Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Sunday, December 12, 2010, 4:15 pm EST, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Broncos -6
Current Line: Broncos -4
Opening Total: 43
Current Total: 42.5
Money Line: Broncos -210 / Cardinals +165
The Denver Broncos (3-9) will try to follow in the footsteps of Minnesota and Dallas by winning the debut of their new head coach when they visit the slumping Arizona Cardinals (3-9) on Sunday. The Broncos (-4) have not been much better than the Cardinals, who have lost their last seven games. Denver has dropped seven of eight but could get a boost now that head coach Josh McDaniels has been relieved of his duties.
The Vikings and Cowboys both won their first two games under new coaches following similar struggles, and former Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville will get that same opportunity after his team has lost 17 of 22 games since a 6-0 start last season. Studesville will allow offensive coordinator Mike McCoy to call the plays, and insiders believe there will not be a dramatic change without McDaniels on the sideline.
The Denver offense has made an effort to become more balanced over the last month, and a lot of that has to do with the health of running back Knowshon Moreno. The second-year player was battling a hamstring injury the first half of the season but has topped the century mark in rushing yards two of the last four games, including a season-high 161 yards last week. The other two games during that stretch were blowout losses and required Moreno to be more of a receiver than a runner.
Quarterback Kyle Orton is coming off his worst game of the season for the Broncos in a 10-6 loss at Kansas City last week. Orton briefly led the NFL in passing yards but fell to fourth after throwing for 117 on 9 of 28 attempts against the Chiefs. He had averaged over 307 passing yards in the previous four games, throwing nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
Arizona’s biggest problem this season has directly involved who has been under center. Things have gotten so bad that head coach Ken Whisenhunt is starting third-string rookie John Skelton for the first time. The Cardinals have not scored a touchdown in their last eight quarters – all at home – totaling just four field goals against division foes San Francisco and St. Louis.
The UNDER has cashed in the last three games for Arizona, and the team has failed to cover each of their past four. Denver has won the last five meetings with the Cardinals, going 4-1 against the spread with the total going OVER in all five games.
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