Week 1: Denver @ Cincinnati

[Nukleopatra]

I love the 9-6 prediction.

It's safe to say I'll be avoiding that game at all costs.

[Tailback U]

Are you saying Denver had one of the worst rushing games in the league? That's pretty far from the truth.

And Jesus Broncoblue learn how to multiquote.

Maybe not one of the worst run games, they averaged 116 a game which ranks them middle of the pack but they also only averaged 24 runs a game which ranks them 28th in the league.

Take it however you want it but I don't think anyone feared the Broncos running game when they came to town.

[BroncoBlue]

Man you guys are crazy both D's are going to give up a lot of points.

EDIT: Denver will only score a lot if Simms or Orton play.

[Tailback U]

Man you guys are crazy both D's are going to give up a lot of points.

EDIT: Denver will only score a lot if Simms or Orton play.

My prediction was a joke. I think this game will be a shootout with both teams passing around 40 times a game.

[Bear Pand]

Did you forget Denver lost its head coach and starting QB on a team that went .500 and played in the worst division in all of football last year?

The NFC West was worse. The Broncos were the Saints of the AFC last year and Cutler is overrated. A lot of things get exaggerated just cause of how retarded McDaniels has acted this offseason.

Last year
Orton: 18 TDs 12 INTs 59% comleetion 79.6 QB Rating 465 Att 2900 yards
Cutler 25 TDs 18 INts 62% completion 86 QB Rating 600 Att 4500 yards

Cutler is obv better but the drop off isn't nearly as big as people think it is. esp when you throw in the scheme that McDaniels is gonna run.

Plus [nukleopatra]Orton has a winning record over his career unlike Cutler[/nukleopatra]

Broncos defense is gonna be better, and their run game will be better. No reason they can't go 7-9 or 8-8 again.

[MVP1991]

I've got Denver winning this game.

[Chadman]

lol at the bengals hate. if our o line wasnt so shitty id be way more confident but i will be quiet for now.

[BroncoBlue]

Broncos are a 4.5 to 5 point under dog; if you are into sports betting get on this!

[BroncoBlue]

ESPN reporting Kyle Orton will get the start for Denver at QB and Knowshon Moreno probably won't play.

[BroncoBlue]

BroncoBlue's Week 1 Breakdown

Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals

Broncos Rushing D < Bengals Rushing O
-Both suspect even with new additions. I'm not sold on either, but Bengals have Cedric Benson who I think will do well this season. Denver has a new system and D coordinator that should run it well. Close but going with the Bengals having a slight edge in this one, not by much though.

Broncos Pass Rush > Bengals Pass Protection
-Cincy's O-line is still worthless and Denver looks to have a better pass rush then last year, which isn't saying a lot. Doesn't matter Bangles won't stop Dumerville (contract year) from getting to the QB.

Broncos Secondary > Bengals Passing Attack
-Both sides of the ball are littered with top notch talent here and if it wasn't for the crappy Bengals O-Line I would give it to them, but Denver's strength on D is their secondary with Bailey and Dawkins! Palmer is coming back from injury and Denver will force him into mistake with the pass rush.

Overall Broncos Defense > Overall Bengals Offense
-On paper Cincy should run away with this but this is the first game of the season, which IMO works against the Bangles. If this game was played in the middle of the season I'd probably be inclined to pick Cincy's O over Denver's D, but it's not. The Bengals are weak at a pivotal point, the O-line and like I said earlier Palmer's coming back from injury and was hampered by injury in the preseason, there will be rust! This is were the game will be won and Denver won't completely shut down Cincy's O, but it will make stops when it needs to and "Bend but not Break" more often then not.

Broncos Rushing O > Bengals Rush D
-To be honest I don't know much about the Bengals front seven other Rey Rey, but he's a rookie and it'll take a while for him to be a game changer, so I don't put much stock in him. The addition of Safety Roy Williams should if anything help our the Bengals here. However Denver has great offensive line, FB, and a stable of capable RB's. With a banged up QB look for the Broncos to be effective at running the ball early and often.

Broncos Pass Protection > Bengals Pass Rush
-I can't say enough about how good Denver's O-line is going to be this year, especially in pass protection. The Broncos only gave up a hand full of sacks last year and haven't lost anyone. The Bengals really have no star player in the pass rush so IMO Denver wins this battle with no contest. Wouldn't be surprised if the Broncos don't give a sack all day. This is the first major victory of this match up by either team.

Broncos Passing Attack = Bengals Secondary
-At first glance you would think the Broncos should run away with this, but if you look deeper you will see the Broncos have a banged up QB that makes poor decisions. And everyone knows the QB position is the most important on the field. Even with all those solid WR's Denver will struggle to throw the ball.

Broncos Offense = Bengals Defense
-Broncos won't be able to get a passing game going, so they will have to re-lie on the rushing attack. The Bengals won't be able to stop the Denver run but will limit big plays and force Denver to settle for field goals rather then touchdowns.

Final Prediction:
-Broncos will be able to capitalize on turnover that their defense will force the Bengals offense into. Broncos will struggle on offense early, but will find a rhythm in the running game. The Bengals will put up numbers between the 20's, but won't be able to limit mistakes in the red zone. The Bengals D like the Broncos will "bend but not break" for the most part, but won't be able to overcome mistakes made by the offense. Broncos steal a close one on the road.

Denver Broncos 23
Cincinnati Bengals 17

[Nukleopatra]

Ahh. Just hours away until I get to log in, and rub this shit in people's faces.

But it won't be Carson Palmer's fault.... It'll be Cincinnati's, of course.

[Goober]

Shit, 24 minutes to go. I'm getting excited.

Broncos 26
Bengals 16

[Goober]

Major fuck up by CBS. They listed Chris Kuper as the Bronco's starting RG. Kuper is inactive due to injury

Marshall with an early drop.

Bengal's DB was all over Stokley on the third down incompletion, even the announcer was complaining about the lack of penalty called.

[Saluki]

Palmer has looked pretty good, it's the broncos D but still.

[Goober]

Elvis Dumervil made a few nice plays in the run game. Good to see.

We didn't get any pressure on Palmer though. He had all day to find the open man, we're lucky we got that holding call to get off the field.