Week 11 prediction

Predicting what the Broncos will do week to week seems pointless. They’ve been so inconsistent, it’s impossible to tell which team will show up on any certain week.

One thing is obvious, however: when the Broncos get turnovers they win. No interceptions in five losses. Nine interceptions in four wins. Those figures are staggering. And the good news for the Broncos is Titans quarterback Vince Young has 10 interceptions this year. The Broncos will probably stack the line of scrimmage, dare Young to throw, and rely on cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Dre Bly to make plays.

The biggest factor in the game should be if Young avoids any mistakes. That’s not too likely.

Broncos 17, Titans 13

Week 10 prediction

The Broncos could win this week. True, they haven’t played well, but the Chiefs are vulnerable. Without top tailback Larry Johnson, Priest Holmes and rookie Kolby Smith will carry the load. Holmes was a star once, but nobody knows what to expect from him now. And if the running game struggles the Chiefs probably won’t be carried by quarterback Damon Huard, who has been looking over his shoulder at backup Brodie Croyle most of the year.

However, the Broncos have problems too. Even though quarterback Jay Cutler appears fine after a scare with a leg injury, running back Travis Henry and safety John Lynch are banged up. Even if they play and the Broncos are close to full strength, it’s still Arrowhead Stadium. Since Mike Shanahan took over as Broncos coach in 1995 the Broncos have won only twice there in the regular season.

Maybe Denver can shut down Holmes and the Chiefs’ running game, make the Chiefs throw the ball more and cause some turnovers. But it’s Arrowhead Stadium, and somehow the Chiefs will pull it out.

Chiefs 13, Broncos 10

Walker improving

Receiver Javon Walker hasn’t run since his knee surgery and the Denver Broncos don’t know if he’s in football shape, but there is some hope Walker can return soon. Walker might return for Denver’s Nov. 19 game against Tennessee, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.

Shanahan said Walker will have to start running by the end of the week. Walker had surgery Oct. 19 and doctors thought he might miss six weeks. But if he starts running this week, Shanahan suggested he could quickly come back to practice.

“We won’t know that until later on in the week,” Shanahan said. “We’ll wait and see when he runs and gets into football shape.”

Walker’s return would be a help to Denver’s offense, which scored only seven points against Detroit.

Cheap shot?

One thing that is tough to tell, even after watching the replay many times, is whether Lions tackle Cory Redding’s hit that knocked Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler out of Sunday's game was illegal.

Cutler said after the game that he was hit on the leg by a helmet. That was by Redding, who was flying into the play when it was obvious Cutler was going to be sacked by tackle Shaun Rogers. Even though it appeared Redding hit Cutler’s leg with his helmet, it also seemed Redding tried to hit with his shoulder pad as Cutler’s legs were being swung forward.

Shanahan said he hadn’t seen the television replays of Redding’s hit. He saw it on the coaches’ film and said he thought Redding led with his helmet but didn’t know that was the hit that injured Cutler’s leg. Using the helmet to unnecessarily and violently butt, spear or ram an opponent is illegal under NFL rules. Shanahan said if the NFL finds anything wrong with the hit, they’ll take action.

“If he did and it’s something illegal, obviously he’ll get fined for it,” Shanahan said. “I can’t tell you for sure.”

Week 9 prediction

Maybe leaving Denver will help the Broncos. After all, they’re 3-7 in the last 10 home games, 10-5 their last 15 road games.

The problem is the Detroit Lions aren’t a pushover anymore. They are 5-2 and have swept the defending NFC Champion Chicago Bears. The Lions have also been blown out by Philadelphia and Washington, so they are prone to some bad days.

Detroit has many dangerous offensive players and a defense that forces a lot of turnovers. The Broncos have to avoid the turnovers, score when they get close to the end zone and the defense has to avoid giving up big plays. That seems like a tough task on the road, no matter how much better the Broncos have been away from Denver lately.

Prediction: Detroit 28, Denver 24

Week 8 prediction

Is Green Bay a better team than Denver? Sometimes that doesn’t matter as much as how teams match up.

Monday night’s matchup appears to favor the Broncos. Their biggest weakness, stopping the run, isn’t much of a factor. Unless Green Bay rookie DeShawn Wynn, who has 202 yards this season, has a breakout game, the Packers will still have to gain most of their yards through the air. One thing the Broncos have done pretty well this season is shut down quarterbacks. Denver hasn’t been as effective over the past six quarters against San Diego and Pittsburgh, but cornerback Champ Bailey was out of the lineup with a thigh injury. If Bailey returns – that’s not a given – the Broncos should be able to hold up well against Brett Favre and perhaps create a couple of turnovers.

If Bailey plays, the offense should be able to scratch out enough points against a tough Packers defense to win.

Prediction: Broncos 20, Packers 14

Injury update

The Broncos are still waiting to see if running back Travis Henry will play this week. Henry didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday with injured ribs. After practice Thursday, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he hoped Henry could practice Friday, then play on Monday against Green Bay.

“Hopefully he’ll be ready to go,” Shanahan said.

The Broncos also are waiting on cornerback Champ Bailey, who was a limited participant in practice for the second straight day Thursday. Bailey, who missed last week’s game, has a thigh injury.

Receiver Rod Smith practiced for the second straight day, and Shanahan said he has looked good in practice. Smith, who had hip surgery in February, practiced for the first time all year Wednesday. Still, Smith will need some time before he is ready to play.

“That’s going to take some time,” Shanahan said. “You just don’t come back from that injury without practicing or trying to get in football shape in a couple days. But if he keeps on pressing like he’s doing, hopefully in three weeks he’ll be ready to go.”