On a season-best four-game profitable streak, the Denver Broncos enter a battle for playoff seeding holding the higher hand after they face the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night time in Inglewood, Calif.
The Broncos (9-5) final reached the playoffs in 2015, after they received the Tremendous Bowl behind quarterback Peyton Manning. Rookie QB Bo Nix has introduced hopes of a brighter future, guiding Denver from a middling 5-5 begin to the cusp of a double-digit wins for the primary time for the reason that Manning days.
There’s even an out of doors likelihood the Broncos may clinch a playoff spot this week. If Denver wins or ties on Thursday, and the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts comply with with losses or ties over the weekend, the Broncos can be playoff certain.
Whereas Nix threw three landing passes in a 31-13 residence victory over the Colts on Sunday, he additionally had a career-high three interceptions.
“I believed I noticed the sport properly, (however) I’ve to maintain from turning the ball over,” Nix stated.
Nix and the Broncos may have original a four-game profitable streak earlier this season, however the Chargers got here into Denver and earned a 23-16 victory in Week 6.
Nix threw two fourth-quarter landing passes in that sport and wound up with 216 yards within the air. Even so, he misplaced the duel towards Chargers QB Justin Herbert, who threw for a TD and had 237 yards passing.
On Sunday towards the Colts, Nix had simply 130 passing yards, however Denver cashed in one other sturdy defensive efficiency by placing up 24 second-half factors, together with 21 within the fourth quarter.
“Later in that sport, after we wanted it, man, there is a maturity and a moxie about him, which I really like,” Broncos coach Sean Payton stated of Nix. “I feel it is contagious to the crew. When you’ve got that on the quarterback place, your crew is aware of that you just’re in each sport.”
If there was a second when the Broncos gained their footing this season, it may need been within the second half towards the Chargers. Trailing 23-0, Denver scored 16 fourth-quarter factors whereas blanking Los Angeles to cost again and make it a sport.
Since then, the Broncos have gone 6-2 to bypass the Chargers within the AFC West. Denver at the moment holds the No. 6 playoff seed within the AFC, whereas the Chargers (8-6) have dropped to No. 7.
The No. 7 seed might be going through a wild-card spherical matchup towards the Buffalo Payments, whereas the No. 6 seed doubtless will meet the champion of the AFC North, the place the Pittsburgh Steelers maintain a one-game lead on the Baltimore Ravens.
The Chargers have misplaced consecutive video games and three of the previous 4 after falling 40-17 at residence to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Extra than simply the Los Angeles protection struggled, with the offense gaining solely 32 dashing yards and Herbert throwing an interception for the primary time in 12 video games.
Not solely did the Chargers quit essentially the most factors they’ve allowed this season, however in addition they yielded a season-high 506 yards, together with a season-high 223 yards on the bottom.
The Chargers nonetheless have a two-game lead on their closest wild-card pursuer with three video games to play, so their state of affairs is just not dire. In addition they would clinch a playoff spot underneath an almost an identical state of affairs to the Broncos, with video games nonetheless remaining towards the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders, who’ve 5 mixed wins.
With a lot on the road, the sport Thursday is anticipated to have a playoff really feel.
“It is simply as much as us as an offense and us as a crew to exit and execute and play the best way we have to,” stated Herbert, who has been nursing a sprained left ankle. “Clearly, they’re all necessary video games in December and January. That is the place we wish to be.”
Herbert was restricted at apply Tuesday however is anticipated to play. Los Angeles tight finish Will Dissly (shoulder), guard Zion Johnson (ankle), defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia (pelvis) and defensive backs Cam Hart (concussion) and Elijah Molden (knee) didn’t apply on Tuesday.
The one Broncos participant to overlook apply on Tuesday was defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (foot).
–Area Stage Media
