This season, the Chargers have already broken one streak against the Denver Broncos. The stakes are higher now as they attempt to put a stop to an even longer drought.
The Chargers will play for their first season sweep of their AFC West opponents since 2010 on Thursday at 5:15 PST at SoFi Stadium, following their first victory in Denver since 2018 this season in October. The playoff picture may change as a result of the division rematch.
The Broncos (9-5) are tied for the longest current streak among AFC clubs after winning four straight games. They are now the sixth seed in the AFC playoff standings thanks to their surge, and they will guarantee their postseason berth with a victory or tie on Thursday. Meanwhile, for the first time this season, the Chargers (8-6) are struggling.
In addition to their two-game losing run, the Chargers suffered their first defeat under Jim Harbaugh last Sunday. The NFL’s stingiest defense allowed the Bucs to hang 40 points.
The Chargers’ startling performance put them in a tie for first place among the NFL’s top scoring defenses. At 17.6 points per game, they are now tied with the Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Despite suffering a concussion on the first drive against the Chargers in Week 6, Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II leads a secondary that is third in the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed per play at 5.96.
Surtain is the only Broncos player to have 10 or more passes swatted away in each of his first four seasons, having broken up 11 passes this season. With 49 sacks, the defensive front he plays behind leads the NFL.
When facing Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who is still healing from a left-ankle sprain, the Denver pass rush poses a serious threat. Herbert stated that he anticipates playing on Thursday even though a fresh brace was put around his left cleat during practice this week. In the last three games, he has been sacked nine times.
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