Tag: Chargers vs. Broncos

Studs and duds from Chargers’ victory over Broncos

Here’s who came through and who disappointed in the Chargers’ victory over the Broncos.

The Chargers moved to 4-2 on Monday night, grinding out a 19-16 overtime win in one of the ugliest games in the NFL this season.

Neither offense could move the ball effectively, turning the game into a slopfest mercifully. It ended only with Ja’Sir Taylor’s heads-up play on punt coverage leading to a muffed punt and Los Angeles recovery.

Dustin Hopkins was able to nail a 39-yarder to lift the team over the Broncos for just the third time in seven tries and win a game for the fourth time in 12 tries on Monday Night Football.

Here’s who contributed to the win and who could’ve done more.

Stud: Dustin Hopkins

After injuring his quad on his first kick of the night, it looked like Hopkins might be down for the count. We all know the narrative around Brandon Staley’s fourth-down decision-making. JK Scott, while lacking NFL kicking experience, kicked four field goals and ten extra points collegiately at Alabama. Scott also proved he had the leg to handle kickoff duty throughout the second quarter and second half. And yet, there was Hopkins, trotting out there for a 37-yard field goal with less than a minute in the first half. He fell to one knee, grimacing in pain while making the kick, but he did make it. Still, it looked like the second half would be field goalless.

And then Hopkins kicked two more, looking like he was in more and more pain each time. The broadcast showed him wearing a device on his quad whenever he wasn’t on the field. But every time, Hopkins went out there and nailed his kick.

Oh, and he hit the game-winner, too. It was one of the grittiest performances by a Charger in recent memory.

Dud: JC Jackson

Something isn’t right about Jackson’s fit in this defense. Maybe it’s his ankle preventing him from turning and running with KJ Hamler down the sideline late in the first half. Maybe it’s the adjustment to a heavy dose of zone coverage, leading to the mistake that left rookie Greg Dulcich wide-open for Denver’s only touchdown of the game. Whatever it is, it’s not working, and the Chargers know it. Jackson was benched in favor of Michael Davis to open the second half, after which the defense seemed to instantly be on the same page on every play. Luckily for Jackson, there’s only one more game before the bye week, which should give him extra time to recover (if it’s injury-related) or grind film (if it’s mental-related).

Stud: Austin Johnson

Both Johnson and Sebastian Joseph-Day had their best games of the season as run defenders against a Denver interior that had all three of their regular starters in the game with the return of Quinn Meinerz. Denver leaned away from the rushing attack for most of the game, running 23 times for 98 yards, good for a per carry average of 4.3. That’s down from the Chargers’ league-worst mark of 5.8 yards per carry coming into this game. I give the stud nod to Johnson over Joseph-Day tonight because he seemed to be in the backfield the most consistently late in the game. Make no mistake, though, both players did a fantastic job directing Latavius Murray and Melvin Gordon back into the teeth of the defense.

Dud: Zion Johnson

The Chargers’ first-round pick had a tough matchup with DJ Jones across from him, but we’d seen him stonewall Chris Jones to the point that the Chief flipped to the left side to find success in Week 2. The Broncos’ Jones had no such issue, baiting Johnson into three holding penalties and overall causing problems for the Chargers’ offense. Without the benefit of the All-22 tape, it’s hard to say if Johnson’s struggles were due to having a new center in the game and a less-than-healthy Trey Pipkins to his outside shoulder. Regardless, the offensive line as a whole failed to protect Herbert to the level we’d come to expect from the ragtag unit after the Rashawn Slater injury. Johnson was the public face of that struggle tonight as the one drawing penalties. 

Stud: Joshua Palmer

Credit to Palmer, whose hype was rapidly fading after five weeks of drops and timing issues with Justin Herbert. But with Mike Williams shut down against Patrick Surtain II, LA needed another receiver to step up and move the ball in this game. Palmer answered that call, turning a season-high twelve targets into nine receptions for 57 yards, two of which went for first downs and another two of which brought the team within a yard of one. The former Tennessee product also drew three pass interference flags down the field, a key factor in LA’s field position in the first half. Palmer’s performance tonight is an encouraging sign that he and Herbert have worked out their issues, and a drop-free game will only endear him further to his quarterback.

Dud: Justin Herbert

When the lights are brightest, you need your franchise quarterback to step into that spotlight and win you the game. Essentially without your top two receivers, you need your franchise quarterback to elevate other talent and keep the offense humming. Tonight, Herbert simply didn’t have it. He missed throws high, rotated his eyes late, and failed to feel pressure. Maybe the pressure got to him more than usual with Will Clapp in the lineup and Zion Johnson struggling. Maybe it’s the playcalling. Maybe the ribs are bothering him more than he’d ever let on. Whatever the case, Justin Herbert theoretically is on this planet to generate explosive football plays, yet he was 1-of-7 on passes of 15 or more yards. Credit to Denver’s defense, which we knew was a strong one.

