While I have a non 10* on Balt/Cleveland Under 33 1/2 and am undefeated on my 2 Monday Night Football plays - this line merits attention.
New England/Denver Under 38 1/2
off a win against a division rival- Denver is 0-8 Over/Under and 1-11 off of a division game.
Without Deion Branch and David Givens as receivers this year, Brady (383 passing yards, 3 TD, 2 INT) has posted a mediocre 77.6 passer rating, and is completing a substandard 50 percent of his passes.
Brady will probably look to stay away from Denver cornerback Champ Bailey (17 tackles), who burned Brady for a memorable 100-yard interception return in last year's AFC Divisional Playoff. Bailey has scarcely been challenged thus far in the regular season, as the Rams and Chiefs have thrown to his side of the field a total of three times in two contests. That should mean extra work for the team's other starting corner, Darrent Williams (11 tackles), with safeties John Lynch (12 tackles) and Nick Ferguson (9 tackles) lending support. Lynch also had an INT of Brady in last season's playoff game.
New England has gone to its running game lately with Corey Dillon (153 rushing yards, 1 TD) and rookie Laurence Maroney (151 rushing yards, 1 TD). The Patriots rank third in NFL rushing offense (165 yards per game) and the trend will be to run at Denver again tonight.
Denver has yet to surrender a touchdown either on the ground or via the air, but the Broncos have allowed both of their 2006 opponents to move the football via the rush. Both the Rams' Steven Jackson and the Chiefs' Larry Johnson have gone over the 100-yard plateau, and Shanahan and company could face its toughest challenge yet with both Dillon and Maroney in the New England backfield.
New England running backs compiled 80 yards on 20 carries in this past January's playoff loss to Denver.
The Patriots have been generally stingy against the run through two games, allowing neither Buffalo's Willis McGahee (20 carries, 70 yards) nor the Jets' cadre of runners (22 carries, 49 yards) to do any extensive damage against them. New England's primary corps of run-stoppers remains among the most formidable in the league, with nose tackle Vince Wilfork (9 tackles, 1 sack) and ends Richard Seymour (9 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Ty Warren (17 tackles, 1 sack) occupying the team's three-man front, and inside linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau (13 tackles) making most of the tackles behind them.
Plummer (311 passing yards, 0 TD, 4 INT), who thus far in 2006 has shown none of the efficiency for which he was held in high esteem last year. After opening the year with a four-turnover performance in a loss to the Rams, Plummer was only slightly better last week, completing 16-of-30 passes for 173 yards with a pick in the narrow win over the Chiefs. Shanahan has repeatedly asserted that Plummer's starting job is not in immediate jeopardy, despite the presence of rookie and No. 11 overall draft pick Jay Cutler on the roster. Looking to provide capable targets for their quarterback will be wideouts Rod Smith (5 receptions) and Javon Walker (8 receptions), along with tight ends Stephen Alexander (4 receptions) and Tony Scheffler (1 reception). Smith is listed as probable despite suffering a concussion against the Chiefs. The Broncos o-line has allowed four sacks through two contests.
New England/Denver Under 38 1/2
off a win against a division rival- Denver is 0-8 Over/Under and 1-11 off of a division game.
Without Deion Branch and David Givens as receivers this year, Brady (383 passing yards, 3 TD, 2 INT) has posted a mediocre 77.6 passer rating, and is completing a substandard 50 percent of his passes.
Brady will probably look to stay away from Denver cornerback Champ Bailey (17 tackles), who burned Brady for a memorable 100-yard interception return in last year's AFC Divisional Playoff. Bailey has scarcely been challenged thus far in the regular season, as the Rams and Chiefs have thrown to his side of the field a total of three times in two contests. That should mean extra work for the team's other starting corner, Darrent Williams (11 tackles), with safeties John Lynch (12 tackles) and Nick Ferguson (9 tackles) lending support. Lynch also had an INT of Brady in last season's playoff game.
New England has gone to its running game lately with Corey Dillon (153 rushing yards, 1 TD) and rookie Laurence Maroney (151 rushing yards, 1 TD). The Patriots rank third in NFL rushing offense (165 yards per game) and the trend will be to run at Denver again tonight.
Denver has yet to surrender a touchdown either on the ground or via the air, but the Broncos have allowed both of their 2006 opponents to move the football via the rush. Both the Rams' Steven Jackson and the Chiefs' Larry Johnson have gone over the 100-yard plateau, and Shanahan and company could face its toughest challenge yet with both Dillon and Maroney in the New England backfield.
New England running backs compiled 80 yards on 20 carries in this past January's playoff loss to Denver.
The Patriots have been generally stingy against the run through two games, allowing neither Buffalo's Willis McGahee (20 carries, 70 yards) nor the Jets' cadre of runners (22 carries, 49 yards) to do any extensive damage against them. New England's primary corps of run-stoppers remains among the most formidable in the league, with nose tackle Vince Wilfork (9 tackles, 1 sack) and ends Richard Seymour (9 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Ty Warren (17 tackles, 1 sack) occupying the team's three-man front, and inside linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau (13 tackles) making most of the tackles behind them.
Plummer (311 passing yards, 0 TD, 4 INT), who thus far in 2006 has shown none of the efficiency for which he was held in high esteem last year. After opening the year with a four-turnover performance in a loss to the Rams, Plummer was only slightly better last week, completing 16-of-30 passes for 173 yards with a pick in the narrow win over the Chiefs. Shanahan has repeatedly asserted that Plummer's starting job is not in immediate jeopardy, despite the presence of rookie and No. 11 overall draft pick Jay Cutler on the roster. Looking to provide capable targets for their quarterback will be wideouts Rod Smith (5 receptions) and Javon Walker (8 receptions), along with tight ends Stephen Alexander (4 receptions) and Tony Scheffler (1 reception). Smith is listed as probable despite suffering a concussion against the Chiefs. The Broncos o-line has allowed four sacks through two contests.
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