USA TODAY Sports Network’s NFL Week 13 game previews, predictions

The USA TODAY Sports Network previews Week 13 in the NFL, with 49ers-Ravens, Patriots-Texans and Vikings-Seahawks leading the slate.

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos

Brandon Allen Denver Broncos
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS

Records: Chargers 4-7, Broncos 3-8

Line: Chargers by 2½

Chargers’ keys: Los Angeles needs to feed RB Melvin Gordon. When the Broncos beat the Chargers 20-13 in Week 5, Gordon was given just 12 carries.

Broncos’ keys: The defense needs to force Chargers QB Philip Rivers into mistakes. He has a losing record (13-15) against the Broncos and threw no TD passes and two interceptions when these teams met Oct. 6.

Who wins? Both teams are long shots to make the playoffs, so they might be playing for pride more than anything else. Broncos 24, Chargers 17

Jon Heath