Broncos on bye: Three must-watch NFL games this Sunday

The Broncos are on their bye, but you can still be entertained by good football.

I know what you are thinking, “How can I root, root, root for someone other than the home team?” Well, the home team is in Vegas (with the exception of Peyton Manning who isn’t feeling very lucky these days) on their bye week, football must go on. Three games this week are of upmost importance to the Denver Broncos for various reasons.

1: New York Jets @ New England Patriots, 11 a.m. MDT 

The New York Jets head into Foxborough this Sunday for a pivotal AFC East matchup against the 5-0 New England Patriots. The Jets are the surprise success this season with their 4-1 start under new head coach Todd Bowles and the resurgence of journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Running back Chris Ivory is averaging an NFL-best 115-yards a game and his team is unbeaten with him in the lineup.

It is not all the offense though; these Jets have something in common with the Denver Broncos.

The Jets are No. 1 in total defense when it comes to passing yards per game, which is in part thanks to cornerback Darrelle Revis, who has reopened “Revis Island.” Even rival QB and former teammate Tom Brady is singing his praise. “His instincts are incredible out there,” Brady said this week. “He’s one of those guys who sees everything on the field.”

Now, what does this game mean for Manning and company? If the Pats win, they will be tied atop the AFC, both at 6-0, making the Week 12 showdown’s importance of biblical proportions. Brady has a winning record at every stadium in the NFL, except here in the Mile High City. Home field for Denver is imperative. If the Jets can knock off their division rival, the Broncos would have a chance to take a two game lead in the conference late in the season when the “Deflategate” circus comes to town.

J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets!

2: New Orleans Saints @ Indianapolis Colts, 11 a.m. MDT

It just seems odd to see this Week 6 matchup between Drew Brees and Andrew Luck while neither team has a winning record.

New Orleans (2-4) and the Colts (3-3) are both fighting to salvage their respective seasons in drastically different fashions. The Saints are riding the back of QB Drew Brees, who has thrown for 300-yards in three straight games. He basically has to when his team has the No. 31 rated rushing attack and a defense that is allowing an NFL-worst 410-yards per game.

Indy, on the other hand, is relying on veteran running back Frank Gore and the arm of 40-year old backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselback has gone 2-0 in his starts this season in replacement of Luck, who went down with a bum shoulder. Luck is having an off year, his total QBR sits at 42.3, only slightly better than division rival Marcus Mariota. This Colts team is talented and has the chance to right the ship on any given Sunday, that’s why this game matters to Denver.

Manning does not play well against the Colts; after all, he did spend 14 years there. Manning is just 1-2 in his career against his former squad. Luck and the Colts host the Broncos Week 9 and the last thing they need is to play a surging Colts offense looking to prove a point. A winning streak by Indy could throw a wrench into Manning’s plans to win the AFC, especially with the Patriots coming to the Mile High City just three weeks later.

Go Saints!

3: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Kansas City Chiefs, 11 a.m. MDT

It doesn’t matter who is playing quarterback for the Steelers, this team is finding ways to stay in games. That could be dangerous for Denver once Ben Roethlisberger comes back from a knee injury.

The Steelers (4-2) head into Kansas City (1-5) looking to keep playoff hopes alive in a tough AFC North. Pittsburgh has been an average team since losing “Big Ben” in Week 3 against the St. Louis Rams. Ranking No. 17 in passing yards with just fewer than 350 per game all with Michael Vick and last week, Landry Jones, the former Sooner standout, under center.

Even with the carousel of QB’s running the offense, the Steelers have weapons. Wide receiver superstar Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell are having standout years and it’s safe to say once Roethlisberger returns, they will only improve. Brown is averaging 91 yards receiving per game while Bell has a 97-yard rushing average himself. These numbers are without Roethlisberger for 3-6 games.

These Steelers could be fighting for their playoff lives Week 15 when Denver heads to Heinz Field. Realistically, the Broncos could be as well. Manning has a 6-3 record against Roethlisberger in their respective careers; the late-season showdown could be the most important of them all.

Let’s hope the Chiefs can find their second win this Sunday!

These three games could have a monumental impact on the AFC, when all Denver can do is sit and watch. Even without the orange and blue on Sunday, the show must go on, and at least in the morning, it’s promising to be a great show indeed.