Preview
Monday Night Football had to end with a terrible matchup between division rivals who are completely out of the playoff picture. Denver was playing great early in the year, but fell flat lately that is all but going to get Vance Joseph fired. Oakland, meanwhile, is just a plain mess, and they’re really just trying to make it to Vegas. However, they might not have a location to play in for 2019 if this lawsuit goes through, so the question remains: what will the Raiders do now?
Players to watch
Philip Lindsay made history as the first undrafted rookie to make the Pro Bowl, so look for him to get his share of the rock. Case Keenum has been dismal these last few weeks, making terrible decisions which have cost the Broncos dearly. Von Miller is still the best linebacker/edge rusher in the AFC, so he’s going to feast on the Raiders. Derek Carr is simply trying to make it to the offseason, so he’s hoping his offensive line can stop #58 and give him at least some semblance of an opening to make throws.
Keys to the game
Denver Broncos
Work the running game
Don’t make incorrect reads
Let Miller loose on Carr
Secondary about to feast
Oakland Raiders
Keep Carr upright
Establish a ground game
Force Keenum into mistakes
Find a pass rusher
Injury list
Denver Broncos
Brendan Langley, CB - Concussion (Out)
Matt LaCosse, TE - Ankle (Questionable)
Shane Ray, OLB - Illness (Questionable)
Oakland Raiders
Maurice Hurst, DT - Ankle (Questionable)
Daryl Worley, CB - Shoulder (Questionable)
Gareon Conley, CB - Concussion (Questionable)
Top 5 Fantasy Players
Case Keenum, QB (DEN)
Philip Lindsay, RB (DEN)
Emmanuel Sanders, WR (DEN)
Derek Carr, QB (OAK)
Jared Cook, TE (OAK)
Prediction
This game is going to be so boring, it’s not even watchable on Monday night. Neither team cares about winning anymore this season, so it could very well be a late-season preseason game. I couldn’t care at all to watch this game, so I don’t care who wins. But this is a prediction area, so I’ll just say Oakland wins. I don’t know how, but they’ll win.
Final Score: Raiders 20, Broncos 17
Written by: Joe Carlino