Chargers vs Broncos Preview

Now, the Chargers real season begins. They play the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs twice before the end of the season, as well as the Cincinnati Bengals in week 13, all current playoff teams. This week they take on the Broncos, and it goes without saying that the Chargers are going to need to stop the high powered Broncos’ offense in order to win the game. The Chargers must hold serve at home if they want to be taken seriously in the AFC playoff picture going forward.

San Diego Pass Rush vs. Peyton Manning and Denver’s Offensive Line

To me this is the biggest matchup of the day. The Chargers must get pressure on Peyton if they are going to win. They do not have the secondary players who can matchup with the Broncos stable of receivers, so if they fail to get pressure, it’s going to be a long and arduous game for the defense.

However, it will be tough to place pressure on the Broncos as Peyton is the master at getting the ball out before the rush can get to him. As well as that, the Broncos’ line has done a masterful job protecting him when he hasn’t gotten it out with speed, evident by the fact that they have only given up 11 sacks.

As we saw in the Broncos game against the Indianapolis Colts, if you can generate pressure against the Broncos, you can slow them down. Outside linebackers Larry English and Jarrett Johnson will need to step and be terrorize the edge, taking advantage of backups Chris Clark and Orlando Franklin. If the pass rush prevails, we can look forward to many images of the famous Manning face (pictured below), that will only make Charges fans feel happy about their prospects of winning.

Phillip Rivers vs. Denver’s Secondary

The reason I don’t include the Chargers receivers in this is because I expect them to get open at will against the Broncos nonexistent 30th ranked pass defense. It will be on Rivers to continue his exceptional play and hit these open targets all over Qualcomm Stadium and avoid turnovers the way he has all year (less than 1 per game).

If Rivers can keep hitting his receivers at a 72.2% completion rate, it will make up for, what I believe will be, a tough day running the ball against the Broncos 3rd ranked rushing defense. Yeah, I know, big shock that I don’t have faith in Ryan Mathews running the ball. (I know Danny Woodhead is there to0, but he is not a running threat for more than a few plays that catch the defense off guard).

Coaching

Yeah, I know, about as cliche as it gets, but with John Fox (Broncos) out and the way Mike McCoy (Chargers) attempted to win the game from the one foot line last week, it simply cannot be overlooked. I’m curious to see how the Broncos respond to their coach being gone, someone who is an above-average leader, as shown by the way he has been able to win with quarterbacks offering very different skill sets from Jake Delhomme to Tim Tebow to Peyton Manning.

Will Jack Del Rio command the attention of the team in a way that can help them weather this trial they have been dealt?

On the other hand, I really hope Mike McCoy doesn’t turn into Norv Turner and slowly kill the Chargers fan base like he did last week. Overall, I think McCoy is a damn good offensive mind, but next time, lets not get cute, just line up in a power run formation and see if you can pound it in. It’s one foot!!! And on defense, maybe defensive coordinator John Pagano talked to his brother Chuck, head coach of the Colts, for pointers on how he slowed down the Broncos.

The Colts aren’t stacked with elite defensive players, similar to the Chargers situation, but if Pagano can get his team to play as functioning unit; giving Peyton and the Broncos line varying looks and blitz, I could see an upset happening.

Prediction

I feel the Chargers will cover the spread (+7), but see the Broncos winning 35-31 in a shootout that captures viewer’s attention during the late afternoon games. Because these two teams seem to employ a “defense is optional” strategy, I truly see it as anyone’s ballgame, especially if the Chargers can force some turnovers and control the ball with their short passing game. Check back Monday to see a recap of the game, until then, Go Chargers!