Super Bowl Betting

Betting on the Super Bowl is a lot like asking the hottest girl at high school out to the senior prom. There's a lot of risk but a lot of reward. One can minimize their risk by weighing the variables - I she expecting you to ask her out? Would you make a good couple? Does she even know you exist??? If the answer to all those is "no" then your risk is high and you should probably take your money off the table. BUT if your a smooth cat with game and she just got dumped by her douchebag boyfriend two days before the dance, then your odds suddenly just went up ten fold. The same risk/reward factors apply to this Sundays Super Bowl between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.

Though the books aren't closed, it's appearing that the point spread for the game will be 49ers at -4. So, for you rookies out there, this means that the 49ers are favored to win by 4 points. This seems right but as history tells us, anything can happen in the Super Bowl as the Giants have shaken up the sports books 2 of the past 3 years with their two upsets over the Patriots. Remember, this is the Super Bowl so technically, it's two best teams squaring off which means the games will be close and upsets tend to happen.

In my eyes, the 49ers have the edge. They have a top 5 defense and have looked pretty comfortable steamrolling teams in route to the big dance. The Ravens are hot and seem to be buying in the Ray Lewis retirement party but I think Colin Kaepernick is too quick and lethal for the aging Ravens defense to stop. It will be close but the our money is on the 49ers.

Matty A's betting tip of the day:

Bet $85 to win $50 on the 49ers on the money line; also bet $82.50 to win $75 on the Ravens at +4. It’s impossible to lose both bets, yet you can win both. For instance:

If San Francisco wins by 5 or more, you win $50 on the 49ers money-line bet, but lose $82.50 on the Ravens. Net loss of $32.50.

If Baltimore wins outright, you lose $87.50 on the 49ers money line, but win $75 on the Ravens with the point spread. Net loss $12.50.

But if the 49ers win by a field goal or less, you cash both tickets. Profit $125.

And if the 49ers win by exactly 4, you push on the Ravens and claim your $50 winning on the money line bet. Net profit of $50.

Worst case scenario, you lose $32.50 which is a only a few rounds of shots on a Friday night at your local watering hole BUT you can also put yourself in a position to win $125. So remember, you can dump $20 into that random "squares" game in order to watch a five year old girl predict the score at half time or you can use our bone fide, sure proof, back by advanced calculus strategy to win some real cheddar.

Running Buffaloes

There are few things in this world that get me really excited. Some of these things include finding $20 in an old jean pocket, icing your friend with a Strawberry Acai, Chipotle, beating my friends in Words With Friends and ultimately, seeing Buff players get nationally known for their talents and eventually getting drafted.

Today Alec Burks announced that he is going to be taking his talents, not to the new CU basketball/volleyball facilities, but to the NBA and will forfeit the last two years of his college career. It's sad to see Alec leave but I can never be mad at a person for accepting millions of dollars and taking a shot at stardom. Well actually, yes I can (see Montag, Heidi). I can't wait until draft night to see where he might land, though. As of right now, ESPN ranks Alec Burks as the #1 shooting guard in the draft - yes, even above Kemba Walker - and the 14th overall prospect. Generally speaking, that means there is 13 players that will go ahead of Burks in the draft and then factor in a few overrated Europeans and it looks like Burks may have a shot of landing with a solid team that is in need of a scoring 2 guard. So what team will be sitting in the 15-20 range and in need of a wing player?? Well by the way things are shaping up for the Nuggets (down 0-2 in the playoffs, with JR Smith saying he likely won't return next year...) they may be in prime position to draft Burks and keep him in Colorado. I won't get my hopes up but it's wishful thinking. Aside from some other former Buffs that got a shot at the NBA, I think Burks has the best shot at making a name for himself. His size is ideal for an NBA shootingguard (6'6) and he definitely has the athleticism. Aside from most shooting guards coming out of college, Burks' stregth is attacking the rim and not settling for jumpers. His game reminds me of Dwayne Wade in a sense that he fearlessly drive the lane and then counters it with a mid range jumper when the defense plays off him. This is exactly what NBA scouts look for when drafting because the last thing they want to do is draft a shoot first shooting guard who ends up being Rashad McCants.

Burks ripped it up this year and headlined the All-Big 12 team because he averaged 20.5 points, leading the Big 12 in scoring and breaking CU's single-season record for points scored. He also led the Buffs in assists and was second on the squad in rebounds, averaging 6.5 boards per game. I have went 3 1/2 years in college with losing sports teams and then on the last leg of my senior year, I get a gift from the sports gods who bless me with a good basketball team. Top flight players, big time dunks, beating ranked teams, etc. were all present in a season that was cut too short by the douche-bags who finalize the March Madness bracket. That aside, it was nice to see a team, well you know, actually play basketball and win some games for a school that was in much need of shot of life in the athletic department.

