Chargers — Broncos Sunday Status Update

As the cliché for NFL coaches goes, every week is the biggest game of the season, but week 11 really is a make or break showdown for the Bolts and their playoff hopes in 2009. As must win’s go, this one has to rank right up there near or at the top of the list with the Chargers playoff aspirations looking awfully slim without a victory in Denver on Sunday. These two teams are as always very familiar with one another from playing twice a year, but the two have gone in completely opposite directions since their meeting in week 6. Denver defeated the Chargers 34-23 in that contest on Monday Night Football and ran their record to an impressive 6-0 whereas the Chargers dropped the contest to go to a modest 2-3 and fell three and a half games behind the Broncos in the division race.

What a difference a month and a half makes. The Bolts haven’t lost a game since that disappointment at home against Denver and the Donkeys have been unable to claim one single victory since that win. Norv Turner offered some perspective on the downward turn for Denver since these two teams met five weeks ago saying: “This is a tough league. They went through the stretch with playing Baltimore and Pittsburgh back to back. We had a very similar stretch. There are obviously no guarantees and I thought they played well in those games. They’ve hit a tough stretch, but I know the team we’re getting ready to play is the same team we played on Monday night a little over a month ago and they’re a very good football team.” Obviously the Chargers realize that a team doesn’t start off the season winning its first six games in a row by accident and the Broncos have a great system in place with their new regime under Josh McDaniels.

For Denver, this game may hinge on the availability of starting quarterback Kyle Orton who was injured this past weekend in Washington and was unable to return to the game due to an ankle injury. Orton’s status for Sunday’s game has yet to be determined and when asked about his quarterback on Thursday Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels said: “He’s feeling better, we’re going to see if he can do much today. Then (he’ll) continue on with his rehab schedule, certainly not making any determination based on where he is now.” As an update on this quote, Orton did not see the practice field on Thursday at all which puts some serious doubt on his Sunday status. Obviously the Broncos are in no hurry to tip their hand and give the Bolts any insight to allow them to gameplan for whoever is going to be under center on Sunday. McDaniels has to enjoy comments like the ones made by Head Coach Norv Turner about the Broncos quarterback issues when he said: “I’d expect Kyle to play. We’re preparing for both guys.” The Bolts defense will be preparing for two separate styles of football depending on which guy is under center and that uncertainty can throw off the preparation a little bit for such a huge contest.

On the injury front for the Bolts, Nick Hardwick (ankle), Jeromey Clary (ankle), Antonio Gates (foot), Shawne Merriman (foot), Ogemdi Nwagbuo (ankle), Shaun Phillips (ankle), and Travis Johnson (groin) are all listed on the injury report, but as of today Norv Turner was optimistic about their chances of playing on Sunday. As of Thursday morning he said: “It’s real early. We have some guys that are struggling to get through the week but they’re doing a good job managing it. I hope the bulk of them are able to practice tomorrow.” Clary was injured in last week’s game against the Eagles and forced yet another reshuffling of the personnel on the offensive line for the Chargers. Hopefully he will be able to get back into action on Sunday and allow the line to regain its comfort level.

As for some of the keys to the game on Sunday, Turner thinks that turnovers will play a large role in determining the outcome. He said: “I know they went through a stretch where they didn’t turn the ball over at all and now they’ve had some turnovers. Those things take their toll.” Of course its coach speak to say that turnovers will ultimately decide the game and often times they do play a large role in determining the outcome, however the Chargers employed a valuable strategy against the Eagles this past week that could come in handy against Denver on Sunday. The bend but don’t break strategy has been effective for the San Diego defense keeping opponents out of the end zone and exchanging touchdowns for field goals. The Chargers tendency to give up the big play has all but vanished in recent weeks (knock on wood) and they have bottled up the opponent’s big play threats.

For the game Sunday, bottling up the big play threats for the Broncos means maintaining gap responsibility and making good, solid form tackles on special teams. It’s difficult to forget that if it weren’t for the special teams outburst by Denver in the last meeting between these two, the Chargers would have had a great chance at winning that game. Eddie Royal returned both a punt and a kick for a touchdown to really smother any thoughts the Bolts had at winning that match-up.

Of course if Kyle Orton is able to go on Sunday, it is likely that he won’t be all that mobile hobbled by that ankle that did not allow him to return to the game last week in Washington. Denver should expect some blitz schemes to come in bunches from the Chargers and their multiple looks by the outside linebackers as well as some inside blitzes from the like of Tim Dobbins and Brandon Siler.

And finally on offense, the Chargers really need to continue this trend of sticking with the run game regardless of the results. Last week against the Eagles LT had a season high in both attempts and yards so the offensive line is beginning to click at the right time. That formula could be a winning one going up against a Broncos defense that since their torrid start where they allowed just 79.7 rushing yards per game in their first six, Denver has since fallen back to earth at a rapid decline giving 157.3 a game on average on the ground over the last three weeks. Commitment to the ground game is going to be vital for the Bolts in grinding down this game and wearing out Denver’s front four. With some time to operate in the pocket by keeping the defense honest, Philip Rivers could have a monster day in Denver on Sunday.

Tags: Antonio Gates, Baltimore Ravens, Brandon Siler, Denver Broncos, Eddie Royal, Jeromey Clary, Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton, LaDainian Tomlinson, Nick Hardwick, Norv Turner, Ogemdi Nwagbuo, Philadelphia Eagles, Philip Rivers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Shaun Phillips, Shawne Merriman, Tim Dobbins, Travis Johnson