This game could get ugly quickly for the Raiders who have only scored 50 points in their last six games!  The Broncos pounded the Raiders 41-14 and they always try to run it up on them as Mike Shanahan hates Al Davis.  The Raiders will likely keep the ball on the ground against a Broncos’ defense that is allowing 143.1 yards rushing per game and 4.5 ypc.  The Raiders will then attack the Broncos will play action deep passing with JaMarcus Russell throwing the ball against a Broncos’ defense allowing 243.5 yards passing per game and opposing QBs have a 100.1 QB Rating against Denver.

The Denver Broncos will likely try to jump the Raiders in the passing game with Jay Cutler tossing the football to Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal.  Brandon Stokley and Tony Scheffler will give the safeties of the Raiders all kinds of problems in this football game.  Peyton Hillis, P.J. Pope and Tatum Bell should all have decent games against a Raiders’ defense allowing 164.5 yards rushing per game and 4.8 ypc.

PREDICTION:  DENVER BRONCOS 45, OAKLAND RAIDERS 17

Jay Cutler is having another solid season for the Broncos in 2008.  He has played in 9 games this season for the Broncos and he has completed 211 of 342 passes (61.7%) for 2,616 yards with 18 TD passes and 11 interceptions (89.5 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 29 times for 115 yards (4.0 ypc) this season.  The Broncos will have to depend on the strength of Cutler’s arm if they are to win the AFC West as the defense is terrible and the Broncos are running out of healthy running backs.

The Broncos (5-4) and Falcons (6-3) are both having good seasons and this is a huge game for both of them.  The Broncos will likely come out throwing the ball this week seeing how they will be starting rookie fullback Peyton Hillis at tailback.  Jay Cutler should have success throwing the ball against the Falcons as they allow 228.4 yards passing per game.  The Broncos’ O-Line has been terrific this season allowing only 7 sacks but DE John Abraham (11 sacks) will have his sites on Jay Cutler all game long.  If Cutler has time to throw the ball Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal and TE Tony Scheffler could all be in line for big games.

The Falcons will come out doing what they are best at and that’s running the ball against a Broncos’ defense that is allowing 146.3 yards rushing per game and 5.1 yards per carry.  The Broncos don’t have the linebackers to deal with Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood.  If the Broncos sneak up to stop the run, look for rookie QB Matt Ryan to go over the top to Roddy White and Michael Jenkins against the Broncos who are allowing 242.8 yards passing per game.  Opposing QBs have a stunning 103.2 QB Rating against the Broncos this season.

PREDICTION:  ATLANTA FALCONS 34, DENVER BRONCOS 30

With running backs going down like flies in Denver the Broncos have signed Tatum Bell and Alex Haynes.  Tatum Bell returns to the city where he had his most success.  The 27-year old has played in 47 games in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 525 times for 2,524 yards (4.8 ypc) with 14 TD runs.  He has also caught 61 passes for 362 yards (5.9 avg) in his career.  Look for Bell to get up to speed quickly with his knowledge of the offense and he will push rookie Peyton Hillis for the starting job possibly by next weekend.  Haynes was a rookie last season for the Panthers and he played in 9 games carrying the ball 3 times for 3 yards (1.0 ypc) and catching 3 passes for 14 yards (4.7 avg).  These signings were desperation moves for the Broncos but the hope is that Bell can help them out soon.

The Broncos had a incredible effort by the offense in this game and they needed it to hold off the Cleveland Browns.  Jay Cutler had his best game as a pro completing 24 of 42 passes for 447 yards with 3 TD passes and 1 interception.  He also carried the ball 7 times for 29 yards (4.1 ypc).  Rookie RB Ryan Torain led the way for the Broncos in the running game before he was seriously injured.  He carried the ball 12 times for 68 yards (5.7 ypc) with a TD run.  Fellow rookie Peyton Hillis finished up the game as the featured back as he carried the ball 8 times for 24 yards (3.0 ypc).  Rookie WR Eddie Royal was fantastic in this game as he caught 6 passes for 164 yards (27.3 avg).  One of his catches went for a 90-yard TD in the 4th quarter.  TE Tony Scheffler returned to action after missing a couple of weeks with a injured groin and he caught 4 passes for 92 yards (23.0 avg).  Brandon Marshall was also solid grabbing 6 passes for 89 yards (14.8 avg) with a TD grab that was the eventual game winner.  TE Daniel Graham pitched in with  catches for 50 yards (16.7 avg) with a TD grab.  The Broncos finished up with 123 yards rushing on 28 carries (4.4 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 42 passes for 441 yards.

