The Denver Broncos are riding high.
They're on the heels of a massive win over the rival Kansas City Chiefs that puts them in first place in the AFC West. The 28-24 win over the Chiefs also puts Denver in the hunt for home-field advantage. Yes, it's only eight games, but after the gauntlet the Broncos have faced, sitting at 6-2 and where they are is impressive.
Now come the Carolina Panthers, who just got trucked on Thursday Night Football by the Green Bay Packers. As a result, the Panthers fired their defensive coordinator. Since Carolina plays in the NFC South, it leads the division at 3-4 and will be highly motivated to get back on track at home this Sunday.
Denver is currently the -3-point road favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook. The total sits at over/under 43.5 points, with a lean toward the over at -118.
Denver: Thirtieth in total offense (273.0 yards per game), 26th in rushing offense (92.6 YPG), 25th in passing offense (180.4 YPG), 22nd in scoring offense (21.5 points per game).
Carolina: Ninth in total offense (363.7 yards per game), 22nd in rushing offense (102.0 YPG), fifth in passing offense (261.7 YPG), ninth in scoring offense (25.4 points per game).
Denver: Twenty-fifth in total defense (355.3 yards per game), 25th in rushing defense (127.9 YPG), 20th in passing defense (227.4 YPG), 11th in scoring defense (20.6 points per game).
Carolina: Twenty-third in total defense (349.6 yards per game), 30th in rushing defense (140.7 YPG), 10th in passing defense (208.9 YPG), 28th in scoring defense (27.6 points per game).
Here are the MHR staff's keys to Sunday's game.
Sean Payton owns the NFC South. Dating back to his New Orleans Saints days, he knows the division and how to beat these teams. However, the Broncos have historically struggled in the early games on the East Coast. On top of that, Denver is coming off a brutal stretch of games and is on the heels of a ginormous win. Not to mention, the bye is after this Sunday's game. It's natural to take the foot off the gas and think, "We got this." In other words, the "trap game." Don't fall into that trap. It's imperative for the Broncos to remain focused on the task at hand. Build on the win over Kansas City with the goal of playing a complete game. — Ian St. Clair
My advanced analytics came through once again. For the 6th time this season, the Broncos have scored more points than their opponent and won. Following this trend, if they do that this Sunday against the Panthers, they will improve to 7-2. — Scotty Payne
Scotty's analytics are spot on. One of the best ways to ensure his analytics remain proven correct is to limit the Panthers' ability to run the football. That forces Carolina into a one-dimensional attack and allows the defensive line to eventually pin its ears back and make Bryce Young as uncomfortable as the back of a Volkswagen. — Adam Malnati
Good things happen when you run the ball effectively. We saw that for the Broncos in their past two victories. Last Sunday, rookie running back Jonah Coleman was solid on the ground for the Denver. He certainly deserves the majority of carries moving forward. The Panthers have one of the worst run defenses in the league and give up nearly 5 yards per carry. Why not pound the ball on the ground and keep giving Coleman a chance to prove himself even more? It seems like a great opportunity to see him shine. — Christopher Hart
