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Denver Broncos: With the second overall pick in the draft, the Broncos got the extremely talented outside linebacker Von Miller. With him and Elvis Dumervil returning, the team’s outside pass rush should be much better. The problem lies on the inside of the defensive line. With the switch to a 4-3, and both of last year’s top players cut, there aren’t really players suitable to step in to start. The team failed to address this need in the draft, so they will have to try in free agency.

Denver Broncos: With the second pick in the draft, the Broncos can basically get their choice of anyone they like. The team finished last in the NFL in sacks last year, so help on the defensive line (Nick Fairley, Da’Quan Bowers) is a definitely possibility. Other positions like safety and middle linebacker need some depth, but nobody at those positions deserves to be taken that high. Cornerback Patrick Peterson is also an option because of his special talent.

The Indianapolis Colts (8-6) saved their season for the time being by beating Jacksonville 34-24 last week to prevent the Jaguars from clinching the AFC South, while the Oakland Raiders (7-7) kept their playoff hopes alive by trouncing the Broncos 39-23 in Tim Tebow’s debut as an NFL starter.

The NFL betting spread for this contest is Indianapolis -3 on the road, with the betting total set at 48½.

You probably would have won a lot of bar bets prior to the season if you had predicted that the Colts would only be -3 over Oakland in Week 16 with Indianapolis fighting for its playoff life, yet here we are!

The Denver Broncos gave the red-hot New York Jets a tough time last week before falling 24-20, while the Oakland Raiders offense sputtered as they allowed the 49ers to win their first game of the season, 17-9.

The NFL betting odds list Denver at -8 at home, with the betting total set at 41½.

The Oakland Raiders are now down to third string quarterback Kyle Boller, as Bruce Gradkowski has an injured shoulder and it looks like Jason Campbell tore the meniscus in his knee. The Raiders had a touch enough time moving the ball with their first two quarterbacks, and they may now get nothing out of the passing game.

The San Francisco 49ers dropped to 0-5 for the season with their home loss to the Eagles Sunday night, while the Oakland Raiders upset the Chargers, snapping a 13-game losing streak to San Diego.

Taking those two facts into account, the line on this game may fall into the “don’t make sense” category!

The NFL football odds list San Francisco -6½ at home, with the betting total set at 41.

Setting the oddity of this line aside for a minute, perhaps Mike Singletary should threaten to bench Alex Smith more often. Singletary announced last week that going forward, Smith would be evaluated on a “week-to-week basis”.

It is not too often that you see the Oakland Raiders cast as favorites, but that is exactly the case this week when they host the St. Louis Rams in a battle of 0-1 teams.

The bookmakers set the NFL betting spread on this contest at Oakland -3½ at home, with the betting total set at 37½.

It is probably impossible for the Oakland Raiders to be more pathetic offensively than they were last week in Tennessee. This was supposed to be an improved team with Jason Campbell at quarterback, but he did not help matters any with a couple of botched snaps. Add in a lost fumble, 10 penalties and four sacks allowed, and the Oakland offense did not look all that much different from years past.

A Look Back – Is there a silver and black revival in the cards in 2010? The ’09 NFL betting campaign was a relatively disappointing one for the Oakland Raiders, but a bunch of new faces in the fold could turn this franchise that has fallen upon rough times totally around. There were just no quarterbacks to choose from last season, but QB JaMarcus Russell is now gone, which is going to signal the start of a new era in Oakland.