Anywho, best of luck to Burks and his career. It will be nice to see a Buffalo in the NBA outside of Chauncey. Man that's depressing to see only ONE Buff in the NBA...

Cory Higgins - Whether he was droppin' dimes at the Coors Event Center or picking up dimes at the Absinthe House, the dude always brought his "A" game. I had the pleasure of watching Higgins play for all four years because he was in my freshman class. I actually met him like the first week of school because we had some mutual friends (he went to Danville High with a few of my good friends) and I knew the guy was legit. Lets be honest here, Higgins could and should have been playing for a big time basketball program but it was his wiliness to start something new and build up CU's basketball program that brings out the true character in Higgins. His loyalty to CU paid huge dividends to the program as we soon collected some talented prospects in Burks, Roberson, Sharpe, etc. which eventually allowed us become a top tier basketball team team in the country. It's a shame that the Buffs got completely screwed out of the March Madness tournament because that would have been a fitting way to end his career. BUT none the less, Higgins will have his name forever placed in the Buffaloes record books and there still is a chance that the scoring two-guard may get some looks in the NBA. By the way, it doesn't hurt when your god-father is the greatest basketball player to ever grace this planet (Michael Jordan) and your dad is the GM for an NBA team (Rod Higgins)....

Levi Knutson - Leave it to Jeff Bzdelik to bury our teams best shooter on the bench for his first 3 years. Levi came through huge for the Buffaloes this year and took home the Sixth Man of the Year award which was well deserved considering that Levi helped secure the Buffs backcourt which was desperately hurting in the point guard position. Levi was a sniper from downtown and smart/gritty defender on the perimeter. This year, Levi was a lot like Vanilla Ice. He burst onto the scene out of nowhere, began dominating a black mans craft, and everyone was asking "where the hell has this guy been all along?" Like Vanilla Ice though, he was a one hit wonder, his career was short lived and he will never be heard from again. At least Levi doesn't have a real name like Robert Matthew Van Winkle. It should be a law that no one with a name like that can pick up a microphone and try to rap. Stick to country. Or yodeling.

Andre Roberson - This kid came out of nowhere. At 6'7 I thought he was a small forward but his wingspan and insane leaping ability turned him into one of the most productive rebounders and shot blockers in the Big 12 (set the freshman Colorado rebounding record). With Harris-Tunks being sidelined for the season, Roberson was our last line of defense against opposing big men. Whether it was his explosive weak-side blocks or his monster jams, the sky is the limit for the guy who was already turning heads during his first year. He isn't a stiff either. He hit a few three's and could handle the ball better than expected for power forward.




Shannon Sharpe - If Shannon spent as much time working on his jumper than he does on Twitter than the Buffs might have made March Madness without any controversy. With Nate Tomlinson playing like how you would expect and short, white, Australian to play, the Buffs point guard position was Sharpe's to take this year. Shannon played pretty well considering he was coming off a season ending injury last year but his inconsistent jump shot and lack of left handled dribbling cost him big time minutes. Like I said, Levi filled in very nicely at the point for a majority of the game so we could afford to have Shannon come in as only a defensive specialist but next year will be Shannon's time to step with the departure of Burks, Higgins, and Knutson. I am excited to see the potential of Sharpe because the sky is the limit with him. If he can develop a consistent outside shot than watch out because he can already do things like this:

Broncos Mock Draft 2011

It's been awhile since I last posted (over a year ago.... my bad) but a lot has changed (or hasn't changed) for the Broncos since the end of the 2009 season (do I put too many brackets into my sentences? Oh well, it's my blog so I'll do what I please). The Broncos still can't play defense and they still don't have the fatzo's upfront that are necessary to stopping the run or generating a consistent pass rush. So, another draft is on the rise and the Broncos are sitting pretty with the 2nd overall pick and a new defensive coach that picked multiple Pro Bowl defensive players over his eight year tenure with the Carolina Panthers. If the Silver Fox is as smart as I think he is (dominate the LOS and establish the running game) I believe that Fox should do as follows in the offseason:

First and foremost, trade Orton away for a 3rd and 4th round pick. Orton is a good (but not great) quarterback who can win you games if you surround him with a good defense and a consistent ground game. The Broncos don't have either of those and they are in a rebuilding state so the time to dump Orton is now since he is coming off of a very attractive season and there is good, playoff caliber teams who are in need of a reliable, veteran QB (49ers, Vikings, Cardinals, Seahawks, Bengals, etc.). Throw in the overall weak QB draft class this year (special shout out to all the sisters at every sorority at Stanford for enticing Andrew Luck to stay in school for another year), the unknown CBA rules, and Orton all the sudden becomes one of the hottest free agents on the market. For the purpose of simplicity, let's just say the 49ers trade for him since they have all the pieces to be a playoff team except for a QB and John Harbaugh isn't going to put his new reputation on the line by developing a crappy rookie QB.

