Steve Starr
- BetOnline has the Browns as 4.5-point home favorites over the Broncos on Thursday Night Football
- Denver has won 12 of the last 13 meetings between the two clubs and hasn’t lost in Cleveland since 1987
- Oddsmakers have set the game total for this Week 7 matchup at 43 points
Thursday Night Football features two .500 teams that had high expectations early in the season before injuries and losses began mounting up. On a three-game winless streak after starting the year 3-0, the Denver Broncos are 4.5-point road underdogs to the Cleveland Browns, who are coming off consecutive losses and likely without both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt in Week 7.
Before we check the odds, preview the matchup and make our picks, here’s where you can find tips and advice for betting on NFL football games and get the latest NFL MVP futures.
Thursday Night Football
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Denver Broncos | +4.5 (-115) | +175 | Ov 43.0 (-110) |
| Cleveland Browns | -4.5 (-105) | -205 | Un 43.0 (-110) |
Browns vs Broncos
A trendy Super Bowl contender heading into 2021, Cleveland’s season is dangerously close to falling off the tracks after back-to-back losses to the Chargers and Cardinals.
The Browns entered Sunday’s home game with Arizona missing both starting offensive tackles, star running back Nick Chubb and receiver Jarvis Landry, and left with a 37-14 loss, a multi-week calf strain for Kareem Hunt and further injuries to Baker Mayfield’s left shoulder.
Baker Mayfield landed awkwardly on his shoulder on this play
Prayers up 🙏🙏
pic.twitter.com/xBd9UVnMQW— PFF (@PFF) October 17, 2021
Denver looked more the part of a pretender than contender after starting the season 3-0 against the Giants, Jaguars and Jets, and proved almost everyone right by taking three straight Ls versus the Ravens, Steelers and Raiders.
Most viewed Sunday’s home date with the post-Gruden Raiders as the perfect opportunity to get back on track. But Derek Carr came out firing, throwing for 347 yards and two TDs in a 34-24 win that wasn’t nearly as close as the score suggests.
Thursday Night Football Best Bets
Bet the OVER on 43 points. It’s easy to imagine Myles Garrett harassing Teddy Bridgewater, and Vic Fangio scheming something up to slowdown Baker Mayfield on a short week. However, 43 points is an exceptionally low total for two defenses that have been exceptionally bad over the past few weeks.
The Broncos have allowed an average of 28 points per game on their three-game losing streak while Cleveland’s defense has been smashed for 47 points and 37 points in consecutive losses to the Chargers and Broncos.
🔑 @derekcarrqb and @__RUGGS have the launch codes 🔑#LVvsDEN | CBS | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/480MNt464c
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 17, 2021
Broncos to cover 4.5-point spread. While the Browns are the No. 1 rushing team in the NFL with Chubb and Hunt, they have no offensive identity without their bruising backs. The ascension of wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones somewhat helps make up for the fact that Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. mix about as well as oil and water, but this is a clunky passing game
Denver is every bit as desperate as Cleveland entering the Thursday nighter and will give the banged-up Browns even more than they bargained for in a worst-case-scenario season that is quickly spiraling out of control.
Final Score Prediction: Broncos 24, Cleveland 23.
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