Denver Broncos (3-3) vs. Cleveland Browns (3-3)
October 21, 2021 8:20 pm EDT
The Line: Cleveland Browns -3.5 / Denver Broncos +3.5; Over/Under: 42.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos meet in Thursday Night Football in week 7 NFL action at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Denver Broncos need a win to snap a three-game losing streak. The Cleveland Browns need a win to get a game above a .500 record.
The Denver Broncos have won two of their last three road games. Teddy Bridgewater is completing 70.2 percent of his passes for 1,514 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick have combined for 815 receiving yards and five touchdowns while Noah Fant has 30 receptions. The Denver Broncos ground game is averaging 117.5 yards per contest, and Melvin Gordon III leads the way with 332 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Denver is allowing 18.3 points and 314.7 yards per game. Kareem Jackson leads the Denver Broncos with 34 tackles, Von Miller has 4.5 sacks and Caden Sterns has one interception.
The Cleveland Browns have won two of their last three home games. Case Keenum is completing 33.3 percent of his passes for six yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. David Njoku and Donovan Peoples-Jones have combined for 494 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while Odell Beckham Jr. has 14 receptions. The Cleveland Browns ground game is averaging 168.5 yards per contest, and Nick Chubb leads the way with 523 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Cleveland is allowing 25.2 points and 307.7 yards per game. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah leads the Cleveland Browns with 29 tackles, Myles Garrett has eight sacks and Malcolm Smith has one interception.
The Broncos are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 Thursday games and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in October. The Browns are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 Thursday games. The under is 5-2 in Broncos last 7 road games. The over is 4-1 in Browns last 5 home games. The Broncos are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
I’m never thrilled about backing the Browns in the favorite role, but they’re simply the better team here. The Broncos have lost three straight, the defensive effort has slipped a bit these last couple of weeks, and the offense continues to have issues finishing drives. The Browns have the best rushing attack in the league and don’t have to travel on a short week. I’ll lay the reasonable number with the Browns at home.