Trade Jabar Gaffney to the Rams for their 4th round pick. The Rams wide receiving core is as bad as I have seen in awhile. That's what happens when your starters consist of guys like Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, and Laurent Robinson. With Josh McDaniels coming to St. Louis as the Offensive Coordinator, he will be implementing his pass heavy scheme. And you
don't have to know much about football to know that passing only works when you have someone there to catch the ball. So what better guy is there than Gaffney to come in, teach the system to the young guys and be a reliable pass catcher for a young and emerging Sam Bradford?? Match made in heaven if your the Rams and the Broncos don't need Gaffney anymore since were overloaded with talented wide outs like Lloyd, Royal, Thomas, and Decker.

Resign Champ Bailey. Champ still has it. Champ Bailey is like the Diane Lane of the NFL. Sure, he's getting old but he still looks as good as the hot, new, mid-20's players. Champ's new nickname might be "The Cougar." Even if Champ loses a step (which he hasn't shown yet) than he can pull a Ron Woodson and move to safety where he can be an OUTSTANDING ball hawking safety and finish his career as one the best players to roam the secondary in the history of the NFL.

"Yep. I still got it."

Resign Ryan Harris. I think Harris was a victim of McDaniels "Oh.... You were drafted by Mike Shanahan??? Than you suck and I need to replace you with a crappy old veteran that once played for the Patriots when I was coaching there" -ism. Harris struggled a bit last year but he was always hurt and coming off the IR. I think that going back to a zone-blocking scheme system and having him get fully healthy will allow Harris to return to his dominant 2008 form.

Sign DeAngelo Williams. I think this is a no brainer move by
the Broncos front office. Our running game is terrible, Know-sho Moreno isn't a very good tailback, and Carolina isn't going to resign Williams since they have Jonathan Stewart as their featured back and they can't afford to put money into another tailback when they have a ton of other needs to address. DeAngelo was drafted by John Fox and knows he'll come in and start over Knowshon because well, DeAngelo is a very good runner and Knowshon isn't. Plus, DeAngelo is coming off of an IR infested season where he only played in 5 games so his contract won't break the Broncos piggy bank. Not to mention DeAngelo just looks better in Orange anyways. It really brings out his eyes.

Sign Tom Zbikowski. Wait who??? That slow, white, back up free safety from the Ravens?? How many drugs did you take since you were gone for the past year, Matt? Okay, so this was a guy I was very high on when he was coming out but of course we weren't going to get him because McDaniels played the whole "I'm not going to draft anyone that Matt Allen wants" thing over the past two years so the crafty Ravens managed to steal another very talented defensive player. It's apparent that our safeties didn't have a very good year. Injuries, age, lack of support, etc. gave way to too many big plays and too many missed tackles. Although Dawkins injury played a big role in his lack of performance, I believe he might be on the decline of his career finally. With that, bring in a young free agent Zbikowski who is a Dawkins type leader and player (big hits, sure tackler) and who will be available since the Ravens have to re-sign fellow safety Dawan Landry. Zbikowski filled in for Ed Reed for the first 5 weeks of this season and did you notice that the Ravens defense didn't really fall off at all? Hum...Come to Denver big "Z" and be a rnext year in place of Renaldo Hill...

Okay, those are my immediate signing/re-signing as of right now. Onto the draft:

1. De'Quan Bowers - Defensive End - Clemson (1st round, 2nd Overall)

Rawr.

Assuming Carolina takes Nick Fairley with the first pick (which appears to be the case) than that leaves the Broncos with a no brainer pick in De'Quan Bowers. With the Broncos looking to move to a 4-3 defensive scheme, Bowers is a high impact 4-3 Defensive End that John Fox would love to have as a Julius Peppers type player. A lot of people are saying that the Broncos should draft Patrick Peterson here but with the re-signing of Champ Bailey, I think we need to go with a big, athletic lineman here. The Ravens, Steelers, and Colts were 3 of the top 4 defenses against the pass this year. They all have terrible corner backs but they all have great pass rushers that can apply pressure. It's the big boys that win you games in this league, not the shut down corners. As is why I would with Bowers over Peterson. Bowers was known for his run stuffing abilities for the first 3 years of his college career but this year he put it altogether and lead the nation in sacks. He is still a beast against the run but now he added a pass rushing weapon to his arsenal. Bowers has the athleticism and speed to be an edge rusher (4.7 Forty, Runningback/Punt Returner in High School) but also has the size to hold up against the run and be a bull rusher (6'4- 280 lbs). Bowers led the nation this year with 15.5 sacks and also ranked second nationally with 25 tackles for losses. Coupled with his rare athleticism for a man of the size, Bowers has the potential to be a dominant two-way player at the next level. He is already a very reliable tackler, having racked up an impressive 105 stops in his first two seasons as a collegian. Even if we stay in a 3-4 defense, Bowers can easily be a 3-4 OLB. The thought of Bowers and Dumervil pass rushing the QB for the next 10 years is already making Philip Rivers ice his vagina.

