The Denver Broncos had a very good result last week, they beat the Carolina Panthers by two touchdowns, and they had a very bad result, the Baltimore Ravens were upset by the Cleveland Browns.
This week, the Broncos travel to Baltimore to meet John Harbaugh’s team on the heels of the Ravens stunning defeat in Cleveland. Why is this bad for Sean Payton’s up-and-coming Broncos?
Let me put it this way. Imagine you were a fifth grader who just got a horrible report card you had to have your parents sign. When you got home, your dad was in a huff over having just lost his job.
Not the best time to ask for leniency on a bad report card. Just like it is not an ideal time for the Broncos to go on the road and try to extend a season record that has ballooned to five wins in eight decisions. The Ravens are not in a forgiving mood like they were a week ago when they met the Browns on the road while riding a five-game winning streak and being called in most corners the best team in football despite the Kansas City Chiefs still perfect with six wins in six starts.
Both Kansas City and Baltimore were playing division opponents as road favorites last week. Neither covered the line. The Chiefs were clipped on the number by the Las Vegas Raiders while favored by more than a touchdown and winning by a touchdown. For the Ravens, their favorite role in Cleveland went kablooey. The Browns registered only their second win of the season with a late touchdown to nip the Ravens behind backup quarterback Jameis Winston.
The Chiefs success this year has been much more a case of guile than pure dominance. Their vaulted offense, directed by the man who may be the best quarterback ever, Patrick Mahomes, is near the middle of the league in points scored. But the Chiefs defense, and their ability to bend final results in their favor, has Kansas City still perfect as we hit the midpoint of the 2024 campaign.
The Ravens, in contrast to the Chiefs, aren’t playing within themselves and turning late plays into their favor to eke out close win after close win. Nope, they come into play each week looking to annihilate their overmatched opponents. And when it works, they have lopsided results like beating the Buffalo Bills 35-10 and putting up more than 40 points in victories over the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
When the Ravens don’t dominate, they are prone to close losses. They failed in Kansas City on opening night by a single point to the undefeated Chiefs. They got clipped late by three points against the Las Vegas Raiders in second week action and last week gave up a late touchdown to allow the Browns to escape with a 29-24 triumph.
The Broncos, behind rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who had notably his best game as a pro in last week’s victory over the Carolina Panthers, have won five of eight games based greatly on their defense. In all of football, only the Los Angeles Chargers have allowed fewer points than Denver this season.
Defense is a real good element in succeeding in the NFL. Good coaching is another imperative and an efficient offense that doesn’t make mistakes is a final ingredient to a successful campaign.
The Broncos have all three of those characteristics in place this season … but this week, they miss on one important factor … timing.
This is simply the wrong week to come calling on Baltimore in hopes of extending a win streak.
Qoxhi Picks: Baltimore Ravens (-9) over Denver Broncos