NFL Update: San Diego Chargers outclass Denver Broncos 35-14
San Diego Chargers have finally come into their own. They beat Denver Broncos, admittedly the underdogs, with 35 points against 14. Quarterback Phillip Rivers tied his career best record of four touchdown passes to lead the Chargers to victory.
“This was the most complete game we've played in all three phases,” Rivers said. While the Chargers with a 5-5 record might not have the best season but their statistics are among the best in the league. Their offense ranks first in passing yards and third
in points scored. Their defence stands on top of the league with an average of 183.9 yards passing allowed per game. Their defence against the rush ranks third in the league. Statistically, there is no team that can claim to be better than the Chargers but
somehow regular season success had eluded San Diego.
Monday night’s match up against Denver Broncos might just be the turning point. It was practically a flawless game. “We are in a lot of ways in playoff football already. You almost can't afford a step back at this point,” quarterback Rivers said. He added
that the team was still not at its peak and they could do better still. “I don't think we're playing at 100 percent, but we're playing pretty good.”
If that isn’t a 100 percent, the best San Diego has to offer would certainly make waves in the playoffs. Against the Broncos, their effort was more than enough.
Broncos started the game with an easy first quarter touchdown. Kyle Orton led Denver up from the 31 yard line to the 22 yard line in 3 plays without a miss. Knowshon Moreno ran the final 22 yards in 3 plays, topping it off with a 4 yard rush up the middle
for touchdown. In less than 3 minutes, Broncos had put 7 points on the board.
San Diego equalized before the end of the quarter. Chargers' rushing game came to life to carry the drive when Rivers was finding little success in getting the ball to the receivers. Mike Tolbert contributed 17 and Mike Scifres 28 yards to the drive. In
the end, it was Phillips who earned the touchdown with a 6 yard pass to Malcolm Floyd.
After the first quarter, San Diego’s defence started to bully Broncos' quarterback, Kyle Orton. As soon as the second quarter opened, the Chargers' defence intercepted Orton on San Diego’s 39 yard line. Antoine Cason made the intercept and carried it 28
yards into Denver’s half. However, San Diego wasn’t able to make the turnover count after a failed 52 yard field goal attempt.
A few minutes later, Orton was sacked for 7 yards ending another one of Denver’s offensive drives without any points scored. “They kept bringing pressure and we couldn't hold them off,” Orton said. “It's tough to do much when that happens.”
Rivers had been slow during the first quarter but started to make big plays in the second. In the final drive of the second quarter, Phillips threw a 49 yard pass to Patrick Crayton. Mike Tolbert finished off the drive with a 1 yard rush to score the third
touchdown for the Chargers. It was big plays again by Rivers that led to San Diego’s fourth touchdown. Rivers threw a 40 yard touchdown pass to Crayton with two minutes remaining in the quarter and scored again in the opening of the third quarter. On 3rd
and 9, Rivers threw a 57 yard touchdown pass to Darren Sproles who caught the ball just short of the 40 yard line and ran the rest of the way for touchdown.
San Diego scored again in the 4th quarter with Rivers throwing his fourth touchdown pass of the game to Jacob Hester. Chargers led with 35 against 7. Kyle Orton scored for the Broncos again in a drive reminiscent of his first quarter touchdown
drive. Orton and Moreno scored the touchdown in 6 plays, including a 7 yard sack. But that still proved to be short of what the Broncos needed to salvage the game and lost to Chargers.
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