Preview: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos

Last week, one team looked slow, rusty, and uninspired, while the other looked like the best of the best within the NFL.  But what did last week’s games really tell us about the Chargers and the Broncos?

The Chargers truly were rusty, with about half of the starters on offense and defense getting their first significant playing time since last January or with some starters out completely.  After getting some work in, the Chargers offense improved dramatically racking up over 100 yards and scoring two TD’s in their final two drives of the game.  On the opposite side, the defense remained uncoordinated and passive for pretty much four quarters.

Last week the Broncos played in their final regular season tune-up versus an amateur football team known as the Oakland Raiders.  Based on that one performance, you can’t say a single bad thing about the Broncos, although they did give up 150 yards on the ground to a one dimensional offense with no offensive line.  But as I said, you can’t say a single bad thing about the Broncos.  Believe it or not, that win over the Raiders counted in their regular season record, so right now the Broncos are in the lead in the AFC West.  And props to them, because their high-powered offense thoroughly dismantled a defense with only one cornerback and one linebacker worth mentioning, and practically no one else who could start on any other NFL team. 

Obviously the Broncos are the cream of the NFL crop.

All kidding aside, it’s never easy to go into Denver and beat the home team.  Sure, we swept the Broncos the last two years, but everyone knows that doesn’t make any difference in this Sunday’s game.  Just like a 1980’s Super Bowl trophy doesn’t automatically make the Oakland Raiders an NFL level football team today.  I’m just saying…

The Chargers on Offense:  Philip Rivers, seven-months removed from reconstructive ACL surgery, looked great Sunday, especially with the game on the line.  Working behind a patched-up offensive line, he avoided the almost constant pressure to make good throws and work the Carolina defense.  What doesn’t help are the injuries to LT and Antonio Gates, although both expect to play Sunday.  C Nick Hardwick and T Marcus McNeill are both out this week, but I don’t think the Broncos can generate the kind of pass rush that Julius Peppers and the Carolina Panthers can.  If they take what Bronco CB’s Champ Bailey and Dre Bly give them, they should be alright. 

The Chargers on Defense:  Bronco QB Jay Cutler is a stud.  If you underestimate him, he will beat you- it’s just that simple.  Cutler has yet to face any serious pass rush and you have to get in his face to eliminate the verticle passing attack.  Unfortunately we didn’t see much of that from the Chargers defense last week.  To prevent this from turning into a high-scoring offensive onslaught reminiscent of the early 1980’s Chargers teams (all offense…what defense?), you have to blitz from any position and every position- something the Chargers used to do well. 

Prediction:  Overconfident?  Who’s overconfident?  Not the Chargers, not anymore.  Maybe the Broncos?  After a 41-14 embarrassment delivered to the Raiders last Sunday, it’s possible.  I expect this week’s game to be hard-fought and sometimes downright dirty.  In the end, if the Chargers revert back to the team that won eight in a row at the end of last season, they’ll pull out the win in week two.  Chargers 30, Broncos 20

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