2. Stephen Paea - Defensive Tackle - Oregon State (2nd round, 36th overall)
When the news broke last week that Stephen Paea had to miss the Senior Bowl and probably the NFL combine due to an injury that isn't supposed to be major (he'll be back by the Oregan State Pro Day) I almost creamed my pants as if Katy Perry had just walked into the room. Paea is a Samoan Juggernaut who was shooting up draft boards because of his freakish athleticism and strength. When I first saw him I truly thought he was a middle linebacker but then he checked in at 310 pounds... The guy is just one of those workout warriors that was replacing his bottle of baby formula for protein shakes since the minute he got out of the womb. Don't believe me?? Check out his workout records:

Bench: 225 lbs (44 times)
Bench Max: 550 lbs
Squat: 650 lbs
Power Clean: 365 lbs
Arms: Do you have your tickets yet?

"What's fat?"

At 6'1 (typically a bit undersized) it's not like Paea is a tall, lean 310 lbs. He's a little bowling ball who is light on his feet (6 sacks in 2010) and can live in opponents backfield (10 tackles for loss last season). Basically, Paea is a steal at this pick. I thought that after the combine, Paea had the potential to be a top 10 pick but thanks to the injury gods, we can snag him in the early second. Ideal DT for a 4-3 system and he's a guy with an outstanding work ethic and high motor.

"What's ugly?"

3. Drake Nevis - Defensive Tackle - LSU (2nd round, 46th overall via Miami)

Tim: "See you in Denver. God Bless."

Drake: "Forshizzle."

Drake Nevis is probably my favorite player in this entire draft. Not only does he rock a mean set of dread locks (always a plus) but I think Nevis is a bit of a sleeper in this draft. If we can land him in the second than I think it's a great pick. Nevis is huge and has great feet. He always gets a good push and he never gives up on a play. Big, fast, nimble, light on his feet, and a good motor = a guy I want! Look at what Nevis did when they played Florida this year. He completely dominated Pouncey who's the top rated Center/Guard in this years draft. I'd love Nevis as a DT in a 4-3 or a DE in a 3-4.

4. Casey Matthews - Linebacker - Oregon (3rd round, 67th overall)

The Broncos need help on the front 7 and that includes not just defensive lineman but linebackers. I'm ecstatic about getting DJ WIlliams back to weakside linebakcer in a 4-3 scheme because that's where the guy EXCELS with a capital "X". I also like the potential of Joe Mays but Casey Matthews is a guy that comes from the most dominant line backing families of all time. His dad was a great NFL backer and we all know his brother, Clay, is one of the biggest beast in the NFL right now. Think of their family as the Mannings of linebackers. Although Casey doesn't have the size of his brother, Casey plays like him with his high intensity pace and his cat like instincts. Like Clay, Casey is late bloomer who I believe could end up being a real steal in the draft. He's athletic enough to play in the middle or outside and he's also a ferocious blitzer. Tack on his work ethic and awesome hair and this is definitely a player I want.



4. Nate Irving - Linebacker - NC State (3rd round, 76th overall via 49ers -Orton )

Once touted as a top prospect at inside linebacker, Irving’s stock
dropped after suffering major injuries in a car accident over a year ago. However, he returned for the 2010 season and showed no lingering effects of the accident. Irving is back to form, recording 89 tackles (21.5 of which were for a loss) and 7 sacks this past season. Nate is known for his tremendous instinct and athleticism, being a force in all aspects of the position. With proper coaching he can be special. Jon Fox loves athletic linebacker and knows how to get those most out of these talents (see Jon Beason). Irving is a born leader and someone a defense can be built around. He also delivers nasty hits.

4. DJ Williams - Tight End - Arkansas (4th round via 49ers - Orton)

Wait.... Don't we already have DJ Williams on our team?? What's going on here? Ironically, the Broncos could have two DJ Williams' on their roster next season. Does that mean both players could potentially have their first, middle, and last name on their jerseys?? I would draft this DJ Williams just so that scenario could play out. Aside from the cool naming drama that we might have, this DJ Williams was one of the most productive tight end last year. He's a big bodied guy who has outstanding hands and makes a lot of playes. Daniel Graham is getting old and Richard Quinn just sucks (as expected... another nice draft pick Josh McDaniels!) so bringing in Williams will help stretch this offense and give Tebow a nice safety valve to throw too.

5. Robert Sands - Safety - West Virginia (4th round via Rams - Gaffney)

Another guy with dreads so I already like the selection.

