Then they got a remarkably easy victory against the hapless San Diego Chargers. The Broncos have a very strong run defense as well and are now allowing just 3.2 yards per carry.
Advertisement
When the Broncos beat Baltimore, 19-13 and Oakland, 16-10 earlier this season, the overriding theme was, “What’s wrong with Manning?'”
With about five minutes left, Broncos fans cheered a scoreboard update showing Philadelphia leading New England.
Homefield advantage is key in football, giving the team on the gridiron the crowd noise on defense. “I was not used to that”.
Although the team has suffered numerous injuries this year and is 3-8, the team has lost many close games and have been in most of the games that they have lost this year.
And, as has been the norm for the last several years – even more so this year – there were thousands of fans of the visiting team at aging Qualcomm Stadium, which may have hosted its penultimate Chargers game. “That is a bad combination”.
The San Diego Chargers offense…well, they don’t deserve credit. Chargers walked away from negotiations with city, county for new stadium in mid-June…. Demaryius Thomas caught a 21-yard pass which set up his a play-action three yard touchdown reception. “Absolutely not”, Osweiler said. With the large lead and behind a suffocating defense, the game would slow to a grind in the second half. They stayed with it and stayed in it.
The opening drive “was our best, running and throwing”, Thomas said. “That’s what we do every time we play somebody”. As long as we keep winning that is our main thing right now.
Philip Rivers could not guide the San Diego Charges to the end zone the entire game. McManus scored the extra point, bringing the score to 14-0. He later left with a concussion. Rivers was 18 of 35 for 202 yards and was sacked four times. And he’s now second in the National Football League in passing yardage. “He seemed like he had a little juice – a little pop to him”, Rivers said.
A 51-yard Josh Lambo field goal was all that separated the Broncos from their first shutout in a decade. Rivers was able to get some chemistry flowing with tight end Antonio Gates, who caught six passes for 50 yards. They will be hugely disappointed to have missed out on the chance to sweep the series for the first time since 1991. He brought it back 25 yards for a touchdown, the fifth pick-6 Rivers has thrown this season and the fifth defensive touchdown on the season for Denver.
Moments later, Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers was also carted off the field. He too was taken off the field on a cart.
Advertisement
In a game that felt like a blowout even though it was a two-score game most of the afternoon, the Chargers lost again. That has been a huge help to his line and the running back tandem of Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson.