Stud: Drue Tranquill

Tranquill had just about the game of his life, logging two sacks in critical situations. With 9 minutes left in the game, tied 13-13, Tranquill found his way home to bring Wilson down and force a Denver field goal. On the next drive, Tranquill came unblocked on a blitz and brought Wilson down in 2.25 seconds, the fourth-quickest sack in the league this season. Nobody on Denver’s offense could stop Tranquill from getting to the QB, as he also logged a third QB hit immediately before Derwin James’ big third-down sack that got the Chargers moving in the right direction. Tranquill was also second on the team in tackles with eight total, completing a standout performance.

Dud: Stick

Joe Lombardi has to diversify his go-to playbook. Credit to him, the Chargers overall called a more creative and effective game than usual, especially on the ground, where Austin Ekeler and Sony Michel got things going for the third straight week. They even took a deep shot on the first play of the game, drawing a pass interference penalty! And then they hardly ever did it again, returning to the bread and butter of stick, spot, and Hank for the rest of the game. Denver’s corners knew it was coming, too, consistently triggering on routes fast enough to cause PBUs and tipped balls, leading to interceptions. It’s one thing to like a play, another to run it frequently enough to be a staple. But to come back to it time after time, to the point that everyone knows it’s coming as soon as Herbert drops into shotgun, is entirely different. Hopefully, the bye week brings some extra installs.

Top Twitter reactions from Chargers’ win over Broncos

How Twitter reacted to the Chargers’ victory over the Broncos in Week 6.

The Chargers defeated the Broncos 19-16 in overtime on Monday Night Football. Kicker Dustin Hopkins made the winning 39-yard field goal, which puts Los Angeles at 4-2 on the season.

Here’s how the internet reacted to the thrilling game:

Everything to know from Chargers’ overtime win over Broncos

Highlighting all the important stuff from the Chargers’ Week 6 victory over the Broncos.

The Chargers defeated the Broncos in overtime on Monday night, 19-16.

To recap the game, here is everything to know about Los Angeles’ victory.

Chargers CB J.C. Jackson benched in second half vs. Broncos

Whether due to an ankle injury or poor play, cornerback J.C. Jackson is out of the game.

Whether due to an ankle injury or poor play, cornerback JC Jackson is out of the game.

After giving up two big plays down the field in the first half, Jackson did not take the field with the Chargers’ defense to open the second half. Michael Davis replaced him.

With Jackson in the game, Los Angeles allowed three completions of 35 or more yards to Russell Wilson, the first time he has accomplished such a feat this season.

Jackson also busted a coverage on Wilson’s passing touchdown to Greg Dulcich, abandoning his Cover 3 landmark to follow KJ Hamler downfield.

Expect Davis to continue to man the corner spot opposite Asante Samuel Jr. if Jackson stays on the sideline. Whether Jackson will return is unclear at this time.

Chargers RB Joshua Kelley questionable to return vs. Broncos

The Chargers’ best pure runner in 2022 may be missing the rest of tonight’s game.

The Chargers’ best pure runner in 2022 may be missing the rest of tonight’s game.

The team announced that Joshua Kelley is questionable to return with a knee injury suffered in the first quarter. Kelley was spotted heading into the blue tent and later working on a stationary bike on the sideline in the first quarter.

Kelley did not log an offensive touch before exiting the game, suggesting that his injury may have occurred either on special teams or while serving as a blocker for Justin Herbert.

Without Kelley available, Sony Michel will take the bulk of the carries behind Austin Ekeler. Ekeler has been effective thus far, however, scoring a touchdown midway through the second quarter.

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Week 6 with Broncos Wire

Answers to a few burning questions about the Broncos ahead of their matchup with the Chargers.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos are about to go head-to-head on Monday night.

Before the matchup, Broncos Wire’s managing editor Jon Heath spoke with us about Los Angeles’ opponent.

1. Do you think Russell Wilson’s struggles have more to do with the lat injury or offensive structure?

I think it’s a combination, but the injury has only been for the last game and a half. Even before the injury, the offense has been extremely sluggish and some of Wilson’s throws have been off. I think he’s still getting familiar with his receivers and he’s still getting familiar with Nathaniel Hackett and the offense. Broncos fans keep waiting for everything to click, but it’s been pretty ugly so far.

