In terms of total yardage on offense, the Denver Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles come in No. 1 and No. 2 in the NFL. If there was ever a game to tune into for offense, this Week 4 matchup in Denver is it.
Eagles vs. Broncos 2013 game preview: The NFL’s best offenses collide
The Broncos and the Eagles are number one and two in total yardage in the NFL.
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Eagles high rolling offense hasn't translated to the same record as the Broncos, however. At 1-2, the Eagles defense has struggled at times. Meanwhile, the undefeated Broncos are rolling at the record-setting pace of quarterback Peyton Manning. If he pulls off this win, not only are the Broncos 4-0, but they'll have 15 consecutive regular season wins dating back to last season -- the longest in franchise history.
Meet the Broncos
Speaking purely in terms of now, it is safe to say the Super Bowl goes through Denver. The Broncos are averaged 486.7 yards and 42.3 points per game. The Green Bay Packers come in second at the league at 32 points per game. Much of this has come from the hands of Peyton Manning, who has thrown 12 touchdown passes in the first three games of the season, breaking Tom Brady's previous record.
Points will go on the board quickly this game, and the Broncos defense might be best suited to try and slow down Chip Kelly's high-tempo offensive styles. Denver has broken up or intercepted 20 passes this season, which is tied for the NFL lead. If the Broncos win, they will set the franchise record for longest regular season win streak, but will still be a ways off of the league-record of 23, which Manning set with the Colts in 2008-2009.
Meet the Eagles
The Eagles’ offense isn’t as high scoring as the Broncos’, but they move the ball almost as well. The Eagles average 461.7 yards per game, with much of that coming from the rush. The Eagles are tops in the league with 209 yards per game, led by running back LeSean McCoy. One side will have to give, as the Broncos boast the league’s best rush defense, which only gives up 43.3 yards per game.
Part of that is because the Broncos get so far ahead, teams have to throw to catch up, and if Michael Vick is throwing the ball well the Eagles have more than a chance. Although the Eagles have a porous secondary, they give up slightly fewer yards in the air than the Broncos do. With two very capable quarterbacks, this will be a high scoring affair.
Local Takes: Broncos
Mile High Report points out that when the two best offenses get together, you can expect a whole lot of points.
The Broncos, who are coming off a 37-21 win over the Oakland Raiders in Week 3, are the NFL's top-ranked offense, while the Eagles boast the NFL's second best offense in terms of net offensive yards. The Eagles are coming off back-to-back losses against AFC West teams in a five-day span, but they will have had 10 days to prepare for Peyton Manning and company in Week 4.
Local Takes: Eagles
The folks at Bleeding Green Nation give the breakdown for how to bet on the game, if it were legal in your neck of the woods of course.
The Eagles offense is really good. Some people don’t seem to believe that yet, but it’s true. The reason I mention this is that, if the Offense plays well (avoids TOs and limits dumb penalties), it should put up A LOT of points. Regardless how how much better you think the Broncos are, asking any team to score 12 MORE points than the Eagles is a tall order.
Follow the Fun
Be sure to check out SB Nation’s team blogs, Mile High Report, Bleeding Green Nation, for more analysis and highlights from the game.
Add these fine follows to your Twitter timeline:
It's the #Raiders man. Hate runs deep. RT @WillBrinson: Broncos fans booing Pryor as he's taken to the locker room up 37-14? That's cool.
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 24, 2013
Peyton Manning complains about having to face the Eagles on short rest #SomebodyCallTheWambulance http://t.co/xko9eXH6pU
— BleedingGreenNation (@BleedingGreen) September 24, 2013
@PostBroncos - Denver beat reporters
"You want 'em looking through their ear hole!" http://t.co/WCQt9OlMnA #broncos #raiders
— Denver Post Broncos (@PostBroncos) September 24, 2013
@Jeff_McLane - Eagles beat reporter
Bill Davis picked a bad week to stop sniffing glue.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) September 24, 2013
Prediction
Both offenses can score with the best of them, but the Broncos have the slightly better defense and the home field advantage. Everyone at SB Nation is picking Denver for the win.
Odds
The Broncos opened the spread favored by 7 1/2 points over the Eagles, but that has grown recently all the way up to 12 points, according to Oddsshark.com.
Next Week
The Broncos head on the road to the Cowboys after their two game homestand. The Eagles play their second of third consecutive road games at the New York Giants.
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