The Broncos have lost linebacker Boss Bailey for the rest of the season due to knee surgery and CB Champ Bailey will miss the next 4-6 weeks.  Boss Bailey’s season finishes with 40 tackles and he will be replaced by Louis Green who has five tackles this season.  Champ Bailey has 28 tackles and a interception this season and he will be replaced by rookie CB Jack Williams who has 4 tackles.  The Broncos defense will suffer and even be worse without the Bailey brothers than it already is and that’s really something.

The Broncos have lost backup QB Patrick Ramsey for the rest of the season due to a serious elbow injury.  He completed 2 of 3 passes for 19 yards (84.0 QB Rating) this season.  The Broncos better hope that Jay Cutler stays healthy or their season will likely be over as Darrell Hackney is his backup right now.

This should be one of the best football games of the day as the Jaguars are now a desperate team at 2-3 and the Broncos are 4-1 and want to keep rolling along.  The Jaguars will get back to the basics in this game by running the football often against a Broncos’ defense that is allowing 134.0 yards rushing per game and 5.2 yards per carry.  Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew have both had so-so starts to the season but that should start to change today.  Also, don’t be surprised if David Garrard takes off out of the pocket often.  If the Jaguars O-Line gives Garrard time to throw the ball (13 sacks) then he should have some success against a Broncos’ D that is allowing 254.4 yards passing per game (105.4 QB Rating).

The Broncos will be without RB Selvin Young and TE Tony Scheffler who both have groin injuries but that shouldn’t stop the Broncos’ high flying offense.  The Broncos want to throw the ball to get the lead and then grind out a win on the ground.  The Broncos’ offensive line has only allowed 2 sacks this season so Jay Cutler should have some success throwing the ball as long as he’s careful when throwing the ball in CB Rashean Mathis’ direction.  Still, look for Cutler to spread the ball around to Brandon Stokley, Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal in the passing game.  Andre Hall and Michael Pittman will probably split carries for the Broncos against the Jaguars this week and they could have some success against a Jags’ defense that is allowing 106.8 yards rushing per game and 4.2 yards per carry.

PREDICTION:  JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 27, DENVER BRONCOS 24

The Broncos lucked out that the Bucs didn’t run the ball more as they averaged 6.3 yards per carry against them and rolled up 139 yards.  But in the end the defense did hold the Bucs to 13 points despite giving up 307 total yards.  Jay Cutler had a so-so game completing 22 of 34 passes for 227 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 interceptions.  Brandon Stokley was the leading receiver for the Broncos in this game as he caught 6 passes for 52 yards (8.7 avg) with a TD grab.  The Broncos rushed for 106 yards on 26 carries (4.1 ypc) but Michael Pittman led the team in rushing with only 39 yards (6.5 ypc).  The Broncos improved to 4-1 on the season as they sit atop the AFC West.

This should be a very interesting football game as both teams are 3-1 but the Bucs are a defensive team while the Broncos are a offense only team.  The Bucs will no doubt come out running the football against a soft Broncos’ run defense which is allowing 132.8 yards rushing per game and 5.0 yards per carry.  Earnest Graham (334 yards, 5.9 ypc, 2 TDs) and Warrick Dunn (197 yards rushing, 4.7 ypc, 1 TD) will likely both have a lot of action in this game due to the altitude of Denver.  Don’t think that the Bucs will focus on just running the football as opposing QBs have a 111.9 rating against the Broncos this season.

The Bucs defense is pretty tough against the pass as they have 8 interceptions and 11 sacks this season.  Look for the Broncos to keep the passing game short and let the WRs try to gain yards after the catch.  Jay Cutler has a lot of weapons to spread the ball around to in WRs Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal and Brandon Stokley.  TE Tony Scheffler also could be a thorn in the Bucs’ side tomorrow.  The Broncos would still like to get Selvin Young, Andre Hall and Michael Pittman some carries so the Bucs don’t load up against the pass.

PREDICTION:  TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 31, DENVER BRONCOS 30