Commanders Over Broncos

I'm expecting the Broncos to be favored over the Washington Commanders, with a blowout being predicted by various and sundry if not nefarious sources.

Considering the slugfests that Ron Rivera and Sean Payton have conducted in the past, with both sides occasionally blowing the other out, this game is shaping up as a stalemate type contest. 

Payton beat Ron three times in 2017. If you go back over their games, though, you find Carolina having big games running the ball. The Commanders have to work with last year's film which shows Denver, under a different staff, being vulnerable to the run. Broncos did better against Vegas in the opener. But I'm thinking those running totals stuck in Ron's head and I'm sure he made mention to EB at some point hey, look, we used to run on Sean.

Look for overload right from the Broncos defense and for some jet/reverse action from the Broncos offense.  

Broncos are expecting a W as they celebrate Super Bowl XXXIII. That was the year Grandpappy Elway and his new Coach beat Wonderboy Elway's old coach. 

No better opponent to pummel than the Washington franchise, where Super Bowl Champion Coach Mike Shanahan had his career besmirched by a stint with Daniel M. Snyder's Washington Redskins. 

There will be Odes to Shanahan in the Washington Press Corps this week as D.C. Media was well-stocked with Shanahanians during the RGIII era. I expect that same Press Corps to forecast doom for the Commanders based on the injustices they feel were perpetrated upon the Shanahans.

This is not Snyder's Redskins.

Sometimes these nostalgia festivals inspire teams. Sometimes not so much. I remember when Mr. Mara died the Giants slaughtered the Skins that same week. 

I anticipate Denver going up 13-0 at halftime, despite run success from Washington. After the half-time celebrations for the Super Bowl Champs, the Broncos and Commanders sleep through the third quarter and half way through the fourth quarter. At that point, Sam Howell throws two TD passes to Jahan Dotson.

Washington wins.

Washington 14, Denver 13.