Hold The Line!

This is a game where neither team wants to lose. I know that’s true every week, but it’s doubly true for these two teams this week. Stay with me now. Both in the AFC West and both currently holding wildcard spots if the season were to end today. The Broncos, who are a current #6 seed, are slightly above the #7 seeded Chargers, who have a two-win cushion over the 6-8 Colts. So a loss for either team isn’t the end of the world, in fact, they’d still be in the playoffs, but if the Broncos lose, they will swap seeds with Los Angeles, as they currently share the same divisional record with the Chargers. But a win for Denver puts them two games ahead of the Chargers. So that’s what we mean when we say neither team would prefer to lose this game.

Now, we’re talking two teams who had below-average offensive games last week. Bo Nix threw for 3 TDs against the Bucs, but he had just 130 passing yards on the day, and no receiver had over 35 yards receiving. The Broncos defense saved them on some poorly drawn up plays and lack of discipline from the Colts, but they’re facing a stronger passing defense in Los Angeles, who ranks 9th in the league. The Broncos have the 23rdbest passing game in the league, and after struggling against an even worse Colts’ defense, I don’t know how they will fair this week. Nix and Denver need to find some answers on offense this week, because as great as their defense is, you can bet Justin Herbert is going to want to come in no-scoping receivers from the jump. And he can do that.

Speaking of Justin Herbert and the Chargers, disappointing loss for them last week against Tampa Bay. I don’t understand how they weren’t able to get anything going against that bad Tampa Bay defense. Hopefully, they can turn the tide this week and bring back some of that nice production we are so used to seeing from Herbert and his boys. Against my better judgement, I believe the Chargers can get passed this tough defense IF they want to play offense. They’ve lost three of the last four, but I think they get off the slide here.