2. What’s Denver’s plan going to be on offense after losing Javonte Williams and Garett Bolles for the season?

They like Melvin Gordon at running back, but he’s not as explosive as Williams. Gordon will be the RB1 but Latavius Murray and/or Mike Boone will also be part of the mix. At left tackle, Calvin Anderson appears to be the next man up to replace Bolles. He’s been a backup swing tackle over the last two years and has just a handful of starts on his resume. He’ll be a weak link that pass rushers will try to exploit.

3. Patrick Surtain II has ascended to star status this season. Where’s the weakness on this defense to avoid throwing at him?

Denver lost its other outside cornerback, Ronald Darby, to a season-ending ACL injury. That presumably means fourth-round pick Damarri Mathis is now in line to start. Mathis has been a fine rotational cornerback through the first five games, but he’s unproven as a starter. QBs will likely test him often.

4. What has made Ejiro Evero’s defense so effective in his first season as defensive coordinator?

He inherited a very talented roster, and he didn’t make many big changes to Vic Fangio’s scheme (Evero comes from the Fangio coaching tree). One notable difference Evero has in play-calling is blitzing. Fangio rarely blitzed linebackers, but Evero has sent inside linebackers on several occasions this year, often at just the right time.

5. What’s your prediction for the game?

Like I said earlier, Broncos fans keep waiting for the team’s offense to click and turn things around. Faced with the possibility of dropping to 2-4, this may be the week Denver gets back on track. Until I see it, though, I can’t back the Broncos to just flip a switch. The defense should keep them in Monday’s game, but it’s hard to have any confidence in Denver’s offense.

Chargers, 23-19.

Must-watch matchup: Chargers WR Mike Williams vs. Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II

This will be one of the most intriguing battles on Monday night between the Chargers and Broncos.

The Los Angeles Chargers return to primetime for a Monday Night Football showdown with the division-rival Denver Broncos

Star wide receiver Keenan Allen is listed as doubtful and is expected to be out for the game. Allen is still nursing a hamstring injury, which he aggravated in the Week 1 win against the Raiders. He told NFL Network on Saturday that his hamstring is still suffering from fatigue at practice and the veteran will likely miss his fifth straight game.

Allen’s injury paves the way for another spotlight performance for Mike Williams as the team’s top receiver. Williams, who signed a three-year contract worth $60 million in the offseason, has emerged as quarterback Justin Herbert’s go-to target. Over the last two weeks, Williams has amassed 17 catches and 254 receiving yards for a ridiculous 34.5 percent target share average.

Just how well has Williams filled in? In three of the four games Allen has been out, Williams has gone over the 100-yard marker. With a third of the season about to be complete, Williams is on pace to surpass his career-high totals – his 28 catches and 392 receiving yards both rank 11th among wide receivers. 

Williams has been able to use his big frame, jump ball prowess, and catch-point concentration to consistently pose a threat to create big plays downfield. Herbert likes to throw his way, even when in tight coverage. Williams has converted 50 percent of his contested catch opportunities and produced a 53.3 percent win rate in the same category last season.

However, Williams will be tested in Week 6 against Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Surtain, a first-round in 2021 and the second cornerback taken off the board, performed well in shadow coverage against Williams in his rookie season. The two will probably be pitted against each other again on Monday.

The former Alabama standout held Williams to four grabs and 39 yards on eight targets in the pair’s first head-to-head appearance. Williams had more success five weeks later, hauling three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. Williams burned a different cornerback – Kyle Fuller – on his score, which gave Herbert the Bolts’ single-season passing touchdown record.

Surtain finished his first year strong but has been nothing short of dominant to start the 2022 season. Surtain has earned an 88.1 coverage grade from PFF, the top-ranked cornerback with a minimum of 100 coverage snaps. He posted a 91.1 coverage grade in the Broncos’ Week 5 loss against the Indianapolis Colts, which also took place in primetime. 

Surtain has been targeted 31 times and allowed 19 receptions, but he has not given up a touchdown. Quarterbacks have been less inclined to throw Surtain’s way after he collected four interceptions and 14 pass breakups last year. Surtain has yet to record pick, but he has defended four passes from receivers this season.

Tipico Sportsbook currently has Williams at an over/under of 68.5 receiving yards, which is significantly below his 78.4 average this season. The matchup against Surtain is a big reason, who will be hard-set to limit one of the NFL’s most productive receivers over the last couple of weeks.

Herbert and Williams will need good chemistry to overcome their most difficult passing test to date and extend the Chargers’ win streak to three consecutive games.