Side Note - don't think dreads increases a guys ability to be a stud after being drafted? What percentage of all the players that are drafted have dread locks? 5%?? 6%?? Okay, and now look around the NFL and name me how many ELITE players there are that have dreads.... At least like over 15% of elite players have dreads!!! I was watching the Pro Bowl today and it seems like half of the players on both sides had dread locks (Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson, Devin Hester, Dwayne Bowe, Darnell Dockett, Jerod Mayo, Brandon Meriweather, Asante Samuels, Devin McCourtey, Michael Griffin, etc. ). That's a shit ton of players!!! BTW, the only guy that the Broncos look last year that had dreads was my main man Syd'Quan Thompson and guess what... the dude turned out to be a stud! Another BTW, notice how Ryan Clady was the most dominant Left Tackle in the game before he cut his dreads off and now he isn't as good. Just saying...

Back to Sands, dread or no dreads, Sands checks in at 6'5 and 220 lbs which is more than NFL size. Not only is he big but he is very athletic and can play both safety positions. Sands recently said "I can cover receivers or tight ends. I consider myself a ballhawk." I didn't want to stretch for a safety but our safeties all have big question marks over their heads, so bringing in a prospect like Sands will really push the competition and give us a future starter since McBath get's hurt every other play.

6. Jalil Brown - Cornerback - Colorado (6th round)

Call me a homer but I would love to see Jalil Brown in a Broncos uniform. I have watched every game that Jalil has played in college and he is a very intriguing NFL prospect. He has very good size at 6' -200 lbs but he is also very fast and not afraid to tackle. Jalil started along side Jimmy Smith (who is projected as a last first round pick) and to be honest with you, Jalil never really looked much worse that Jimmy. They were both very good and considering the Buffs never had any form of pass rush, Jalil and Jimmy really held their own against wide receivers. With question marks surrounding Parrish Cox and Goodmans old age, I think it's a good pick to bring in a cornerback that has the size and work ethic (nice guy too) and he sported the Black and Gold college! Brown had a great week and game at the Senior Bowl so he might be gone at this pick but I'll stay optimistic.

Brown is also an Iron Buffalo winner, the Iron Buffalo award is presented to the Buff who worked the hardest and is most dedicated at each position. He was a great special teamer at CU, and can contribute right away as he develops.

7. Henry Hynoski - Fullback - Pitt (7th round)

One of the top fullback prospects with exceptional size (6'2 260 lbs). Coaches speak highly of his blocking and ability to run with the ball. Perfect for the power running game and play-action. Spencer Larsen took a lot of hits this year and wasn't really a factor doing anything else so I like Hynoski because he can run the ball a bit and add another dimension of our offense. Great short yardage back option as well. How about that goal line run package with Tebow, Hynoski, and LenDale White!

These are my initial thoughts as of right now. Definitely things will change from here to the draft. Who even knows if their will be football next year?? Okay I just got the chills and a gust of cold air just ran through my room... Gotta stay optimistic. Get it done Broncos!

Broncos Mock Draft 2011

k Draft

'Tis the Season

The Holiday season is in full swing but the Broncos season is winding down. It's time for the boys in blue to either hang up the stalkings or keep the menorah lit for a few more weeks because the most important question for them this week isn't which kind of Mercedes they will be giving their wives for Christmas, it's determining what kind of football team they are going to be in these final two weeks.

The Grinch showed up a little bit early and ruined Christmas for the Broncos when none-other than the Oakland Raiders slid down the chimney of Invesco Field and delivered a last second loss to the naughty Broncos. Yes, it was a pathetic display of execution and the Broncos ultimately gave away that game but I'm not really that mad. Disappointed? Sure. Mad? Not really. I didn't want the Broncos to get a free pass into the playoffs just because they (supposedly) had two easy victories due to the Raiders and Chiefs being the 2 of the last 3 teams the Broncos faced. I didn't want them to barely beat the Raiders, get steam rolled by the Eagles and then get a default win against the Chiefs. I want the Broncos to face some adversity and earn their way into the playoffs because if they can't hold onto the Wild Card than honestly, I would rather have them miss out of January football and get a better draft pick. Seriously, I'm not kidding. I'm in it to win it and I am not satisfied with just limping into the playoffs and getting steam rolled by the Colts because I have been through that many times with Mike Shanahan.

So, if the Broncos want to make the playoffs than they need to beat the Christmas-red hot and green jersey Eagles this week in Philadelphia. Not an easy task at hand but if the Broncos want to be known as one of the best than they must beat one of the best. The Eagles have proven to be one of the best December teams throughout the past 5 years and the Broncos have proven to be one of the worst December teams throughout the past 5 years so the odds are clearly against Denver. But like shown in last weeks game winning drive that was orchestrated by none-other than the 3rd string, all time NFL draft bust JaMarcus Russell, anything is possible on any given Sunday. If JaMarcus Russell can look like John Elway than the Broncos can look like a championship team for at least one week. Right?...

