Things have not been going well for the Denver Broncos (6-3) lately and unfortunately they are matched up this week against one of the hottest teams in the league right now, the San Diego Chargers (6-3).  Broncos’ quarterback Kyle Orton has been listed as a game-time decision, but he sprained his ankle pretty bad last week and I’m not so sure he will be able to go.  Even if Orton does go, I think he will be limited by that ankle and the Broncos may just be better off starting Chris Simms.  Simms did play awful last week, completing 3-13 passes and throwing an interception.  He has had a full week to prepare with the first team though, so he should be able to do much better than what he showed last week.  Whether its Orton or Simms, the Broncos will need a huge day out of their running backs.  Correll Buckhalter has been ineffective lately, and is battling a knee injury which has him listed as probable.  Knowshown Moreno has been running well lately and is coming off a 97 yard performance last game.

The Broncos defense has been very good against the pass all season, but they have not faced very many quarterbacks as good as Philip Rivers.  Rivers can put up some big numbers, so don’t expect the Broncos to hold him to their 186 yard average.  They also have LaDainian Tomlinson coming off his best game of the season, so he can open things up for the passing game.  The Chargers average 26 points per game, and although I think the defense will be able to contain them I don’t think the Broncos offense will be able to put enough points on the board to keep up with the Chargers, especially with an injured Orton/Simms starting at quarterback.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  San Diego Chargers 24, Denver Broncos 17

The Denver Broncos have now dropped two straight games after a perfect start and they are looking to get back on the right track against on the road against the Washington Redskins Sunday.  The Broncos will need a better game out of Kyle Orton, who threw three interceptions and no touchdowns last week.  It was Orton’s first real bad game of the season and it was against one of the best team’s in the league in the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Don’t expect another terrible game for Orton against the Redskins, since they aren’t anywhere near the caliber of the Steelers.  They give up 126 rushing yards per contest, so Knowshown Moreno and Correll Buckhalter should have much better outings than the 27 yards combined they put up last week.

The Broncos defense has given up 58 points in their last two games, but they should be able to contain a Redskins offense that averages less than 300 total yards per game.  Their quarterback Jason Campbell is battling an ankle injury, so he wont be as mobile as usual.  Clinton Portis will be out (concussion) for the Redskins and his backup Ladell Betts is also battling an ankle injury, so the Broncos have no excuse if they lose this one.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Denver Broncos 27, Washington Redskins 17

The Denver Broncos (6-1) are coming off a tough loss to the Baltimore Ravens where they could not get anything going offensively.  They will need a better effort from the offense in this one, as the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) are a very good football team.  They have a good defense themselves, but I don’t think it is as good as the Ravens D was last week.  Kyle Orton needs to continue to take care of the ball and take what the defense gives him.  If he can do that and get some things going for the offense, then the Broncos defense should be able to contain the Steelers offense.

Ben Roethlisberger wont have a big passing day, but he doesn’t need one for the Steelers to be effective.  He does throw some interceptions from time to time though, so the Broncos should try and force him into some bad throws.  If they can get some turnovers they will win the game, as Orton and the Broncos offense do a great job eating up the clock and holding on to the ball.  The Steelers running attack with Mendenhall and Parker can do the same thing for the Steelers, so the Broncos need to be ready to contain their running game.  This should be a close defensive battle, but I think the Broncos are going to bounce back and win a close one.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Denver Broncos 28

The Broncos have released 24-year old cornerback Jack Williams to make room on the roster for Ty Law.  Williams played in 7 games for the Broncos this season and he had 14 tackles and he defensed 3 passes.  In two years with the Broncos, Williams played in 21 games in which he made 27 tackles and he defensed 3 passes.  The Broncos have pretty much admitted that Williams has been a bust by cutting him so early in his NFL career.

The Denver Broncos (6-0) are taking on the Baltimore Ravens (3-3) on the road Sunday, and it should be an exciting and hard fought game.  Although the Ravens have lost three in a row, the three losses have been very close and the Ravens are better than a .500 club.  The Broncos will have to deal with the tenacious Ray Lewis and the rest of the talented Baltimore defense.   The Broncos and Kyle Orton need to continue their turnover free play, as the Ravens have a very aggressive defense that does a good job of forcing turnovers.  They will need Knowshown Moreno to step it up from last week, where he only got 44 yards on 18 carries (2.4 avg).  Correll Buckhalter should continue to bring some relief to Moreno, as he has been great all season averaging 6.7 yards per carry.

The Ravens are no longer just a team with a good defense.  Their quarterback Joe Flacco has turned their offense around the past two seasons and has 11 touchdowns and only 5 picks so far this year.  He is a big quarterback with a big arm, so the Broncos need to be aware of the deep ball.  Like the Broncos, the Ravens have a two headed running attack, with Ray Rice getting the bulk of the carries and Willis McGahee getting some too.  McGahee has been struggling lately though and will probably get less carries because of it.  If the Broncos can play like they have been all year and not turn the ball over, they should win this game.  I think the Ravens are determined to end their losing streak and will be trying to make a statement, so I am picking them to upset the undefeated Broncos.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Denver Broncos 21, Baltimore Ravens 24