***SWAMPY SUNDAY - MUCK 4 - WEEK 9***

***DENVER BRONCOS @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES***

Don't have a lot of time for write-ups today because I got people to see and things to do so I will keep them all very short and to the point of where my heads at. After a historically bad week in the Swamp, let's rock and roll and get back on track. First up the struggling 3-4 Denver Broncos head into Philly to take on the surging 7-1 Eagles. Led by Sophomore QB Carson Wentz having a MVP caliber season so far, the Eagles have been dominating the NFL. Today they play their third straight home game before heading into a bye week and host one of the NFL's best defenses in Denver. Now down OT Jason Peters, the Eagles may struggle to keep DE Von Miller and Co. out of the backfield. After playing very well defensively on Monday Night last week in Kansas City, the Broncos still lost the game due to 5 turnovers. I was wrong to put trust in young QB Trevor Siemian and should've realized his confidence is already shot. Denver has pulled the plug on the youngster and has reverted back to their old friend Brock Osweiler. Brock held down the fort during the Super Bowl run while Peyton Manning was out with an injury and since then has hit "Brock Bottom." Heheh. The Texans threw him out in a trade to Cleveland after singing a massive deal and failing to become their QB of the future. The Browns then cut him, yikes. When you can't even be the QB on a historically bad team in desperate need of a QB, I don't think there is any lower pit than that. Nonetheless, Denver brought him back in on the cheap and have once again given him the keys to the car. Call me crazy, but I like this move to give this team a shot in the arm here. They know if they want to stay relevant they have to win ASAP. Not saying they will here, but I like this defense to clamp down on Wentz and make things difficult for Philly today. In my opinion, the Eagles have yet to face a defense like the Broncos have and they may have a hard time with it. I also think Brock will do a nice job managing the game and eliminating those pesky turnovers that Denver has fallen victim to so often this season. The Broncos will pound the rock with their stable of RBs and also get WR Emmanuel Sanders alongside WR Demmaryius Thomas back from injury who will help Brock dink and dunk in the passing game. I like this to be a close, low scoring affair. That being said, give me the points. BRONCOS+7

***LOS ANGELES RAMS @ NEW YORK GIANTS***

Both teams off their bye weeks here and are headed in opposite directions. Under new Coach Sean McVay, the Rams have had a resurgence and Sophomore QB Jared Goff has impressed thus far. The running game is back behind RB Todd Gurley and with Wade Phillips conducting this defense, this team seems to be for real. Even though the Giants have arguably been the biggest disappointment this season, they are still a very talented team. I believe they have too much pride and despite being down a handful of guys, at home today and feeling fresh off a break, I like them to hang tough and possibly upset here. When it comes down to it, it is the young Goff VS. veteran Eli Manning. Both up against stout defenses and I just have a gut feeling here that Eli gets it done. Rookie TE Evan Engram has proven to be a beast of a target for Manning and his new favorite toy. Now with WR Sterling Shepard back from injury and stepping in as the number 1, it should help open up the passing game once again. I like the Giants defense to step up here for their Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnulo versus his former team. I believe they will get to Goff, causing some turnovers that end up being costly. GIANTS+6

***INDIANAPOLIS COLTS @ HOUSTON TEXANS***

The Texans unfortunately just lost their sensational Rookie QB Deshaun Watson for the season with a torn ACL in practice, a day after the Astros won the World Series. What an emotional up and down 24 hours for the fans of Houston! However today they host the lowly Colts, who to their credit without their own starting QB in Andrew Luck this season, have fought hard at times this season and been competitive. They nearly and probably should've pulled the upset out last week in Cincinnati, but ended up losing by a single point. I am no fan of backup Texan QB Tom Savage but do think that he will be able to do enough today against a battered Colts defense now without their best player in CB Vontae Davis. I think behind the emotions of the city, the Texans defense will put together a complete game both offensively and defensively, eventually being too much for a Colts team who has to be struggling to find motivation. Look for DE Jadeveon Clowney to put the team on his back here today with a big game. (There is no reason for this game to be in bold, for some reason I can't get rid of it, just FYI) TEXANS-6

***ARIZONA CARDINALS @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ers***

This might be my favorite play today. The winless 0-8 49ers host their NFC West rival, the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona is off the bye week but without starting QB Carson Palmer. Backup Drew Stanton is horrendous and in a rematch of a game that went into OT in week 4, I like the Niners to get revenge and their first win at home today. SF just made a HUGE move in trading for coveted Patriots backup QB Jimmy Garroppolo. Even though Jimmy won't be playing this week, I believe this put a positive spin on the franchise and emotions are running high. On the other side, I think the Cardinals know their season is now done after an already rough 3-4 record and now losing their QB. I got to believe they are on the opposite side of the emotional spectrum here and won't be able to match the motivation of a young and hungry tough team, desperate for their first win of the season. SF QB C.J. Beathard has now played in their last 3 games. Obviously, he has been unimpressive in those games, hence the move with the big trade. In a game where it will most likely be his last start, maybe of his career, I am willing to say he will go ahead and play his best game and that these guys will play hard for him, knowing he is in a weird position as the odd man out of the big picture. I like them to attack with the running game behind RBs Carlos Hyde and speedster Matt Breida. Despite the Niners losing a handful of guys last week, for me it all comes down to fading Stanton here. I think Niners DE DeForest Buckner will be a force and in Stanton's face and believe Stanton makes some key mistakes today that will be the difference. New SF Head Coach Kyle Shanahan has this team headed in the right direction and these guys fight hard every week. I believe they get it done today. 49ers+2.5