Players to Watch

Brian Dawkins

Who else? Every eyeball in Lincoln Financial Field will be affixed to Dawkins when he makes his first appearance in Philadelphia since leaving for Denver last off-season. Dawkins, of course, spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Eagles, going to seven Pro Bowls and helping lead his former team to five NFC Championship game appearances. Dawkins is also the Eagles' franchise leader in games played (183) and is tied for the franchise lead in interceptions (34). Fans will recall "Weapon X" for his physical style of play at the safety position, and he will likely be employed close to the line of scrimmage, in an attempt to stifle his former teammates. It is sure to be an emotional afternoon for Dawkins, his former teammates and the fans alike, but the bottom line is that both teams need Sunday's game and there won't be any lack of effort on the field.

It's also a game for Dawkins to show up his old team and show them the mistake they made for letting him go. I get what the Eagles front office was thinking. Well kinda. They didn't want to commit a lot of money into a guy that is 36 years old because frankly, 36 year old's are on the downside of their careers. Well, not according to Brian Dawkins who is having one of, if not the best season of his career. He already has a career high in tackles (100) and now he is putting together a year that mirrors some of his best Pro Bowl seasons. Not to mention all the other emotional intangibles and fan support that the Eagles are missing out of. In a season of giving, I just want to thank the Eagles front office for giving us Brian Dawkins. Merry Christmas.

Knowshon Moreno

Dawkins isn't the only former Eagle returning to Philadelphia of course. There's also Correll Buckhalter, who has run for 582 yards at a 5.2 yards-per-carry clip. But Buckhalter has been hampered by an ankle injury and Moreno has had to carry the load over the past few weeks. Moreno needs to guide this running game like Randolph was forced to guide Santa's Slay as in he needs to bounce back from his, dare I say, pathetic game against the 30 ranked rushing defense in the Raiders. Rushing for 2.2 yards per carry and accumulating a mere 3 yards of 12 carries after the first quarter just isn't going to cut it against a stout Eagles' run defense – 10th in the league – that allowed its first 100-yard rusher in 21 regular season games last week. Buckhalter looks like he will be healthy enough to play but if he can't stay healthy than Know-show Moreno needs deliver a present. Or maybe, McDaniels is feeling the Holiday spirit and finally unwraps his gift by using his best kept secret weapon in Peyton Hillis. But I think that is asking for too much this Christmas from McDaniels.

The Broncos Offensive Line

The whole Broncos offensive line has really played bad these past few weeks. Besides Ryan Clady, the rest of the lineman would all receive coal from me this year if I was Santa. Tyler Polumbus has been getting destroyed, Chris Kuper is clearly not what he was a year ago, Russ Hochstein is proving why he is a career backup and Casey Weigmann, well maybe those talks of retirement in the offseason should have been a little but more serious. Once a strong point for this ball club, the O-line needs to make a serious push (hehe) if the Broncos want to get back into the playoff race.

Key Matchups
Winston Justice and Jason Peters vs. Elvis Dumervil

The Eagles' offensive line has finally had time to play together on a consistent basis and the results are showing. Peters has played up to his All-Pro level despite being hampered by a knee injury and he headed to the playoffs for the first time in his career. After shutting down a 49ers pass rush that was coming off a four-sack game against the Arizona Cardinals, Peters now gets to take on the league's leader in sacks. The 5-11, 248-pound Dumervil fell to the fourth round of the 2006 Draft because of size concerns after a productive career at Louisville. He's proved his detractors wrong with 41.0 sacks in his four years, and the switch to linebacker has taken his game to an extra level. Dooms Day Dumervil needs to come up big in this game because if you give McNabb and wide out DeSean Jackson some time, they will make you pay. There is a reason why DeSean Jackson has already set an NFL record with eight 50+ yards touchdown plays.

Brandon Marshall vs. Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel

Brown and Samuel are both playing at a Pro Bowl level and they've combined for more interceptions (13) than any other duo of cornerbacks in the league. They're also the perfect foils for each other. Samuel is a gambler who breaks off coverages to read the quarterback and go for the big play. Brown is the fundamentally-sound, physical cornerback who rarely misses a tackle. Because Samuel and Brown don't switch sides of the field, they will both have their hands full this week with Marshall, who is second in the NFL with 93 receptions. Marshall is a physical marvel and beast in the open field. At 6-4, 240 pounds, he can run with any quick corner while bullying them down to the turf when the corner comes up to make a tackle. Marshall has finally put a complete season together this year and is looking to finish the year with another 100+ catch season. What better present to give yourself than to break Rod Smith's franchise mark in catches over 3 seasons and also lead the league with 3 straight 100+ catch seasons? Oh, not to mention adding a few more zero's onto your pay check in the offseason....

'Tis the season of giving right? Well give the Broncos fans a real Christmas gift and make the playoffs.

