Broncos (

18.5) at
Panthers (

17.5)

Game Overview ::

By papy324 >>

• The best plays from this game are probably the defenses.
• Russell Wilson is cheap if you still believe.
• Latavius Murray could have value if reports indicate he is going to get all the backfield work.
• The Panthers are starting their third QB in as many weeks.

How denver Will Try To Win ::

The 3-7 Broncos are coming into Week 12 off two straight losses, having dropped six of their last seven, with their only win during that time coming against a banged-up Chargers team in OT. Nathaniel “can’t hack it” Hackett has looked totally lost as a head coach, with his main credentials being having coached Aaron Rodgers and his last name. He has now handed off play-calling duties to . . . wouldn’t you know it, another coach’s kid, Klint Kubiak. Is anyone ever going to address the rampant nepotism in the NFL coaching ranks? Being an NFL coach’s kid has become like being born into royalty. Maybe endlessly hiring offspring is why so many NFL coaches are terrible at their jobs. Russell “out to pasture” Wilson hasn’t done Hackett any favors either. The quarter-billion-dollar man has looked washed all season. Regardless of who is to blame, the Broncos have scored a pathetic 147 points, dead last in the league by a wide margin. The next lowest scoring teams are the Texans/Rams/Steelers/Colts who have scored 159/168/170/173 points. Denver’s offensive struggles are made sadder by the excellent performance of their defense, which has given up the second fewest points in the league (171), trailing only the Patriots (169).

The Broncos have played at a moderate pace (14^th overall) but that number is curiously dragged down by playing slow in the second half (20^th in pace). The scoreboard doesn’t seem to influence the Broncos as much as the quarter since they play faster (8^th in situational neutral, 1^st when leading, 5^th was trailing) regardless of whether they are winning or losing. It’s difficult to draw many conclusions about the Broncos preferred pace, other than these types of confusing splits are another indicator that the coaching staff is lost.

The Panthers have been below average (21^st in DVOA) against the rush and equally as susceptible (21^st in DVOA) through the air. The Panthers defense presents quite literally equal paths of least resistance on paper, but the Panthers secondary is headlined by the excellent play of Jaycee Horn (son of former WR Joe Horn – player’s kids seem to do better as future players than coaches’ kids do as future coaches). The Broncos have a new play-caller, just cut Melvin Gordon, lost Chase Edmonds, and they are set to trot out the duo of Latavius Murray and Marlon “I’m still in the league” Mack. The lack of options in their backfield, and their O-line’s relative mediocrity (17^th in adjusted line yards) should lead the Broncos to try and let Russell Wilson win them the game.

How Carolina Will Try To Win ::