The Denver Broncos (9-5) are set to face the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) on Thursday Night Football in Week 16. Here are five quick storylines to watch for going into Thursday’s game.
1. Broncos running back rotation: Jaleel McLaughlin has been the team’s best running back in recent weeks, but he was ruled out with a quad injury on Wednesday. That will leave Javonte Williams and rookie Audric Estime as the next men up, and Denver will likely elevate Blake Watson from the practice squad. We could see Marvin Mims mix in at running back as well, something he did leading up to the team’s bye week.
2. Denver’s cornerback depth: Riley Moss (knee) has been ruled out again, marking the third game he has missed. Fortunately, Pat Surtain (ankle) was able to practice this week and he was not given an injury designation for Thursday. Kris Abrams-Draine will likely start across from Surtain with Ja’Quan McMillian playing in the slot and Damarri Mathis getting rotational snaps like last week. When these teams met earlier this season, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went 21-of-34 for 237 yards and a touchdown in a game that Surtain left with a concussion.
3. Broncos’ defense against Herbert and Co.: J.K. Dobbins rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos earlier this season, but he’s now on injured reserve. Denver pass rusher Nik Bonitto has scored a touchdown in each of the team’s last two games and he’s just one sack away from tying the NFL leader (Trey Hendrickson has 12.5 sacks). The Broncos, Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles have a three-way tie for the fewest points allowed per game (17.6), so Thursday night could be a defensive struggle.
4. Bo Nix bouncing back from three turnovers: Nix struggled against the Indianapolis Colts last week, throwing a career-high three interceptions. He had a bit of an in-game bounce back with three touchdown passes in a 31-13 win over Indy, but now Nix will have a fresh game to put those mistakes behind him. Nix will face an L.A. defense that allows the 10th-fewest passing yards per game (211.6), a unit that has totaled the seventh-most interceptions (14) and the eighth-most sacks (40) in the league this season.
5. Denver’s potential return to the postseason: The Broncos have already secured their first winning season since 2016. With one more win, Denver will clinch its first playoff berth since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.
Thursday’s game will be available to stream on Prime. The Broncos are one win away from clinching a spot in the 2024 NFL playoffs.
[vertical-gallery id=620142]