The NFC East is slipping away from Washington (2-5), already facing a tough deficit on 5-1 Dallas. The Broncos (3-4) are in a very similar spot trailing 5-2 Las Vegas, so this Week 8 matchup in Denver becomes crucial to both teams.
The Broncos are a -3 point favorite at Empower Field at Mile High as they try to send WFT towards their fourth straight loss. Denver will have a few extra days of rest after last playing on Thursday in Week 7 against the Browns, but the 17-14 loss to Cleveland was the fourth in a row for the Broncos.
Heinicke Magic Fading?
Washington QB Taylor Heinicke looked good in getting the team their first win of the year in a 30-29 win over the Giants in Week 2 (336 yards, 2 TD/1INT). A couple of games later, Heinicke was great again with 290 yards and 3 TD in a 34-30 win at Atlanta, but it’s been downhill since then.
In the last three weeks, WFT has scored 22, 13, and 10 points showing that they’re getting progressively worse as the season moves on. Washington lost 24-10 in Green Bay last week even while racking up a good ton of yardage (235 passing, 195 rushing) but were stopped on downs twice inside the 5-yard line and also had another pass intercepted in the end zone.
It’s traditionally a tough trip heading to the altitude of Denver, but the Broncos are just 1-2 playing at home this season. Washington could be able to put some points on the board as Denver had allowed an average of 28 ppg over three contests before last week’s 17-14 loss to the Browns.
Denver Set to Make Changes?
There are no two ways around it; Sunday is a must-win for the Broncos. They’ve still got two games each with Kansas City and the Chargers remaining on the schedule, as well as one meeting with the Raiders in addition to a visit to Dallas.
The Broncos offense should get a boost with the return of WR Jerry Jeudy (ankle), who hasn’t played since the first game of the season. Denver will take it, as their offense has been held to 19 points or less in three of their last four games.
Could Vic Fangio consider a change at QB to fire up this offense after Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock had a tough competition in the offseason? Bridgewater has 7 TDs to 5 INTs over the last three games as Denver is 24th in the NFL in scoring (20.0 ppg).
Denver’s offense isn’t the only part of the team with questions, though, as they allowed 146 yards last Thursday against previously unheralded Cleveland RB D’Ernest Johnson. The Browns do have one of the better offensive lines in the league (if not the best), but the Broncos also gave up 147 yards rushing in the Week 5 loss to Pittsburgh.
Washington at Denver Pick
The Broncos hope that Jeudy returning gets their offense going and maybe even open things up for a running game that had just 41 yards vs. Cleveland last week. Denver is optimistic as LB Von Miller (ankle) said he “is confident he’ll play against Washington” after leaving the Cleveland game, and the extra couple days of rest from a TNF game surely help.
Washington moved the ball in chunks against Green Bay, though, Broncos’ and actually didn’t punt once against a solid Packers defense. With the issues the Broncos have had on both sides of the ball, lately, WFT can legitimately pick up an outright win.