Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 13, 2016 STATS LLC Associated Press Oct 11, 2016 The Denver Broncos head to the West Coast on a short week to play AFC West rival San Diego Chargers on Thursday Night Football. The Broncos are coming off their first loss of the season, to the Atlanta Falcons, 23-16. Denver is also dealing with the temporary loss of their Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak. The Broncos head coach will not make the trip to San Diego after suffering a complex migraine. "Gary is going to concentrate on Gary this week. Everybody else will concentrate on getting a win down in San Diego," said general manager John Elway. Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis is serving as the interim head coach as the Broncos prepare for the Chargers. DeCamillis is involved in week-to-week game management and this was the reason he was tabbed the coach instead of former NFL head coach Wade Phillips, the Broncos' defensive coordinator. How much actual preparation will be needed to face San Diego is a different story. The Chargers have had four nail-biting losses this season and are coming off another close loss to the Oakland Raiders in Week 5, 34-31. The Chargers had a chance to tie the game on a field goal late in the fourth quarter, but holder Drew Kaser fumbled the snap and the kick did not get attempted. "You can't make this stuff up. You think, 'Really, is there any other way we can find a way to (lose?),'" said Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers after the loss on Sunday. San Diego has lost four out of the last five games. The Chargers have lost 10 straight to an AFC West opponent and hope to avoid making the streak 11 this Thursday. Chargers head coach Mike McCoy appears to be on the hot seat as the Chargers have struggled most of 2015 and now into 2016. The offense, behind Rivers, still continues to put up huge numbers. But the 11 offensive turnovers have killed drives and put the defense on short fields. The Chargers have eight lost fumbles on the season. One of the major culprits of those fumbles is second-year running back Melvin Gordon. The former first-rounder out of Wisconsin had a fumble in the Week 4 loss to the New Orleans Saints and another against the Raiders. "I was conscious about it, and I don't even think a defender hit it. I have to go watch it. Walking off, I was so upset. We were driving it. I was getting into a zone. And then, it just came out," said Gordon of his turnover. The Broncos' defense will attack Gordon all game long and test his ball security. That defense, led by outside linebacker Von Miller, has recovered four fumbles this season and will be looking for more on Thursday night. Miller and Co. will also be hunting for sacks. The Denver defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 19 times this season. The Chargers' offensive line, which could be without starting right tackle Joe Barksdale again this week due to a foot injury, has given up only 11 sacks. This unit has played better than it did in 2015 when it gave up 40 sacks for the season. Seven of those sacks came against the Broncos in 2015. How the line handles Denver's defensive front will go a long way in determining the outcome. Against Denver in Week 5, the Falcons used their running backs as wide receivers and spread them out along the offensive formations. This forced inside linebackers Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis to leave the tackle box and play man coverage on the edges. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan took advantage of these matchups and the game plan helped hand the Broncos their first loss of the year. "(Atlanta) spread us out. The key part was that they had time to get those guys downfield. For backs to get downfield, it takes some time. You can't ask (Marshall) and Todd and those guys to hold up that long," said Kubiak. While McCoy may try to implement this scheme into the game plan, the loss of a great pass catcher like Chargers running back Danny Woodhead, who is out for the season, may prevent the Chargers' offense from using this attack as much as it might like. The Broncos' offensive line gave up six sacks in the loss to the Falcons, and no matter who is at quarterback, rookie Paxton Lynch or, if healthy, Trevor Siemian, that is too many hits for a quarterback to take. Especially with a healthy Joey Bosa lining up along the defensive line for the Chargers. The third overall selection in the 2016 draft played in his first NFL game against the Raiders and exploded onto the scene. The rookie collected two sacks and five total tackles in his debut. Siemian was listed as a questionable Wednesday due to a left shoulder injury. Broncos cornerback Kayvon Webster (hamstring) also is questionable, while linebacker DeMarcus Ware (forearm) is out. Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers (concussion) and safety Jahleel Addae (collarbone) will missed the game. Six San Diego players are listed as questionable: tackle Joe Barksdale (foot), guard Orlando Franklin (ankle), tackle Chris Hairston (groin), cornerback Craig Mager (shoulder), running back Dexter McCluster (hamstring) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (shoulder). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 14, 2016 Broncos QB Trevor Siemian (shoulder) is active for Week 6 against the Chargers. Siemian reportedly looked comfortable in pre-game warmups. He's had 10 days to heal up. The Broncos wouldn't be rolling him out there if he weren't ready. He's a matchup-play QB2 against the Chargers' banged up defense. Inactive for the Broncos are QB Austin Davis, CB Lorenzo Doss, TE Jeff Heuerman, OG Connor McGovern, OT Ty Sambrailo, S Justin Simmons and OLB DeMarcus Ware. Source: Jeff Legwold on Twitter Chargers RB Dexter McCluster (hamstring) is active for Week 6 against the Broncos. McCluster was questionable after tweaking his hamstring in Tuesday's practice. McCluster has received vanishingly-few touches since arriving in San Diego, but that could change if Melvin Gordon continues to struggle. Inactive for the Chargers are CB Brandon Flowers, DE Darius Philon, SS Jahleel Addae, CB Pierre Desir, OT Tyreek Burwell, OG Max Tuerk and TE Asante Cleveland. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
56AceInDaPlace 110 Posted October 14, 2016 Another Thursday night pick wrong lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted October 14, 2016 Chargers have a very good offense..Phillip Rivers, Melvin Gordon, Hunter Henry and Tyrell Williams is lethal when they are playing efficient ball. Phillip Rivers is playing some of the best football I've seen him play in quite some time behind a rather makeshift OL as well. The Broncos missed Kubiak...but the fact they don't have a QB is going to be their Achilles when and if the defense has an off game...which they did for sure. Chargers were abusing TJ Ward all night long and were pounding the rock with authority..you could really see that the Broncos are missing Malik Jackson and Trevathan...getting absolutely GUTTED up the middle. Also, hats off to the Chargers front 7. Just getting in the backfield all night long. I wouldn't be concerned about this loss if I'm a Broncos fan because this is a division rivalry...but I would be slightly worried with the lack of a real QB and a lack of a run defense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BJORN 679 Posted October 14, 2016 The Broncos missed Kubiak...but the fact they don't have a QB is going to be their Achilles when and if the defense has an off game...which they did for sure. Chargers were abusing TJ Ward all night long and were pounding the rock with authority..you could really see that the Broncos are missing Malik Jackson and Trevathan...getting absolutely GUTTED up the middle. Also, hats off to the Chargers front 7. Just getting in the backfield all night long. I wouldn't be concerned about this loss if I'm a Broncos fan because this is a division rivalry...but I would be slightly worried with the lack of a real QB and a lack of a run defense. Our run game was hardly effective. Take away the one 50 yard run, we were shutdown running the ball all night. From a Chargers perspective, I'm glad we stuck with running it but the Broncos were hardly GUTTED. The Broncos defense was VERY good last night. We had two long drives in the first half but in the second half they held up nicely aside from one big run play and a few bad penalties on one drive. And even on our nice opening drive, we had to execute things near perfect to beat the defense. The main concern for the Broncos is their offensive line. It was horrible last night, very sloppy play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted October 14, 2016 Our run game was hardly effective. Take away the one 50 yard run, we were shutdown running the ball all night. From a Chargers perspective, I'm glad we stuck with running it but the Broncos were hardly GUTTED. The Broncos defense was VERY good last night. We had two long drives in the first half but in the second half they held up nicely aside from one big run play and a few bad penalties on one drive. And even on our nice opening drive, we had to execute things near perfect to beat the defense. The main concern for the Broncos is their offensive line. It was horrible last night, very sloppy play. It was effective enough and keeping Denver honest to not rape you with their pass rush...that's all you need Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted October 14, 2016 Bosa is looking good through two games. He shoulda been playing since day 1 but it's nice to see him do well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted October 14, 2016 Bosa is looking good through two games. He shoulda been playing since day 1 but it's nice to see him do well. Was about to make a post about him. I know we all ragged on him for the long holdout, but he was drafted 3rd overall for a reason. Keep an eye on him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
