*Sac's NFL Week 1*

Question

Good to see many familiar posters back this season, good luck to everyone. I can't find last year's record for the life of me, I kept track only via covers forum.

Anyone ready for some prop bets this year? I know I am, but will take it slow at first to see how the league looks early on.

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

1. Panthers 1H -1.5(-115) *2/1.74 units

I see a lot of people liking the Broncos, and their reasons are legit. Yea the line is a bit inflated since open, and yes lots of public money. But I see a few things in this game that favor the Panthers.

Let's start with the QB. C'mon fellas, Trevor Siemian's first NFL start on prime time TV. Play calling will be simple and he will be asked to play "mistake free" football. Easier said than done. John Elway said "Trevor is our guy" Then why did you draft Paxton Lynch buddy? More like...Brock Osweiler didn't want to play for you, so you panic and draft a QB for the 2nd consecutive years. Surprised that Paxton is 6'6 and big framed like Osweiler? Siemian must be gleeming with the assurance that he's "Elway's guy"

One thing I like most is that the Bronco's will be going back to the Kubiak zone run scheme, and the Kubiak offense in general if you consider that Peyton Manning held the reigns last year. Peyton from the shotgun doing his thing w/ audibles and such. Those intangibles are gone. Don't expect a rookie to call any audibles, and don't expect any adjustments on offense till after half.

The Panthers front 7 is well equipped vs the Bronco line to stop the run. *This time Thomas Davis won't be playing with a broken arm* From there it's on Siemian's shoulders to move the chains on 2nd/3rd n long. I think the Panthers secondary keeps the receivers in front of them not allowing anything deep. Lots of short stuff, WR screens and quick outs. Basically limiting YAR, and a wait n see how long this kid can make consecutive "mistake free" throws. The Panthers D will get their opportunity's. Siemian is 6'3, not the tallest of QB's behind a suspect O line.

Now to the Panthers offense. Which was smothered by Denver in the Super Bowl. Cam Newton flat out played like a b*tch when things started to go south. Huge game for him here. Don't think that he hasn't been thinking about this game all off season. I think Offensive coordinator Mike Shula has the upper hand coming into this HALF...

In the super bowl the Panthers were 3 of 15 on third downs. 12 of those times they were in 3rd and 8(or longer) where they only converted twice, and that was because of penalties. Graham Gano missed 2 field goals. Anyone want to talk about regression or progression to the mean, do you see that playing out the same?? Don't think that Shula hasn't been pining over this game all off season and coming up with a better way to be effective on first and 2nd down.

Don't forget that the Bronco's lost a few guys on D. Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathon, David Burton.

How about Defensive coordinator Wade Philips? He's one of the best IMO. But what does he have to do differently coming into this game? Answer=nothing. It's Shula's turn to give em something different or just flat out get his guys to execute better on first and 2nd down. Any D coordinator would lick his chops to have a team in 3rd and 8 or worse all game long.

Lastly, this is a huge revenge game. And no better than on their home turf.

That's my take. Didn't want to touch this game earlier, but I'll take the Panthers 1H. I don't want any part of halftime adjustments or the mile high fatigue to have an effect.

GL

undermysac · Answer