How to watch, listen, stream, wager Chargers vs. Broncos

To prepare for Week 6, here is everything you need to know about the matchup between the Chargers and Broncos.

The Los Angeles Chargers are looking to pick up their third-straight win when they take on the Denver Broncos on Monday night.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Week 6 matchup:

Game Information

Who: Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers

When: Monday, Oct. 17 at 5:15 p.m. PT

Where: SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, CA

Television

The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will have the call.

Radio

ALT 98.7 FM

KBUA 105.5 / KBUE 94.3 FM

Streaming

fuboTV (try it free)

Betting

Lines are from Tipico Sports

  • Moneyline (ML): Broncos +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Chargers -220 (bet $220 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Broncos +4.5 (-110) | Chargers -4.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 45.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)

Social Media

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Follow Alex on Twitter (@alexkatson)

Chargers’ keys to victory over Broncos in Week 6

Here is how the Chargers can beat the Broncos on Monday night.

The Chargers return to SoFi Stadium on Monday night for a showdown with the 2-3 Broncos, who enter the game with three extra days of rest after playing the Colts last Thursday.

Here are the keys to Los Angeles winning this game:

Find a way into the backfield

Khalil Mack and company failed to sack Jacoby Brissett last Sunday, as the usually statuesque veteran was able to slip out of the clutches of defenders on multiple occasions. Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin are, to their credit, a very good tackle duo. Denver is not so lucky, especially after losing Garett Bolles for the season with a broken leg. The Broncos are slated to start Billy Turner and Calvin Anderson at tackle on Monday unless Cameron Fleming starts again as Turner continues to rehab from an offseason knee injury. Which spot any of them will be playing seems to be anyone’s guess right now, although I would assume Turner starts on the right side if he plays. Either way, that’s at least one backup with another backup or a player making his season debut on the other side. Russell Wilson is not immune to pressure; most quarterbacks aren’t. Make Denver keep extra blockers in and move the pocket to avoid getting Wilson’s jersey dirty.

Pass game contributors

Keenan Allen seems like he’s on track to miss his fifth consecutive game with a hamstring injury, but there’s a chance he plays after returning to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday. If he goes, it’ll be a huge boost to LA’s offense, considering that Patrick Surtain II will likely be matched up with Mike Williams for most of the game. Surtain has continued his ascension to the upper echelon of cornerback play in his second season, forcing Justin Herbert to turn his eyes away from Williams more often than not in this one. The Chargers will need someone to step up, whether Josh Palmer, DeAndre Carter, Gerald Everett, or another player.

Lock up Courtland Sutton

If Denver takes away Herbert’s favorite target from this season, the Chargers need to respond by doing the same to Wilson. Per ESPN, Sutton has 17 more targets than any other Bronco, with Javonte Williams still third on the team in targets despite missing last week’s game. Sutton’s reception total of 29 is equal to the number of targets the second option Jerry Jeudy has received all season. Bottom line: Wilson trusts Sutton and not much else so far in Denver. Whether that’s bracket coverage, trusting JC Jackson to bounce back and follow him, or leaving him in the hands of the undersized Asante Samuel Jr., Los Angeles needs to limit Sutton on Monday if they want to lock up Denver’s offense.

Keep the run game going

Last week’s 238-yard explosion against the Browns was a positive sign for Austin Ekeler and the running game, but it came against one of the worst run defenses in the league. Denver gives up 112.4 ground yards per game, putting them in the middle of the pack as a yardage defense. Still, there’s reason for optimism, as the game film shows the offensive line beginning to gel as they settle into their rest-of-season lineup. That’s positive news for Ekeler, who is averaging the most yards per carry on perfectly-blocked runs in the league this season but is among the worst on plays with non-perfect blocking. Outside of Ekeler, Joshua Kelley has repeatedly shown that he’s the team’s best RB2 option. Get him another ten carries and keep things rolling.

Wrap up the rushing attack

On defense, the Chargers have a tackling problem, namely at safety outside of Derwin James. LA benched Nasir Adderley against Cleveland for his poor performance as a tackler, only for fill-in Alohi Gilman to miss two tackles last Sunday. The spot next to James was supposed to be earmarked for third-round pick JT Woods, but he missed enough tackles in the preseason that the Chargers have not yet been confident enough to play him for a single snap in the regular season. Per PFF, Los Angeles has missed 50 tackles in total, tied for fourth most in the league through five games. This has all led to Los Angeles allowing a league-worst 5.8 yards per carry this season. The Bolts catch a break by missing Javonte Williams on Monday, but Melvin Gordon and Latavius Murray have both made a living on being physical backs. Finishing plays and limiting Denver’s progress on the ground will force the Broncos into tough third downs, an area where they are currently converting just 30.56% of the time, third worst in the NFL.

