San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos Thursday night @ 8:30 PM ET
This is the classic showdown between Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers. Manning has a reputation for blowing games to the Chargers, and tonight should not be counted out immediately.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
The Chargers are currently sitting on a one day game winning streak, after destroying the New York Giants 37-14. At 6-7 on the season, playoff hopes are pretty faint, but San Diego won't let that stop them tonight. Philip Rivers is having one of the best seasons in his career, with 3882 yards passing, 26 TD's, a 70.3 completion percentage, and a 106.4 QB rating. He is the brains of the team, running the team from the line of scrimmage. He is a very talented and underrated QB in the NFL.
His WR's are playing well. Rookie Keenan Allen is third on the team with 61 catches, and first with his 904 receiving yards. He has 5 TD catches, and should be a major threat to the Bronco secondary. His ability to run after the catch is what makes him spectacular. He is a tough man to bring down, but he is probable this week with a shoulder injury. TE Antonio Gates leads the team in catches with 68, and has 776 yards.
A big factor in this game will be Danny Woodhead. The 5-9 RB is small, gets out of the backfield, and is an excellent player on both sides of the offensive attack. He is second on the team with his 330 rushing yards, and has 2 TDs there. On the screen passes, the man has 65 catches for 534 yards, and 6 TDs. He has been a huge relief to Rivers, and is a major part of the QB's amazing season. Ryan Matthews is the normal back, but shares time with Ronnie Brown. Matthews has 885 yards rushing on the season, and can pass the 1000 mark tonight with 115. He has a total of 5 TDs.
Kicker Nick Novak is 26 of 29 on the season, though the major stat here is he is 10-10 on kicks 40 or more yards away, his three misses have been on attempts between 30 and 39 yards. Mike Scifres, Punter, averages 43 yards per punt, with a net of 36.
The Chargers defense has registered 30 sacks and 9 INTs, and they have a total of 17 takeaways. Eric Weddle is the major factor to this defense, leading the team with 82 tackles, a sack, a pick, and 2 fumble recoveries.
DENVER BRONCOS
The Broncos have clinched a playoff spot where they hold an 11-2 record and lead the AFC West by a game. Peyton Manning is having the best season of his long NFL career, and it's been effective. He is around the best team he has ever been a part of. He has been the big player for the team. With 4522 yards, 45 TDs and a 114.5 QB Rating, he's been unstoppable with the best WR core in the league. However, he's been picked 9 times in the past 9 weeks, whereas Rivers has been picked 9 times the whole season.
Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, and Julian Thomas. That is the best receiving core in the league. Thomas and Decker both have over 1000 yards receiving, and Welker is 230 yards short of it. However, Welker will miss this game with a concussion. That should be a minor factor, because of the running backs being able to step up as the short threat that Welker is.
Ronnie Hillman and Knownshon Moreno are the factor of this top rushing attack, and they break into defenses, and keep them honest. San Diego's defense has struggled all year, so that won't be much of a factor. However, with 1607 yards rushing, the Chargers will have to shut this part of the offense down before they have much of a chance of winning the game apart from out-shooting them.
Matt Prater is 18 of 19 on the year with a long of 64, and NFL record set last week against the Titans. His only miss was from over 50 yards. Britton Colquit averages 44.1 yards per punt, with a net of 34.5.
The defense has been inconsistent, yet the offense is usually able to outscore any other teams offense, and that has been the key to success for this team.
PREDICTION
Chargers 34 Broncos 41
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