The Broncos got pushed around on defense and that will likely continue the rest of the season due to injuries.  The Browns rushed for 160 yards on 29 carries (5.5 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 35 passes for 239 yards.  Linebackers Jamie Winborn (13 tackles) and Wesley Woodyard (10 tackles) led the Broncos’ defensive effort in this game.

The Broncos will be without D.J. Williams, Boss Bailey and Nate Webster for a while.  Bailey is out for the season.  He played in six games for the Broncos this season and he made 40 tackles.  D.J. Williams has a injured MCL which will cause him to miss at least the next three weeks.  Williams has played in 8 games this season for the Broncos and he has 77 tackles (leads team), 2.5 sacks and he has defended 2 passes.  Nate Webster will miss the next few weeks with a sprained MCL.  He has played in 9 games for the Broncos this season and he has made 63 tackles, has 2 sacks and he has defended 3 passes. 

The Broncos will try to survive the next few weeks with Jamie Winborn, Wesley Woodyard and Niko Koutovides.  That could be a recipe for disaster for the Broncos.

The Broncos have lost CB Marlon McCree for the next 3-4 weeks with a high ankle sprain.  McCree has played in 8 games for the Broncos this season and he has 29 tackles and he has defensed 2 passes.  The Broncos will really miss McCree as they are already without CB Champ Bailey due to injury.

The Broncos will be depending on Selvin Young and Peyton Hillis to carry the running game the rest of the season.  Young is a little banged up right now but he is definately the most talented running back on the roster.  He has played in 6 games for the Broncos this season and he has carried the ball 48 times for 268 yards (5.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Young also has caught 3 passes for 16 yards (5.3 avg) so far this season.  The Broncos really need a healthy Young or they will have to bring in another tailback.  Peyton Hillis is more of a fullback but the Broncos need his running skills right now.  Hillis has played in 8 games this season for the Broncos and he has carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards (3.5 ypc).  Hillis has also caught 8 passes for 120 yards (15.0 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for the Broncos to throw the ball a lot more the rest of the 2008 season.

The Broncos have lost Michael Pittman, Andre Hall and rookie Ryan Torain for the season due to serious injuries.  Pittman played in 8 games for the Broncos this season and he carried the ball 76 times for 320 yards (4.2 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  He also caught 10 passes for 112 yards (11.2 avg) with a TD grab.  Pittman was the Broncos’ leading rusher until he injured his neck and ribs.  Andre Hall injured a wrist and a ankle which will cause him to miss the rest of the year.  Hall played in 8 games for the Broncos this season and he carried the ball 35 times for 144 yards (4.1 ypc).  He also caught 3 passes for 25 yards (8.3 avg) this season.  Rookie Ryan Torain was injured last Thursday Night against the Cleveland Browns when he tore his ACL.  Torain finishes his rookie season playing in two games in which he carried the ball 15 times for 69 yards (4.6 ypc).  This really hurts the depth of the Broncos’ running back corps as they will no doubt have to sign a running back or two soon.

The Broncos laid a egg last Sunday against the Dolphins.  They didn’t play well on offense or defense and it cost them a game they really needed to win.  Jay Cutler completed 24 of 46 passes for 307 yards with 2 TD passes, but, he also threw 3 interceptions including one of which that was returned for a TD by Will Allen of the Fins.  The Broncos ground game was also pathetic as they rushed for only 14 yards on 12 carries (1.2 ypc) in this game.  The defense played tough against the run but the Dolphins threw the ball all over the field against them in this game.  The Broncos are still in first place in the AFC West with a 4-4 record but they are only one game ahead of the Chargers so they can’t afford to stumble any more.