Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos Preview and Prediction
- by Grant Boone
- in Sports
- — Sep 13, 2017
Denver was leading 24-7 before giving up 14 unanswered points (partially because of former Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles' fumble that set up a Los Angeles touchdown). The wide receiver core may be one of the deepest in the NFL. "Him calling that timeout was huge. We'll fix that and be able to finish the game even better". "I can't thank the Spanos family enough for everything and the opportunity they gave me back in 2013 to lead their organization", said McCoy, who went 27-37 in San Diego with one playoff appearance - a loss to Denver after his first season.
They didn't have a problem identifying first-year head coach Anthony Lynn on the other sideline.
Let's take a look at how the game may go.
"We have to get those guys targets as coaches", Lynn said.
Bradford, who became just the second Vikings QB to throw for at least 300 yards and three TDs in a season opener, capped both drives with touchdown passes to Stefon Diggs, who was honouring Vikings great Randy Moss with a special pair of purple cleats.
Rivers finished 22-of-33 for 192 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Los Angeles pulled within 24-21 with seven minutes left to play. By some fate, though, the ball was tipped off a foot and then off a hand to keep it off the ground when defensive back Adrian Phillips ran under it for a big interception. Safeties Darian Stewart and Justin Simmons wreaked havoc when they approached the line of scrimmage.
As the game entered the fourth quarter, the Broncos defense forced a turnover on downs. Denver went from the No. 3-ranked run defense in the National Football League during its 2015 Super Bowl season, allowing just 83.6 rushing yards per game, to No. 28 last season, giving up 130.3 yards per contest.
Rivers found some success in the passing game on short dump-offs, including a 11 yard connection with Melvin Gordon that led to the first Chargers touchdown of the season.
Siemian's TD run was the first rushing score by a Broncos quarterback since Brock Osweiler had a 7-yard scoring run against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 20, 2015.
One reason for the Broncos' decline in 2016 was a lackluster rushing attack.
If Trevor Siemian can make a handful of clutch throws, too, as he did Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, then that's some delicious bonus gravy.
When the Chargers have the ball, all eyes will be on running back Melvin Gordon.
The awareness of Siemian to get the play off quickly, roll out and put the pass in a spot where Fowler could go up and get it, along with the surprising arm strength to get the ball back there while on the run - there might be a little more upside to Siemian running this offense than most people thought.
Harris got the start only because Jared Crick and Zach Kerr were out with injuries.
