***TNF IN THE SWAMP - DEN @ IND***
***DENVER BRONCOS @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS***
Well, after a string of pretty awesome Prime Time match-ups, tonight we have the inevitable lame duck on the schedule as the 3-10 Colts host the 4-9 Broncos. With both teams clearly out of contention at this point, this game may be hard to tune into, unless of course you were fortunate enough to make it to the postseason in your fantasy football league, or you're picking with the Swamper! Hey, who knows - maybe tonight will be a surprisingly good game like Monday was, how 'bout those Dolphins eh?! Alright lets not spend any more time on this game than we have to, short and to the point.
The Broncos snapped an eight game losing streak by beating up on the Jets at home last weekend. It was their first shutout victory since 2005. Head Coach Vance Joseph is certainly on the hot seat after his Rookie season having gone so poorly. I do believe that he is most likely gone once the season is over, but at a certain point, pride kicks in for NFL players. After being on the longest losing streak since joining the NFL in 1970, a time comes where these professional athletic specimens say enough is enough, and take advantage of a team they are capable of beating at home to let some frustrations out, which they clearly did. That being said, I think that taste of victory felt real good for these veterans and now they embark back on the road to try and snap another embarrassing losing streak; the Broncos have not won a road game since December of last year, AKA they haven't won one this season, yet. I believe tonight is the night they get that done by carrying the momentum for the big feel good win on Sunday. We all know that this is a very talented team, and things just went bad this season. Mainly because of the issues at QB and whether the team quit half way through the season is up for debate. I think that because of the offensive woes, this talented defense just got tired of constantly doing their part and then being forced right back out on the field with their backs against the wall, time and time again, due to consistent three and outs or turnovers. At this point, I think it is safe to say that QB Trevor Siemian is the best bad QB of the bunch that Denver has and gives them the best chance to win. There was a time where he was looked at as their next franchise QB. Somewhere along the line this season, he lost his confidence and was unable to gain it back, playing worse and worse until he was benched. I believe he got in his own head and could not find a way out. Now after a few weeks off while the Osweiler and Lynch got some playing time, I think Siemian might've got what little bit of swagger he has back and up against a poor defense tonight, will do just fine. He is not short of any weapons in his WR arsenal as I expect both Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to have big games tonight. These are two of my favorite YAC WRs, as they are a threat to take a one of Siemian's bread and butter dink and dunk type passes to the house on any given play.
As for the Colts, this year has been a letdown from the start without their leader in starting QB Andrew Luck. Like Vance Joseph, Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano is also probably on his way out come this offseason, and everybody including him probably knows it at this point. I will say that I have been impressed many times with this team this season with the fight they have had in certain games and how well their newly acquired at the time backup QB Jacoby Brissett has filled in. The guy brings it every game and is capable of making some big plays. He has established a nice repitoire with Tight End Jack Doyle and has kept the Colts in many games where they had no business being in on paper, but that's why they play the game! However, we are now in the final stretch here as we begin week 15 and I believe that for a team like the Colts, where they have most likely known that they were going nowhere since week 1, it takes a toll come this time of the year. Guys are tired and banged up, and as a result the collective motivation factor has to decrease a bit. Not to mention, this team has lost so many players on defense that were really playing well early on. The cherry on top here is that the Cotls are probably in the worst spot any team has been thus far before a Thursday night game and that is because they just played in a blizzard in Buffalo, that went into Overtime nonetheless. The 36 year old Veteran RB Frank Gore put forth a monster effort against the Bills, running the rock in the snow 36 times. I got to believe he is still feeling it and I would expect Rookie RB Marlon Mack to get more touches tonight, but against a Broncos defense that is now getting back DT Domata Peko in the middle and Indy Center Ryan Kelly out with an injury, I'm not sure how much of an impact the Colts will have running the ball. That battle in the snow was epic, but also deflating as the Colts gave up a crushing walk-off touchdown to RB LeSean McCoy and lost thae game 13-7. The team morale has to be at an all time low going into tonight's game but being that it is a Prime Time game and at home, I do expect Indy to get up for tonight's matchup, but I believe they will fold in the second half should the Broncos bring it early on and go up a couple of scores, which I think they will by bringing that same intensity that they had rediscovered last week. In a nutshell, I think the Broncos will be able to do what they want offensively against a beat up Colts team, and I like Von Miller and the Broncos defense to get after Brissett and force him into some costly mistakes. What we have here are two teams that are full of disappointment and I'll side with the more talented team here with a chip on their shoulder to hand the Colts their fifth straight loss and get themselves their first road win of the year. BRONCOS-3
