Pre-Game Devner Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

This is a big game, and appropriately it is going to be played on Monday night! Not only is this a rival game, but also the bad blood brewing between both teams has been gaining a lot of steam in the hearts of Broncos fans. San Diego has owned us the past 5 out of 6 games, the last game was probably the game that hurt the most. We were playing for the AFC West Championship and a playoff berth when all hopes and dreams were flushed down the toilet at QualComm Stadium in San Diego.

Next was the firing of head coach Mike Shanahan and most of his staff. Along comes former Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels (for whom this blog is dedicated to documenting the Broncos for better or worse!) Out of jobs are a lot of players on last years defense, a change to the 3-4 Defensive scheme with new Defensive coach Mike Nolan. Then comes the off season fiasco between Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler, and Brandon Marshall. Out is Cutler and in come Kyle Orton. A so-so pre-season followed by a miraculous tipped ball followed by gutsy defensive performances and consistent offense and we're 5-0.

To say the least of this culmination of events, everything in my mind has pointed to this game against San Diego. I think we have to beat them in San Diego and go into the bye week at 6-0. The Chargers have had our number and have beaten us soundly, and each time seems to get worse.

After watching San Diego play Pittsburgh, it seems to me that they are a team on decline. Their window of opportunity for post season success is closing, and we have a chance to slam it shut for good Monday night. They are coming off a bye week and should be well rested and should have studied the Broncos good and hard. So they are at an advantage. The rivalry will fire up the veterans of the rivalry, maybe enough to get them through the game, but everyone will be playing with that extra fire inside.

San Diego is going to try to establish the run with LT and Sproles. Rivers is going to try and go deep on our secondary. However, our revamped defense will get to Rivers in this game. I have no doubts about it. Dumervil is going to have three sacks in this game because Rivers likes to hold the ball until the last second. For the first time in his career, Rivers will feel the pressure of the Denver Defense and just like Tony Romo and Tom Brady is going to make a mistake and throw lots of incomplete and maybe an interception or two. We should have no trouble running the ball, and if we continue to play ball control offense, Rivers will not have time to try and come back.

I'm predicting a 35-17 win, Denver dominates the game and time of possession and wins the turn over battle 2-0.