Week 5’s edition of Thursday Night Football brings us the Indianapolis Colts visiting the Denver Broncos in a matchup with plenty of storylines. Both teams began the 2022 season with a different quarterback than the previous year, and neither new signal-caller has lived up to expectations.
Matt Ryan left Atlanta after 14 years during which he amassed just shy of 60,000 passing yards and 367 touchdowns to set almost every team record for the quarterback position. He joined the Colts and their loaded roster that fell just shy of a playoff berth in 2021. They’ve since started the 2022 season with a 1-2-1 record and have their work cut out for them in a competitive AFC conference.
Russell Wilson enters his first season in Denver after 10 seasons in Seattle where he also set numerous franchise passing records and added a Super Bowl victory as well. The Broncos are 2-2 to begin this season and are averaging less than 17 points per game offensively, but have an overwhelming defense that has kept them in each game so far.
Our TNF main prop plays went 2-1 last week, with Raheem Mostert’s big night going over his rushing yards total being the loss in that batch. Our sprinkle on the Miami defense and special teams to score a touchdown did not come in either, but our under plays on Hayden Hurst and Joe Burrow both cashed.
Here are 3 player prop bets for Colts at Broncos! Best of luck on Thursday Night Football.
Matt Ryan Interceptions: UNDER 0.5
Best Available Odds: +110 at DraftKings
Ryan has been turnover-prone, to say the least, in his first four games as a Colt. He’s tossed five interceptions and lost 3 fumbles, and the team’s record has suffered as a result.
Ryan is in a new city, wearing a new uniform, calling new plays, and throwing to different guys. These kinds of adjustments do not happen quickly, and the Broncos are not an easy defensive matchup.
That said, Denver has only intercepted one pass on the season and Ryan has Michael Pittman Jr. back in the lineup and healthy. The public will be all over Ryan to toss a pick, so we’ll take the value on the under.
Nyheim Hines Receiving Yards: OVER 26.5
Best Available Odds: -110 at FanDuel
Hines will get extra snaps on Thursday in the absence of Jonathan Taylor. He does most of his damage catching passes out of the backfield.
The Broncos recognize this as well, but they also have a talented secondary that would prefer to let Hines catch check downs for 6-10 yards at a time than to get beat over the top for a big gain. Hines may clear 50 receiving yards in this game, and we’ll ride along.
Melvin Gordon III Rushing Yards: UNDER 59.5
Best Available Odds: -110 at FanDuel
Gordon assumes the role of the unquestioned lead back in the Bronco offense with Javonte Williams’ season-ending injury, but this matchup against the Colts’ run defense is not a friendly one. They’ve only allowed 358 rushing yards (6th-best in the NFL) for 3.1 yards per carry (2nd-best) through four games.
Gordon has some injury concerns of his own that will make him less likely to shoulder a massive increase in workload. The Broncos signed Latavius Murray this week from the Saints practice squad. They’ll hand Mike Boone some carries as well, which should lead up to Gordon not surpassing this rushing yard total on Thursday.
