Broncos Week 10 Preview: Denver at Cleveland

VS

Apologies for anyone keeping score or regularly visiting my blog.  Last week was a busy one, so I did not get to do a  preview or post-game on the Miami game.  They won, we lost…that about sums it up.  This week, on a Thursday, Denver will visit the Cleveland Browns.  This week’s preview will also be sort of an injury update and player moves all rolled into one, bonus!

Offense

At quarterback, Cleveland has chosen to start Brady Quinn over Anderson.  Quinn has a total of 8 attempts in the NFL, completing 3 of them.  While I think he certainly has the talent to be Cleveland’s future, I have to give the edge to Cutler in the comparison.  Cutler started off great but has been losing games for the Broncos (ok, at least in part) lately.  Despite that, Cutler should bounce back against a reeling Browns team this week.

At running back, Denver is hurting.  They may get Selvin Young back this week and they have Ryan Torrain but who knows what that will bring.  The Browns feature Jamal Lewis and a good offensive line, I will give them the edge as Denver has yet to roll out a consistent running game this year.

At wide receiver, I call it fairly even.  Braylon Edwards is just dangerous, and they have many other weapons.  Denver has Marshall, Royal and hopefully Scheffler back this week also.  The same goes for the offensive lines, they are very even in talent and give good pass protection when they need to.

Overall I call the offense, even with both teams.

Defense

I won’t even discuss this in depth.  Denver lost DJ Williams this week, making both defensive team captains unavailable for a few weeks (Champ being the other) and leaving an already weak defense even weaker.

Advantage Cleveland until the Broncos prove me wrong

Special Teams

Both teams are very even here with Dawson and Prater being reliable with kicking for their respective teams as well as Zastudil and Kern with punting.  Cleveland is pretty good in the return game, already taking one to the house this year and Denver is improving, but lacks the defense on special teams to win me over.

I give the special teams advantage to Cleveland but it is pretty close in reality

Prediction

I predicted a Denver loss in my preseason prediction and I am sticking with it.  Denver is very banged up this week and is madly shuffling their roster around to make up for it.  Cohesiveness is a key, as well as good defense and holding onto the ball when it comes to winning.  Denver has had none of that in the past 5 weeks.  The most embarrassing part for me is, we still lead the AFC West.  Denver will drop to 4 – 5 on the season and lose this game 20 – 38.