Capitalize on small mistakes

Los Angeles commits roughly five penalties a game, seventh best in the NFL, while Denver commits 8.8, tied for the worst mark in the league. That’s at least 15 to 20 yards of leeway and realistically more like 30 to 35 when you look at the penalty yardage numbers: Denver is giving away 67 yards per game on penalties, while LA is losing 35.6 per game. Neither team turns the ball over at a rampant rate, which makes capitalizing on smaller-scale mistakes much more important. The Broncos have shown a penchant for giving yards away and managing the game poorly. The Chargers must make them pay for those mistakes if they want to do away with their decade-long Monday Night Football curse. The team is just 3-8 in their ESPN appearances since 2012.

Chargers vs. Broncos: 4 storylines to follow in Week 6

Here are four of the biggest storylines to monitor during the Chargers’ matchup with the Broncos.

The Chargers are back at SoFi Stadium, looking to take care of business against the Broncos and pick up their third-straight win.

Here are four storylines to watch for Monday’s matchup.

Can the Chargers cook Russ?

Coming into the season, the thought was that the AFC West would be the best division in the NFL, with Russell Wilson’s arrival in Denver being one of the reasons. However, Wilson’s tenure with the Broncos after being traded from the Seahawks hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows.

Wilson ranks No. 14 in the NFL in passing yards (1,254), is tied for No. 23 in passing touchdowns (four), and ranks No. 28 in passing completion percentage (59.4%). Denver is averaging just 15 points per game, which is second-worst in the league behind the Colts.

Wilson will be looking to this matchup to be his get-right game. But the Chargers’ defense, which is a two-high safety scheme that disguises coverages, could give him fits, given that he’s not been properly making his reads. So speeding up his internal clock could lead to turnovers.

Stiffest test yet

The Broncos boast the NFL’s best passing defense, allowing just 176.6 yards per game, and they have given up only three touchdowns, which is tied for second-best.

Under new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Denver plays a lot of zone coverage to force quarterbacks to throw underneath, hoping to get them to third down, where they are a headache to offenses, with a whopping 54.5% pressure rating (highest on non-blitzes).

Denver has a fearsome edge defender trio of Bradley Chubb, Baron Browning and Randy Gregory, who have combined for 52 pressures. They will be without Gregory, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, however.

Along the interior of the defensive line, Dre’Mont Jones and D.J. Reed have totaled 14 and ten pressures, respectively.

Allowing quarterbacks little time to throw has been a big part of their defensive success, but in the back end, the Broncos have Patrick Surtain II, who has emerged as one of the top cornerbacks. They will also have safety Justin Simmons back, who was activated from the injured reserve.

Justin Herbert is the least sacked quarterback (5), but that’s primarily of how efficient he’s been at evading pressure in the pocket. Jamaree Salyer will have to be on his A-game against Chubb. The same applies to Matt Feiler, who has struggled. The running backs will also be key components in pass pro.

Will the real pass rush please stand up?

If the Chargers want to rattle Russ, it all starts up front in the trenches, where getting pressure on him is imperative. Easier said than done. Since Joey Bosa has been out with a groin injury, the team has been unable to get production opposite Khalil Mack.

Chris Rumph’s lack of size and strength has shown up as he has continued to lose at the point of attack. He isn’t countering his pass-rush moves. And he’s taking unnecessarily wide angles. Like Rumph, Kyle Van Noy’s been a one-trick pony as a pass-rusher.

The Broncos will be without starting left tackle Garrett Bolles, who is out with a broken leg. Calvin Anderson is the next man up at the position. Opposite Anderson is Cameron Fleming, who has allowed 12 pressures, five hits and two sacks this season.

After weeks of facing premiere pass protectors, this would be the game for Rumph and Van Noy to finally show up.

Can J.C. Jackson find his footing?

After missing the start of the season due to a minor ankle procedure, Jackson’s play has not matched the big money he was given in March. Jackson said it’s been a shift with the defensive scheme after going from a man-heavy system to playing the most zone coverage he has ever played.

Jackson has been targeted 20 times this season while allowing 15 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus. He has yet to intercept a pass and has been credited with just a single breakup.

Nonetheless, the Chargers will rely on Jackson to minimize the Broncos’ No. 1 wideout, Courtland Sutton. Sutton is tied for sixth-most receiving yards in the NFL with 417. He has six of his 29 receptions that have gone for over 20 yards.