Football expert Phil Steele is the owner and publisher of Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, regarded as the college football bible. Get in-depth coverage of college and pro football 24/7/365 at PhilSteele.com and follow him on Twitter @philsteele042.
Broncos (-7) over CHARGERS: We have seen a scary amount of head coaches missing games with health reasons. But if any quarterback can handle that situation it is Peyton Manning, who is basically a head coach in uniform. Denver is coming off a bye week allowing them to game plan without John Fox, and Manning has covered seven straight following a bye. Manning and Philip Rivers are the top two quarterbacks in completion percentage, but while Denver’s pass defense is allowing only 58.8 percent completions and is tied for the league lead with 13 interceptions, San Diego is allowing 68.2 percent, with just four interceptions. As a Bronco, Manning is 7-0 versus the AFC West, winning by an average score of 31-14!
PACKERS (-1) over Eagles: Packer fans do not worry; the season is not lost despite the loss to the Bears and Aaron Rodgers’ injury. Rodgers has missed only two games in his career, but in those games they beat Detroit, 45-41, in 2011 and lost to New England, 31-27, in 2010 as a two-touchdown underdog. The Packers have a bevy of talent on this roster, and behind 10-year veteran Seneca Wallace they will, as every other team has, score on the Eagles defense which ranks dead last in the NFL.
LAST WEEK (NFL): 1-1
SEASON: 8-10