score, Giants can’t.
Best Bet: Falcons, 33-16
NEW ENGLAND (-3½) AT CHICAGO
Notice how Patriots’ opponents always seem to be injury-ravaged?
Patriots, 24-20
NEW ORLEANS (+2½) AT BALTIMORE Big-time offence faces big-time defence in classic matchup.
Saints, 23-18
CINCINNATI (+6) AT KANSAS CITY
Both sides come off lategame losses that are potentially damaging for long term.
Chiefs, 33-31
CAROLINA (+4½) AT PHILADELPHIA
Did Eagles turn around things in win over Giants on Oct. 11?
Eagles, 30-27
L.A. CHARGERS (-6½) VS. TENNESSEE, AT LONDON
Should be a better match at Wembley than last week’s rout. Chargers, 23-14
LOS ANGELES RAMS (-10) AT SAN FRANCISCO Someone will stop the Rams’ run to 16-0. Won’t be Niners.
Rams, 36-15
DALLAS (+1½) AT WASHINGTON Schizophrenic NFC East members; Redskins pretty good at home.
Redskins, 19-16
CLEVELAND (+3) AT TAMPA BAY
Two more unidentifiable teams.
Buccaneers, 24-23
MINNESOTA (-3) AT NEW YORK JETS Third game of Jets’ homestand, first tough opponent. Vikings, 32-27
BUFFALO (+7½) AT INDIANAPOLIS
Andrew Luck tips scales to Indy in matchup of very flawed clubs. Colts, 23-9
HOUSTON (+4½) AT JACKSONVILLE Texans have won three straight with grit. Jags struggling in every way. But ... Jaguars, 20-19
DETROIT (OFF) AT MIAMI Rested Lions are better no matter who QBs Dolphins. Lions, 27-17
2018 RECORD
Last Week: Against spread (78). Straight up (1-5)
Season Totals: Against spread (40-48-3). Straight up: (58-33-2)
Best Bet: 2-4 against spread, 5-1 straight up
Upset special: 4-2 against spread, 3-2-1 straight up