San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos NFL Preview and Odds
The last time these two teams met, the Chargers held a 24-0 lead at the half. They looked to be cruising to an easy win that would have established them as the team to beat in the AFC West. Then the second half happened. The Broncos stormed back with the aid of some interceptions by Charger quarterback Philip Rivers and also a costly fumble, and of course Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning got hot as well.
History
Denver went on a 35-0 run in the second half to complete one of the biggest comebacks in the history of Monday Night Football. Since that game, the Chargers have fallen to 4-5. Had they won that game they would have been 4-2. But now they have lost five of seven including two of the three games since the Denver meltdown.
Denver on the other hand could have dropped to 2-4 had they lost that game, is now on a four game win streak and is 6-3 overall and 3-0 since the Chargers game. Peyton Manning has been red hot since that game, leading Denver to wins over Saints, Bengals and Panthers in games the Broncos have scored over 30 in each.
Now the two teams will meet again this weekend in Denver, and the Chargers will need a similar effort on the road to turn their season around. Head Coach Norv Turner is now firmly on the "hot seat" and many are calling for the benching of Philip Rivers. It is desperation time in Southern California.
The Broncos and Chargers have been meeting since 1960. Denver leads the all-time series 55-48-1. They have never met in the postseason. One of the most memorable was in 2008 in what is known as "the Ed Hochuli Game". Referee Ed Hochuli mistakenly blew a ball dead that was a fumble, thinking that Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler's arm was going forward. The ball was spotted on the Charger's ten and the Broncos scored two plays later to pull with one point. Instead of opting for overtime, the Broncos thinking was they were now playing with house money, so they went for two and made it to win the game 39-38.
Our Pic
Bodog has San Diego +8.5 1.826 or 3.850. Denver is -8.5 2.120 or 1.308. Over/under is 48.5. *.5 is a lot of points in an NFL game. But the Broncos are so hot right now, we well go with the Broncos -8.5 and the over.
The Chargers only chance at beating the Broncos is to slow down Manning and the offense. If the Broncos get to 30 again, they will win. Von Miller is leading the Bronco defense and he is playing as well as anyone in the NFL right now. Don't look for the Chargers to break the 30-point mark.
It is unlikely the Chargers will be able to keep Denver under 30 this week since nobody else has in the last month. They are a team on a roll after starting off a little bit wobbly. Now that Manning and his receivers are getting to know each other, it is going to take a monumental defensive effort to stop them. The Chargers don't have it in them.
