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A look at some reasons for optimism as the Chargers look to seek revenge over the Broncos and keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Chargers and the Broncos are set to battle it out on Sunday afternoon, as Los Angeles is seeking revenge from earlier this season and looking to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Here are three reasons why the Bolts should be feeling good about their chances of coming out victorious ahead of the Week 17 bout:
Highlighting important things to know about the Chargers’ opponent ahead of the Week 17 matchup.
The Chargers are looking to climb into the playoffs after digging themselves into a hole, with their last two games resulting in losses, as they’re set to take on the Broncos this Sunday.
Here are three key things to know about Los Angeles’ Week 17 opponent:
The Broncos only have two players on the COVID-19 list as of today: defensive end Jonathan Harris and center Lloyd Cushenberry.
Since the last time the Broncos faced the Chargers, they have averaged just 10.7 points per game. Last weekend against the Raiders, Denver rushed for 18 total yards and was 1-of-10 on third down. They’ve been hindered by a quarterback carousel between Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock, an inconsistent run game and dropped passes. In Lock’s first start last Sunday, he finished 15-of-22 for 153 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and an 87.9 rating. Bridgewater is currently questionable with a concussion.
While the Broncos have struggled to put points on the scoreboard, they’ve ensured their opponents haven’t been able to, either. Denver is currently tied for the top scoring defense, allowing just 17.3 points per game. In addition, they have the fourth-best red zone defense, as opponents have scored just 50% of the time on possessions inside the 20-yard line. Vic Fangio has gotten the better of opposing quarterbacks, limiting them to just 210.3 passing yards per game.
Highlighting three key storylines and making a prediction for the matchup between the Chargers and Broncos.
The Chargers will look to carry that momentum in a divisional battle against the Broncos on Sunday afternoon after their victory over the Steelers.
With that being said, here are three things to watch for in Los Angeles’ Week 12 bout with Denver.
Herbert had one of his best outings of the season last weekend, posting 382 yards passing, 90 yards rushing, and three touchdowns. However, he did have an advantage facing a Steelers defense that was hampered by injuries to key players. Now, he will be tasked with Vic Fangio’s, a replica of Brandon Staley’s – a system predicated on limiting explosive plays. Denver allows just 218.1 passing yards per game and has held signal-callers to 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Fangio will certainly look to put the pressure on Herbert and make him work post-snap, which is something he’s struggled with this season.
The Chargers were one of the best teams against the air early in the season, but the department has struggled as of late. Since Week 8, Los Angeles has allowed 15 explosive plays (pass that gains 20+ yards), which is the sixth-most in the NFL. Teddy Bridgewater is not an elite passer in the league, but he is efficient. Furthermore, he has weapons at his disposal that pose a threat to any secondary. Without Asante Samuel Jr., who was the team’s most consistent cornerback, Michael Davis, Tevuaghn Campbell, and Chris Harris Jr. need to play tighter coverage.
The Chargers have steadily improved in this area, with their most recent performance holding the Steelers’ rushing attack to just 3.1 yards per carry. Breiden Fehoko, Forrest Merrill, and Joe Gaziano all stepped up. Los Angeles will get Jerry Tillery and Christian Covington back, and they are expected to start while Fehoko and Gaziano will be part of the rotation “right away.” The Broncos present a solid one-two punch of Melvin Gordon and rookie Javonte Williams. Gordon averages 4.4 yards per carry and has five touchdowns, while Williams averages five yards per carry, including a team-high six runs of 20-plus yards.
The Broncos have one of the best defenses statistically, but they are plagued by injuries to key players at each level. I expect Herbert to have a solid performance, with Austin Ekeler and the tight ends getting involved to exploit a belittled second level. It’ll be close but Chargers win, 24-21.
Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez makes his prediction for the Week 16 matchup between Los Angeles and Denver.
The Los Angeles Chargers are set to face off against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 27 at 1:05 p.m. PT at SoFi Stadium.
Both team’s playoff hopes are dead, but some players and coaches are trying to keep their jobs alive. The last time out, Denver squeaked away with a victory, as they won on the final play of the game, which was a one-yard touchdown pass.
Offensively, quarterback Justin Herbert continues to engineer an offense that’s averaging 384.4 yards per game. However, the unit is only averaging 23.4 points per game. Defensively, they’ve been solid against the pass, but they’ve struggled against the run, allowing 123.8 yards per game.
Meanwhile, Denver’s offense has revolved around their ground game, as running backs Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay have averaged 118.8 yards per game. Putting points on the scoreboard has been issue, only amassing 19.7 PPG. Defensively, the Broncos have struggled, allowing 28.2 PPG.
The last time these teams met, Denver had to overcome a 21-point second-half deficit to pull off the come-from-behind win. The injury-riddled Broncos defense will have their hands full with Herbert. QB Drew Lock will play fine. Gordon will run for over 100 yards and a score. Ultimately, Los Angeles, like they’ve done the past two weeks, closes it out.
I’ve got L.A. winning by the score of 27-24.
The Los Angeles Chargers look to carry their momentum into this weekend’s contest against the Denver Broncos.
The Los Angeles Chargers are set to face off against the Denver Broncos in an AFC West duel on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2:05 p.m. PT at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Chargers are looking to build off their victory against the Jaguars last Sunday. For the Broncos, they are eager to simply get out of last place in the division and find some consistency with their play.
L.A. has been led by the dominance of rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, but it won’t be an easy task facing a Denver defense that ranks No. 8 in the NFL and is allowing 230.2 passing yards per game.
While the Broncos have been stout at limiting opposing offenses, they have struggled to get an offensive rhythm, averaging just 322.8 yards per game (28th), 209.2 passing yards (26th) and 113.7 rushing yards (16th).
Denver’s defense has slowed down some of the league’s best offenses and while there’s some issues up front in the trenches for the Chargers, I don’t see it shaking Herbert up.
Plus, Los Angeles’ defense started to come back to life with defensive linemen Melvin Ingram and Justin Jones back and getting key players healthy. They should be fired up to keep it up against a bad Broncos offense.
With that being said, I have the Bolts winning by the score of 26-21. It won’t be easy, but they ultimately find a way to prevail.
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Breaking down the Los Angeles Chargers’ Week 8 opponent.
The Chargers are set to embark on an AFC West battle against the Broncos on Sunday.
Here are three things to know about Los Angeles’ Week 8 opponent:
The Chargers ended their four-year marriage with running back Melvin Gordon, who wound up signing with the Broncos this past offseason. Gordon, who has shared the backfield with Phillip Lindsay, hasn’t had the season he was hoping for. Not only has he dealt with fumble issues, but he endured in a DUI arrest earlier this month, going 71 miles per hour in a 35 MPH zone. Gordon has 82 carries for 349 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
Like in 2015 when they won the Super Bowl, the Broncos have relied on their defense to keep them in games. Denver is coming off a performance where they limited Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to only 200 passing yards. The Broncos rank 10th in rushing yards allowed per game (109) while ranking 13th in passing yards allowed (230.2). The Chargers have been rock solid on third downs, but it could be a lot more difficult this weekend. The Broncos have held their last two opponents to 4-of-21 on third down (19 percent).
Denver hasn’t been able to find their groove with second-year quarterback Drew Lock and has new reinforcements. After missing three games with an injury, Lock has four interceptions and zero touchdowns in the past two contests. The offensive unit has only scored one touchdown in eight quarters, ranking 29th in points per game (19.3). The offense will already be without right guard Graham Glasgow, but they could be also be without wide receiver Tim Patrick (hamstring), running back Phillip Lindsay (concussion).
