Sunday afternoon's Chargers - Broncos game in Denver looked like a key AFC West showdown when the schedule was released, and it is - just not for reasons everyone expected.
These two teams are a combined 1-5 in the past three weeks.
San Diego is on its first three-game losing streak since 2003, when it was an NFL-worst 4-12. The team with the best record in the NFL last season has been beaten by the Patriots (38-14), Packers (31-24), and Chiefs (30-16). Last week's surprising home loss to Kansas City saw Norv Turner's squad squander a 16-6
halftime lead.
To say that Turner, who replaced Marty Schottenheimer, is on the hot seat is an understatement.
"I understand the responsibilities of the job I have," Turner said. "I'm ultimately the one who's responsible. So it's my job to get the things done we're talking about. The inconsistencies, the problems we're having with turnovers, giving up plays."
The Chargers led the NFL last year with franchise records of 492 points and 14 wins, but have been outscored 102-68 through four games after outscoring opponents 103-36 through the first four in 2006.
Denver, meanwhile, looked like a normal Broncos team in opening 2-0, but things have fallen apart since. In Week 3, Jacksonville came into Invesco Field and left with a surprisingly easy 23-14 triumph. Last week, Denver led Indianapolis 10-0 but was then overpowered on the way to a 38-20 loss.
The Broncos have the league's best passing defense, but they're allowing 181 yards per game on the ground, second worst in the league.
Denver has tried juggling its defensive front to combat the run problems, last week deactivating tackles Sam Adams and Amon Gordon at Indianapolis and using rookies Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder in the middle."Well, we just haven't progressed to the point that we were hoping to," Denver defensive coordinator Jim Bates said, blaming that on a mix of so many rookies and young players. "And we've just got to continue to grind, continue to work, work hard on the practice field and improve and we've got to make some adjustments."
You have to think reigning NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson likes his chances of a breakout game this week against that porous Denver run defense.
Tomlinson (262 rushing yards, 19 receptions, 3 TDs) is averaging only 3.4 yards per carry, but he did fare well against K.C. last week, 20 times for 132 yards and a touchdown. He needs to get on track to help a struggling QB in Philip Rivers, who has committed nine turnovers this season.
"Just way too many turnovers," Rivers said. "Again, I'm going to work to get that fixed. That's never been a problem that I've had and I don't expect it to continue to be one."
Denver's offense will be without its top receiving weapon on Sunday, as WR Javon Walker will be out of The lineup for the second straight week due to an injury. The news got worse for the Broncos this week when reports of a failed drug test NFL leading rusher Travis Henry surfaced.
Henry is trying to prevent the league from suspending him over the results of a drug test, according to federal court records. He said he couldn't comment on the case on the advice of his attorney.
Henry plans to play Sunday. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan thought that was a strong possibility, as long as Henry's injured right ankle and knee are up to it.
"If there is no setback with where he's at, he will play," Shanahan said.
The lowdown: Since 1971, the Chargers are 6-30 in Denver (one of those wins coming last season), and they haven't won consecutive games there since 1967-68. Meanwhile, Shanahan is 19-8 in his career against San Diego, while Turner is 1-5 against both Shanahan and the Broncos, with two of the losses dating to his tenure with Washington (1994-2000) and three coming while he was with Oakland (2004-05). Those numbers are hard to ignore, and you can bet the Broncos will make Rivers beat them. The pick here is Denver, which is -1 at WagerWeb.com, by a field goal.
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