While we don’t see Peyton Manning being Wally Pipp-ed in Denver, the Brock Osweiler era has gotten off to a nice start.
The Broncos are 2-0 under their new quarterback, and after knocking off the previously undefeated Patriots last week, thoughts of a trip to the Super Bowl are dancing around the Mile High city.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
San Diego Chargers +4.5
Denver Broncos -4.5
Over/Under 43.5
ODDS ANALYSIS
Denver has had its way with San Diego recently, winning three straight and seven of eight while going 5-2 ATS. The Bolts haven’t handled success very well, going 0-4 SU and ATS in their last four games following a victory. The line was wagered to Denver -4.
KEY INJURIES
D.J. Fluker – San Diego’s offensive line continues to be a mess with their starting right guard likely out at least one more game with a concussion. Left tackle King Dunlap was limited in practice as he continues to nurse an ankle injury that cost him last week’s game. Kenny Wiggins took over Fluker with Chris Hairston filling in for Dunlap.
Peyton Manning – Is still sidelined with a foot injury and Brock Osweiler will get his third straight start in his place.
T.J. Ward – The Broncos will be without their starting strong safety after Ward suffered a high ankle sprain last week. David Bruton Jr. will likely slide into the vacated spot with Josh Bush signed to help fortify the secondary.
KEY MISMATCH
Philip Rivers got bounced around pretty good in Jacksonville and on one occasion it seemed he would leave the game. But he brushed off the lower-body shot with a four touchdown game – bingo, that's why the Chargers finally won. But Rivers will be stressed on the edges of the Broncos' pass rush, courtesy of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware – if Ware's back allows. Miller has six sacks in his last eight games and has collected at least one in four straight. Ware has 6.5 sacks in his last seven games. Rivers' blindside is looking better after news that Dunlap returned to practice after missing last week. Having Dunlap back is swell – but he will need some help. For the Chargers to have a chance, the passing game needs to produce. While the running game is showing a pulse, the Denver defense stops the run nearly as well as anyone. Expecting Melvin Gordon to find his mojo is comforting, but not likely to happen. Rivers is getting some people back up front and he also has another game under his belt with inexperienced receivers Dontrelle Inman and Javontee Herndon.
KEY STAT
18.8 – Denver’s points allowed per game. The Broncos have the league’s best total defense and pass defense and rank fourth in points allowed. They face a banged up Chargers offense that scores 22.2 points per game.
BETTING ANGLE
The Chargers found a little giddy-up, just in time to entertain the Broncos. Fresh from snapping a six-game losing streak, the last-place Chargers greet the first-place Broncos, and yeah, the Chargers wished the roles were flipped, too. But they enter Sunday's game with a new attitude. Maybe the Chargers build on their win in Jacksonville and make a stretch run in which they will bemoan their mid-season skid. Or they revert to their bumbling ways and there's no place where that's more evident than against AFC West foes. San Diego is 2-6 SU and 0-8 ATS in the division dating to 2014. Don’t put too much stock in homefield advantage when these two longtime rivals collide, either. The visiting team has covered the spread in eight of the last nine meetings.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
San Diego gets the game at home, but that’s about their only advantage. And the way the Chargers have performed at Qualcomm, that’s not even a plus. The Chargers have no run game, which has forced Rivers to attempt better than 40 passes a game. And that’s not healthy against the NFL’s top ranked pass defense. Osweiler has settled in nicely to the starting role and has yet to make any glaring mistakes. He’ll get support from his running game and the defense will do the rest. Rivers had a nice game last week against the Jags when the Chargers broke their fall, but he’s facing a different squad this time around. As he always does, Rivers will give a gutsy effort in an attempt to rally the Bolts, but the Broncos are too strong defensively. The Broncos are playing with a favorable spread and all indications are they should cover handily.
Denver 27, San Diego 13
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Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The matchup between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers will take place Sunday, December 6, 2015, at 4:05 p.m. ET at Qualcomm Stadium. The matchup will be televised live on CBS.
