NFL: Denver Broncos welcome San Diego Chargers to Colorado, live on Sky Sports
Thursday 23 October 2014 19:00, UK
The Denver Broncos will be seeking to maintain top spot in the AFC West – as well as gain a modicum of revenge – when they host the San Diego Chargers on Thursday, live on Sky Sports.
Peyton Manning threw four touchdowns as the Broncos triumphed 42-17 over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, a result that left them standing alone atop of the division following the Chargers’ upset loss to the Kansas City Chiefs earlier on the same day.
However Denver won’t be taking their next opponent lightly, particularly as it is a short week for the two teams.
The divisional rivals met at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on a Thursday last season, and it was San Diego who came out on top by a 27-20 scoreline thanks mainly to them gaining 177 yards on the ground.
So can history repeat itself in 2014? The Chargers know they cannot afford to allow the Broncos to build a big advantage in the battle to win the West, though to draw level at 6-2 they will have to become the first visiting team to triumph in Colorado this season. The stakes are high, just like the altitude in the city.
Manning on mission
An eight-yard scoring pass wouldn’t normally gather too much attention in a normal NFL week, but Manning’s short strike to Emmanuel Sanders on Sunday night just so happened to bring up yet another milestone moment in the quarterback’s stunning career.
In teaming up with favourite target Demaryius Thomas during the second quarter of the contest with the 49ers, Manning registered his 509th touchdown pass, meaning he moved past Brett Favre on the all-time list to set a new record.
Not content there, the former Indianapolis Colt managed No 510 before the night was out. Favre himself tweeted that the march was on to 600, and there is little to suggest Manning can’t keep on going. You have to wonder just how many he would be at by now had he not been sidelined for the entire 2011 season due to a serious neck injury that threatened to end his career.
Rivers flowing
Manning is a five-time MVP and is making a good case to win the award yet again. However, San Diego's quarterback, Philip Rivers, is another strong contender as we near the halfway stage of the regular season.
The 32-year-old has thrown for 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions so far, while only Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck – another strong MVP candidate – and Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions have managed more than his 1961 passing yards. That number includes a disappointing day last time out against the Chiefs when his defence simply couldn't get off the field.
He does have a winning record against the Broncos (10-7 for his career), but that victory on the road last December is their only one in the last six occasions the teams have met. Rivers wasn’t really required to air it out that night, registering just 20 pass attempts. Why was that, you may ask? Well…
Running away with it
The Chargers rushed, and rushed, and rushed again in Denver in 2013. Ryan Mathews (who is currently out injured) had 127 of their 177 yards on the ground, while the Broncos could muster just a miserable 18 in reply as a team combined.
However, this season coach John Fox has seen his defence stand stoutly against opposition rushing attacks – they have given up 73.4 yards on average, the third lowest mark in the league. A counter to that is the fact opposing teams have rushed for five touchdowns against them, though they have only given up attempts of over 20 yards or more twice.
With Mathews and Donald Brown both sidelined, San Diego have turned to Branden Oliver to be their main tail-back. The undrafted rookie has responded with 316 yards at an average of 4.4 per carry, with a particular liking for ripping off big runs. Similarly, Denver has seen their running game prosper since Ronnie Hillman took over from the injured Montee Ball. The back-ups are now the headline acts.
Quotes
"It’s going to be a little bit different for me because I’m used to having him on the same team, but it should be fun. I’m excited to see what’s going to happen with it. 2011 was the last time I’ve actually seen him," Denver's Dwight Freeney on facing his long-time Colts team-mate Manning
"We don’t live in the past, as I’ve mentioned many times. If you spend too much time looking in the rear-view mirror, you crash, not looking ahead," Broncos head coach John Fox
