The Miami Dolphins travel to Denver this week to take on the Broncos in a matchup filled with playoff implications. Miami is coming off a win against the Buffalo Bills last Thursday, and is taking the extended time off from the “mini-bye” to rest and gear up for a Broncos team that is limping out of last week’s loss to the St. Louis Rams.
Denver got hit with the injury bug a week ago, losing Julius Thomas, Montee Ball and Emmanuel Sanders in the 22 – 7 loss to the Rams, and the status of all three stars is still up in the air for this weekend’s game against Miami. It was made brutally apparent that Denver’s offense is not the same without Sanders and Thomas on the field, and St. Louis was able to tee off on Peyton Manning and force him into another multiple interception game. If the Dolphins’ second ranked defense, anchored by Cameron Wake on the defensive line and Brent Grimes in the secondary, can do the same, it could prove to be a very long day for Peyton and company.
On the other side of the field, the Miami Dolphins come in having won an emotional game last Thursday against the Bills, where the team kept hopes of a playoff berth alive. Ryan Tannehill was constantly under pressure from the Buffalo pass rush, but was able to stand tall and deliver throws down the field in the second half that put the game on ice.
Tannehill will likely be under pressure again as he goes up against an amazingly talented Denver pass rush with a patchwork offensive line. If the Dolphins have any hope of pulling off the upset, the offensive line will have to hold its own and keep Tannehill upright enough to try and keep pace with Peyton.
Although the Dolphins have played well against the Broncos historically, the weather is bound to play a significant factor in this week’s game. With a forecasted game-time temperature of in the mid 30’s, the Miami Dolphins will be playing in truly cold weather for the first time this season. Couple that with the altitude adjustment of going from sea-level to Mile High, and the intangibles start stacking up in Denver’s favor.
This game should remain closer than the 7 ½ point spread, with the Dolphins streaking and Denver having been exposed a week ago against St. Louis. Home-field advantage however, should give the Broncos just enough of an edge to get back on track.
Prediction: Denver Broncos 27, Miami Dolphins 24
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