McDaniels > Shanahan

If Mike Shanahan is a good coach than Josh McDaniels is a great coach. At the tender age of 33, McDaniels gets it. He approaches the game from a "win or die" mentality and is all business when it comes to running this organization. He's smart, he's young, he's a dick, he's a hardass, he's the guy I want running my team. He doesn't have that charismatic charm that the media loved with Mikey but charisma doesn't win you football games. What wins you football games is by not being a dumbass and making the right moves in the offseason. You can see it with this Broncos team who is 3-0. But wasn't Shanahans team last year 3-0 at this point?? Yes, but they were a mediocre football team that was ready to (and did) fall apart in the upcoming weeks. This years Broncos team is build to last and they would have unquestionably crushed last years squad.

Josh McDaniels' press conference yesterday might have been the most impressive I have ever heard from a Broncos Coach. His comments really struck me, and to be honest, impressed the hell out of me.
First, McDaniels was asked how he would keep his team humble after starting 3-0...

"Just show them the film. Show them the film. We have got a 50-play cut-up we are going to watch during the squad meeting, and it is not all bows and ribbons. They see it. They saw it every week that we have played so far that, ‘Boy! If we had only done these five or six things better, it could have been an even better performance, and we could have won by a bigger margin.' When players see that, you don't have to convince them that they need to improve. They know that they have got to get better. The biggest thing that you can do is take the things that we didn't do well in the film and go out there on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and go out there and actually emphasize it and put a period in practice where we have to do this better. Yesterday, our field-goal protection was not very good. We are going to work on field-goal protection on Wednesday Thursday and Friday this week. They will learn how important that is and they are going to see how important it is when they see it"

That is exactly the answer I want to hear. Think about it, the Broncos started 3-0 last season but they proceeded to fall apart, finishing 5-8. If anyone should feel uncomfortable being 3-0, it is Denver Broncos fans. I looked back to some comments Mike Shanahan made after the Broncos beat the Saints last season to go to 3-0. Here is what Shanny said about Denver's defense who had just given up 32 points:

"I am not alarmed at all because if you get that kind of effort overall, good things are going to happen. We just have to get better on third downs. They were 8-14 on third downs, and they had a third down and 12 and a third down and 7 when it was 21-3 and that game was almost over. You just have to be on with your zone drops and you have to make a tackle here and there. It is something we can work on, especially with that type of effort. That was as hard as we have played in a long time."

Think about that for a second. His team had just given up 32 points, and he was not concerned because there was 'good effort'?? I'm sorry Mike Shanahan, I didn't know this was an elementary school gym class where if you just went out there and gave a small bit of effort you pass the class with an A+. I think that the sprinters in the Special Olympics give good effort too but that doesn't mean any of them can challenge Usain Bolt. I just don't get how you can have such a huge sense of satisfaction when your team only won because Mike Gramtica missed a game winning field goal. See the difference?

McDaniels' decision making goes wayyy beyond player personnel. Even thoguh he hasn't even been in the league very long, he know's what coaches to bring on board with him. Especially, defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Nolan has been a huge success and shows just how confident McDaniels is to bring in a former Head Coach. Another hire, one on the offensive side, can't be ignored either. McDaniels took a lot of heat for dismissing Jeremy Bates and bringing in former Panthers QB coach Mike McCoy. Sure, McDaniels call the plays on offense, but has anyone seen how the Panthers have looked on offense this season? Anyone notice how badly Jake Delhomme has played? The Panthers are missing McCoy, and the Broncos have him. Right now I would put this coaching staff up against any in the NFL.

Just to show how good this team really is, ask yourself who the worst player is on this 53 man roster. Go ahead, I'll give you a minute........ Do you need more time because honestly it's a tough call because every player is pretty good. This jsut shows how well coached and put together this footballteam is. Who are we going to draft? Because every position is pretty solid. All the picks will just be upgrades. This is nlike last years team where I could name tons of scrubs who didn't deserve to even be in the NFL. And Shanahan even started these talentless clowns. So with that, let's play a little game called "Where Are They now?" Here is a look at where the former starters on offense and defense are now:

2008 Broncos Defensive Starters:
Dre Bly: Backup cornerback for the 49ers.
Niko Koutouvides: Third string MLB for Tampa Bay
Nate Webster: Unemployed.
JamieWinborn: Unemployed.
Dewayne Robertson: Unempoyed.
Ebenezer Ekuban: Unemployed.
Tim Crowder: Unemployed.
John Engelberger: Unemployed.
Marlon McCree: Unemployed.
Calvin Lowry: Unemployed.
Nic Clemons: Unemployed.
Boss Bailey: Unemployed.
Louis Green: Unemployed.
Marquand Manuel: Back up safety for the Detroit Lions.

2008 Broncos Offensive Starters:
Tatum Bell: Unemployed. (well employed at the Arvada mall selling cell phones)
Ryan Torain: Unemployed.
Michael Pittman: Unemployed.
Selvin Young: Unemployed.
PJ Pope: Unemployed.
Anthony aldridge: Unemployed.

