Last week the Denver Broncos took part in what will likely be the most memorable game of the season. In snowy conditions at Mile High, the Broncos took the New England Patriots to overtime and won it on a dramatic 47-yard touchdown run by C.J. Anderson, knocking the Patriots from the ranks of the undefeated. They also picked up a head-to-head tiebreaker that could come into play down the stretch.
Broncos vs. Chargers 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
After handing the Patriots their first loss in an overtime thriller, what will the Broncos do for an encore?
To follow up that performance, the Broncos head to Qualcomm Stadium to take on a San Diego Chargers team that’s having a nightmare season.
Denver is now 9-2 and in firm control of the AFC West, even with the Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) making a late surge. Although they don’t have any clinching scenarios this week, the Broncos can put a stranglehold on the division if they win this game and the Chiefs lose to the Houston Texans.
The switch from Peyton Manning to Brock Osweiler has gone better than expected, at least for now. Osweiler had his struggles against the Patriots, but he made the important late-game drives to rally back from a 21-7 deficit and eventually get the overtime win. With Manning still on the shelf a couple more weeks, Osweiler could further solidify his place atop the depth chart with a big game against the Chargers’ 22nd-ranked pass defense.
Of course, Osweiler has been helped out big-time by the return of the running game. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman combined for 172 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots, and those two will need to be on-point for Gary Kubiak’s offense to function.
At 3-8, the Chargers are more or less playing out the string, but they did manage to snap a six-game losing streak with a 31-26 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Philip Rivers found his groove again after a brief slump, throwing four touchdowns and no interceptions while reaching the 300-yard mark for the first time since Week 8.
The Broncos’ top-ranked defense will be a much tougher test for Rivers and company, even with DeMarcus Ware ruled out for the fourth game in a row with a back injury. Ware is tentatively expected to return in Week 14, but the Broncos’ pass rush hasn’t been the same without him.
Denver’s defense probably won’t have to worry about the Chargers’ running game, which is 30th in the league. Rookie Melvin Gordon has been a massive disappointment, rushing for just 510 yards on 3.6 yards per carry in 11 games. The 15th overall pick in the NFL Draft, Gordon has yet to score a touchdown in his NFL career. On the positive side for the Chargers, Antonio Gates continues to be ageless, having caught two more touchdowns against the Jaguars last week. He’s now up to seventh all-time on the career leaders list with 103 scores, and is just nine away from beating Tony Gonzalez for the most as a tight end.
The Chargers have just two home games left this year, and with a Los Angeles move looking more imminent by the week, this could be the last time the Broncos play in Qualcomm Stadium. They’ll look to savor the opportunity.
How to watch
When: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
TV: CBS
Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon, Scott Kaplan
Online: NFL Game Pass
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