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09/25/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Every industry has its prosaic keys to success. In real estate, it is location-location-location. In the food service industry, it is keeping the customer happy. In pro football, it is winning the turnover battle, running the ball, and stopping the run.
The Denver Broncos did none of these things against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The Broncos snapped a 10-game home winning streak in the month of September by turning the ball over three times, rushing for just 47 yards (the franchise's fourth lowest total in the Mike Shanahan era), and giving up 186 yards on the ground. All this explains the lopsided 38:42 to 21:18 time of possession in favor of the Jaguars (not to mention the 23-14 final score).
"That's what we usually do to people," said Shanahan of Jacksonville's ball control. "They did it to us."
"It was frustrating," said tight end Daniel Graham. "They moved the ball pretty well on our defense. They couldn't get off the field and we couldn't stay on the field. As a team, we didn't play good at all."
The turnover and rushing struggles on offense are an aberration (Denver came into Sunday's contest plus-one in the turnover department, and Travis Henry led the league in rushing after the first two games), but the failure to stop opposing teams on the ground is an issue that has plagued this team since the start of the preseason.
"We say it every week, we have to tighten things up," said linebacker D.J. Williams, who replaced departed veteran Al Wilson in the middle this season.
"But at some point you have to put your foot down and stop teams from running the ball."
In Week 1, Denver allowed 112 yards to Marshawn Lynch and the rest of the Buffalo Bills. In Week 2, they gave up a disheartening 200 yards to LaMont Jordan and his Raider teammates. On Sunday, Jacksonville's 186 rushing yards came from a trio spearheaded by Fred Taylor (84 yards) and flanked by David Garrard (52) and Maurice Jones-Drew (37). In all, the Broncos are now surrendering an average of 166 yards on the ground per contest.
The lack of execution may still be growing pains from Jim Bates's new system. Bates' defensive philosophy centers around a simple concept - big-bodied defensive linemen occupy blockers and allow linebackers to make plays - but its myriad nuances make its implication somewhat complicated. It doesn't help that the Broncos are still feeling out personnel up front. Veterans Sam Adams - who has been terrible through three weeks - and Simeon Rice were late additions (Rice, in fact, didn't come aboard until September). And rookies Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder, and Marcus Thomas are, well, rookies.
JOHN LYNCH UPDATE
On a positive note, the pass defense has been outstanding for the Broncos, thanks to cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly. On a negative note, veteran Pro Bowl free safety John Lynch missed most of Sunday's loss to the Jaguars with a strained groin. His status for Week 4 is still uncertain. Lynch's absence would maybe compromise the effectiveness of the pass defense, and it certainly wouldn't do anything to help the ailing run defense.
"It's always tough when you lose one of your starters," said Mike Shanahan. Should Lynch be unable to go, the Broncos would have to rely on Curome Cox, a solid special teams player and dime back but an unproven - and presumably shaky - every-down player.
A better option in centerfield might be nickelback Domonique Foxworth, though he is recovering from an ankle injury.
WHO'S HOT
Wide receiver Brandon Marshall is healthy and flashing the raging God-given skills that make him a future star in this league. Marshall caught seven passes for 133 yards on Sunday, both career highs. The former fourth-round pick out of Central Florida is a physical, 6'4', 230-pound athletic specimen who has the speed to stretch the field and the physique to go over the middle. He has also impressed as a blocker thus far, a trait commonly held by elite Denver wideouts.
WHO'S NOT
Undrafted rookie Selvin Young has overachieved as a pro, but that doesn't excuse his costly first half fumble against the Jaguars. Young coughed up the ball while fighting for extra yards after making one of his two receptions on the afternoon. On the ground, he was one of many ineffective Denver rushers, generating just seven yards on two carries.
NEXT UP
The Broncos travel to Indianapolis to face a Colts team that has owned them in the RCA Dome in recent years.
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Visit Andy Benoit at www.benoitmedia.com
<< NASCAR
Fined Carl Edwards 25 driver points due to rule violations found in post-race inspection; fined Edwards' crew chief Bob Osborne $25,000; fined Roush Fenway Racing 25 car ownership points; Placed Osborne on probations until December 31st.
<< Edwards loses 25 points, drops to sixth in Nextel Cup Chase
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carl Edwards, who won last Sunday's Dodge
Dealers 400 at Dover International Speedway, was penalized 25 driver
championship points due to rule violations found in post-race inspection.
The loss
<< Chiefs Find the Win Column
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If only the Chiefs could face a Kelly Holcomb-led offense
every week. Another sterling performance by the defense finally resulted in a
Kansas City victory.
Playing in front of their home crowd for the first time all seaso
<< Hurting St. Louis failing to Ram it home
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Rams planned on getting by this year with
their offense. It's now time to go back to the drawing board.
The Rams ranked fifth in the NFC last year with 367 total points scored.
Unfortunately, they allowed 381
Bills sign CB Butler >>
Orchard Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Facing a shortage of able defensive
backs, the Buffalo Bills signed veteran cornerback Jerametrius Butler Tuesday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
With cornerback Terrence McGee suffering from
No Johnson, big problem for Texans >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Take Randy Moss out of the New England Patriots' lineup and
see how Tom Brady performs. Do the same with Marvin Harrison of Indianapolis
and watch Peyton Manning adjust with ease.
Both Super Bowl winning quarterbacks would
Bengals sign RB Dorsey >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals, unsure of
starting running back Rudi Johnson's availability for Sunday's game with the
New England Patriots, signed DeDe Dorsey on Tuesday.
Johnson is ailing from a hamst
Iowa WR Brodell out for season >>
Iowa City, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Iowa wide receiver Andy Brodell will miss
the rest of the season with a severe hamstring tear.
Head Coach Kirk Ferentz announced Tuesday that Brodell will be out after
suffering the tear during the
Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.
That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.
Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.
After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.
The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).
To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.
NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
San Diego Chargers 12/1
Baltimore Ravens 14/1
Tennessee Titans 16/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Green Bay Packers 25/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1
Minnesota Vikings 25/1
New York Jets 25/1
Arizona Cardinals 30/1
Chicago BearS 30/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1
Buffalo Bills 35/1
Houston TexaNS 35/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 35/1
Seattle SeahawkS 50/1
Cleveland Browns 55/1
Cincinnati Bengals 60/1
San Francisco 49ers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Odds as of: 2/2/09
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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