Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) at Denver (3-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT, CBS
BetMGM NFL Odds: Broncos by 3.
Series record: Broncos lead 73-55-1.
Against the spread: Chargers 2-2; Broncos 4-1.
Last meeting: Broncos beat Chargers 16-9 on Dec. 31, 2023, in Denver.
Last week: Chargers had an early bye, Broncos beat Raiders 34-18.
Chargers offense: overall (29), rush (9), pass (31), scoring (28)
Chargers defense: overall (5), rush (6), pass (10),scoring (1)
Broncos offense: overall (28), rush (21), pass (28), scoring (22)
Broncos defense: overall (3), rush (10), pass (5), scoring (2-T)
Turnover differential: Chargers plus-5, Broncos plus-1.
Chargers player to watch
QB Justin Herbert has been hampered by a high right ankle sprain in his past two starts, but should be closer to form after the bye week. The Chargers have passed the ball on only 47% of their plays, the second-lowest rate in the league. Of the 11 games where Herbert has not passed for at least 200 yards, four have happened this season. It was in last season’s Week 14 game against the Broncos where Herbert suffered a season-ending broken finger. In three games at Denver, Herbert has passed for seven touchdowns and has been picked off four times.
Broncos player to watch
QB Bo Nix. The rookie is coming off his best game so far when he threw for two touchdowns and dived for another in Denver's win over the Raiders that snapped their eight-game skid against Las Vegas. Nix hasn't thrown an interception since Week 2 and he's only been sacked three times during Denver's three-game winning streak. He'll have to make do with a makeshift offensive line this week with two starters and one backup out.
Key matchup
The Chargers' stout front seven versus Broncos resurgent running back Javonte Williams, who is coming off his first 100-yard scrimmage game since the 2022 opener at Seattle. He ran for 61 yards on 13 carries against Las Vegas and caught five passes for 50 yards.
Key injuries
Chargers: LB Joey Bosa could miss his second straight game because of a nagging hip issue. … OT Joe Alt (knee) and OT Rashawn Slater (pectoral) have been limited in practice but could be back after missing the Kansas City game. … LB Junior Colson (hamstring) has missed the past two games.
Broncos: The Broncos are preparing C Alex Forsyth and RT Matt Peart to start against the Chargers’ formidable defensive front. They lost RT Alex Palczewski and C Luke Wattenberg to sprained ankles against the Raiders. Palczewski had been playing well in place of RT Mike McGlinchey, who is entering his fourth week on IR with a knee injury.
Series notes
The Broncos have won seven of the past 10 matchups, including the past three. These AFC West rivals have met just once in the playoffs, a 24–17 Broncos win in the 2013 AFC divisional round.
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