Betfair Official Blog

NFL Betting, Week 12: Broncos over Bears in a battle of underperformers

Click here to view market

Andy Richmond assesses whether the Denver Broncos have enough to rub out the Chicago Bears

A rather drawn out NFL Week 12 due the Thanksgiving Day games and the flexible scheduling that is now in use for the remainder of the season, sees some moderate offerings on Sunday but one game that does mean something is the Bears-Broncos match up at Soldier Field.

Well, it means something for the Broncos who are chasing an AFC West division title - for the Bears time is running out (and fast!) with the 10-1 Packers now out of sight in the division and a wildcard spot also looking a distant prospect.

The Bears are suffering from a very bad Superbowl hangover. Beaten by the Colts in last season's contest, their much vaunted number one defence, led by linebacker Brian Urlacher, has this season slipped to 23rd with only 17 takeaways under their belts - a statistic that would have been unthinkable last year. On Sunday a 30-23 loss to the Seahawks was the fourth time this season that the Bears have given up more than 400 yards and also the fourth time an opponent has put 30 points on them.

This is bad news for a Bears "D" which is facing a Broncos offence that has found its feet in a major way - I nearly wrote explosive way - but let's not go overboard. The Broncos still show a net points deficiency of 71 and only in the past two games have they found some production on offence - scoring 61 points.

The Broncos have always been a running team and RB Selvin Young has shown flashes this year of what he can do - but he needs to do it all game. However when Young left the game injured against the Titans on Monday night, in stepped rookie Andre Hall who finished with 89 yards on seven attempts and his maiden NFL touchdown. With doubts about the fitness of Young and premier RB Travis Henry, Hall could make his first NFL start on Sunday afternoon. With the Bears being last in the NFC in rushing defence he won't have a much easier introduction, especially if he seeks to attack them at the edge of the line of scrimmage as the Vikings Adrian Petterson did when rushing for 224 yards back in week six against the Bears.

If the Broncos offence directed by QB Jay Cutler can find some balance and generate some passing yards too, as they did against the Titans the Bears "D" could be in for another long day. Cutler, who was prone to interceptions and fumbles earlier in the year, appears to be maturing and was an integral part of the win over the Titans. Showing much better poise outside of the pocket, he used his obvious athleticism to good effect throwing TD passes of 41 and 48 yards. Cutler will be looking for WR Brandon Stockley and TE Tony Schaffer as his primary targets.

But it's not only the Bears defence which has had problems this year with the Broncos suffering from numerous mental lapses this season. Missed assignments and blown coverages were, and are, happening far too often as 258 points conceded testifies. However, this week they do face the vastly over-rated Rex Grossman who is best summed up thus - "Rex Grossman playing from ahead is an uncertainty, Rex Grossman playing from behind is a liability". That was highlighted last week when he fumbled at the Seahawks' 47 yard line with just 5:43 left in the fourth quarter and the Bears down 27-20. Grossman will always give you a chance at some point of the game and the Broncos should be looking to intimidate him early as he seeks to find WR's Muhsin Muhammed and Bernard Berrian. It's RB Cedric Benson who will need to provide pass protection, something he's failed to do this season. Just ask injured Bears QB Brian Griese whom he failed protect back in Week 10 - a sprained shoulder and another chance for Grossman is the result.

All in all a tight game on Sunday, with two spluttering defences and two offences that have had their problems this year - it does look as though the Broncos may have turned the corner on Monday night and they may now be able to push on and win the woeful AFC West.

Soldier Field has certainly not been given the Bears much home field advantage this season and with the Broncos being the team with more momentum - at a shade of odds against they would have to be my pick here. The Denver 1.5 points adds a little insurance if you want to go down that route - I have a feeling if we do see either of these teams in the playoffs it won't be for long.

• US Sports
• NFL