The Denver Broncos were one of the few teams that remained undefeated in the NFL. But Denver’s undefeated streak came to an abrupt end this past weekend when they faced the Atlanta Falcons at home. Many fans thought picking the Broncos was a solid bet on NFL games, but in the end Atlanta’s offense proved to be too much for Denver. There’s no question that the Broncos’ defense is the strongest aspect of this team, but their offenses had still managed to lead them to victory the first 5 weeks of the season.
However, this past Sunday, Trevor Siemian was unable to suit up due to his shoulder injury and in his place stepped Paxton Lynch, a rookie out of Memphis. While both Lynch and Siemian are both relatively new to the NFL, the difference between the two players’ was evident in the Broncos’ loss to the Falcons this past weekend. Fortunately for Broncos’ fans, Siemian will be able to start in their Week 6 contest this Thursday. With Siemian back under center, what kind of odds are the top sportsbooks giving the Broncos this Thursday?
Week 6 – Thursday the 13th of October
Denver Broncos -3 (-110) 45 (-110) -135
San Diego Chargers +3 (-110) 45 (-110) +115
Despite Siemian’s return, the odds aren’t quite sure that Denver is worth your bet on NFL’s Thursday Night Football. The odds are barely siding with the Broncos’ in this matchup, despite the fact that the Chargers have only won one game this season. This game will be highly important for Denver, considering this is the first time they face a divisional opponent. On top of that, beating the Chargers will be even more important for the Broncos because the Raiders emerged triumphant over San Diego this past weekend. Oakland has been one of this year’s biggest surprises, and they’re currently tied atop the West with the Broncos. If the Broncos lose to the Chargers, then the Raiders will get one up over the defending Super Bowl Champions.
There are several things that suggest the Chargers will indeed upset the Broncos this weekend. The most prevalent is the similarities between the Falcons and the Chargers. Both teams are offensively minded, and sport pretty poor defenses. The Falcons rank 1st in most offensive stats, while the Chargers rank 2nd in points, 4th in passing, and 8th in total offense. Denver’s defense is great, but not great enough to shut out the Falcons, and it’s likely the Chargers will also be putting a good amount of points on the board. The question is, will the Broncos’ offense be able to keep up?
This past weekend it was abundantly clear that they couldn’t keep up with Matt Ryan, but to be fair, they were down their starting quarterback. Most people don’t consider the Chargers to be an elite team, but they have more than their fair share of talent. San Diego has been extremely competitive in their games so far, and they should put Denver to the test this Thursday. This will be a great challenge for the Broncos, and how they respond to the call will demonstrate this squad’s true potential. A strong showing with Siemian back under center and more bettors will begin to pick the Broncos for bets on NFL games.