That's a whole lot of players who didn't even get to see training camp this year. Oh, and let's not forget to add one more person to that list.

Mike Shanahan: Unemployed.

Tracking the AFC West

(Sorry for the pixelated image. I suck at cropping pictures.)

Denver (2-0)

Oakland (1-1)
San Diego (1-1)
Kansas City (0-2)

Denver - Their defense has taken a complete 180 degree turn from last year. I wouldn't be surprised if they are a top 10 defense by the end of the year. Dumervil is currently leading the league in sacks (4 sacks today alone), Champ looks healthy, Dawkins doesn't show any signs pointing to the fact that he's 35 years old, Goodman is a huge upgrade from Dre Bly, Woodyard is suddenly a playmaker/difference maker and the D line can actually stuff the run. The offense has definitely taken a step back with Orton but the Broncos can still move the chains a bit. Buckhalter is solid, Moreno has the pop to make big plays and Hillis is always a nice insurance policy. Not sure what the deal is still with Marshall. He looks sluggish and he doesn't have much rhythm with Orton. Stokley seems to be the go-to-guy for this offense which is fine because Stokley is a reliable wide out but he isn't a play maker like Marshall. Marshall needs to step up because he is losing a ton of respect and money.

This is a well coached team all across the board - special teams, defense and yes, even offense. Orton just isn't Cutler, sorry guys but he made some nice throws today and he doesn't gamble. He's not afraid to throw the ball away in order to avoid the sack and I prefer this style over the Jay "I'm not settling for a field goal so I'll throw it across my body, on the move, and into triple coverage" Cutler anyday - especially when we already have the lead. Look at last week - the Broncos had the lead all game, Orton played smart, didn't make any risky throws, preserved the lead and the Broncos won. Meanwhile, the Bears had the lead going into the 4th quarter, Cutler threw risky passes and he throw a game losing pick on the final drive to lose the game. It's examples like this that make me side with McDaniels on why he didn't think Cutler was mentally capable of running his offense.

FYI, notice how Tony Dungy and Josh McDaniels are the two people who have never fully thought Cutler was a franchise QB and have doubted him. Then notice how Tony Dungy and Josh McDaniels have both coached, thrived, set all-time passing records, and won Super Bowls with the two best quarterbacks of our era in Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Just throwing that out there.....

Raiders - Defense is stellar now with the addition of Seymour. Funny how one player completely turns a D line from dog shit to good. McFadden looks 100% healthy and Cable is finally utilizing him like he should. I'm surprised to see DHB getting so much action already but I guess when Louis Murphy and Johnny Lee Higgins are your other wide receivers, than a unpolished DHB isn't a bad option. Once Schilens get back and those young wide outs get better acclimated with Russell than this could be a pretty decent offense. Unfortunately, Russell's accuracy is still shaky (7 for 24 today...) but with an improved O-line and some tall red zone targets (Miller, Schilens, DHB) this offense will put up some points to go along with a good defense. I think they need to pound the ball even more with Bush/Run DMC because it's not like they are playing from behind and need to pass the ball so much.

San Diego - Still the most talented team in the division. Rivers is the clear cut best QB in the division and he has consistently proven he can throw the ball whenever he wants (436 yards today against the Ravens. Wow.). Not to mention San Diego might have the best receiving core in the division right now. Vincent Jackson is becoming an elite wide out, Gates is Gates, Naanee has a lot of talent and it's showing it, Chambers doesn't need to be a playmaker - just a compliment, and Sproles is electric when he gets the ball in the open field (what a luxury it is to have Sproles waiting in the flats when no one else is open). The defense has a ton on injuries and I'm not sure Merriman will ever return to his old self but once the defense gets healthier than you know they have the talent to be very good. They're run defense is a bit spotty but when you have a QB that can score at will than a lot of teams won't be running too much. Oh, and LT still is a very good back. He had some good runs last week and he can keep his legs fresh all year with Sproles taking away some carries.

Kansas City - They D line is really improved. Tank Tyler is legit at nose tackle and he's getting a lot of penetration which is opening lanes for Dorsey, Jackson, and their line backers. Still a pretty raw defense but they play physically which will always force turnovers. Their offense is going to be sub par to bad all year. Cassel is nothing too special right now, Larry Johnson looks really good sometimes but he also looks really bad sometimes, Bowe takes plays off, they have no tight end and their other receivers are just average. They will finish last in this division and have a top 10 draft pick but it's not all bad because their going to be good in a few years and Haley knows what he is going. If I was a Chiefs fan I would be pretty worried about the fact that the Chiefs gave Cassel 63 million without him proving he's worth it yet. Dare I say that Brodie Croyle looked A LOT better last week in Baltimore than Cassel did this week at home?......