CHARGERS (0-4) vs. BRONCOS (2-2)
When: 1:05 p.m. Sunday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: CBS (Ch. 2); 640 AM/103.9/98.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Broncos by 3.5
Notable injury designations
Chargers: OUT: RT Joe Alt (neck), LG Kayode Awosika (fibula), CB Donte Jackson (hamstring), S Derwin James Jr. (hamstring), WR Quentin Johnston (chest), OL Trevor Penning (concussion), WR Brenen Thompson (quadricep)’ DOUBTFUL: QB Trey Lance (groin); QUESTIONABLE: TE Charlie Kolar (forearm), FB/DL Scott Matlock (foot), WR Ladd McConkey (foot), CB Rodney Shelley (hamstring), OL Branson Taylor (neck).
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Broncos: OUT: CB Riley Moss (ribs), CB Pat Surtain II (ankle).
What’s at stake: The Chargers’ 1992 team, coached by Bobby Ross, is the only one in NFL history to start a season 0-4 and still advance to the playoffs. The Chargers went on to win 11 of their final 12 games and defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC wild-card game before losing to the Miami Dolphins the following week. A repeat doesn’t seem likely this season, particularly since the Chargers are battered and bruised at several key positions, including on their offensive line. The chatter from Denver is that the defending AFC West champion Broncos’ offense needs a fix after they started the season with two wins and two losses. Head coach Sean Payton has taken over the play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Davis Webb.
Who’s better: This question would be a tossup if the Chargers were healthy and hadn’t stumbled their way to a winless start through the first four weeks of a season that’s gone off the rails slowly and all at once. Justin Herbert is a more capable quarterback than Bo Nix, for example. The Broncos’ defense is hurting, with standout cornerback Pat Surtain II nursing an ankle injury.
Matchup to watch: Herbert versus everybody has been a pretty standard matchup to watch this season. Can he finally unlock Mike McDaniel’s offense and drag the Chargers kicking and screaming to their first victory of the season?
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Chargers win if: Herbert can’t throw an errant pass on his first attempt of the game, as he did during last Sunday’s 30-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Return specialist Derius Davis can’t fumble away the first punt that comes his way, as he did in setting up the Seahawks’ first touchdown. The Chargers can’t be penalized 16 times for 130 yards, as they were against Seattle. The Chargers can’t fall behind by scores of 27-6 and 30-13 and expect to rally to win.
Fantasy sleeper: Herbert is due for a big game, but will it happen behind a makeshift offensive line that calls to mind the patchwork group that failed to protect him adequately last season? Actually, the O-line is even more patchwork than last season. The Broncos’ defense has been giving up plenty of yards, ranking 28th in the 32-team league by allowing 375 net yards per game and ranking 21st in net passing yards per game by allowing 232.3. So, if not against the Broncos, then when will Herbert have a breakthrough game?
Prediction: Jobs could be at stake with another Chargers loss. Roles could change, too. The Chargers are underdogs for the third consecutive game, and rightfully so. They haven’t proved to be capable of winning a game yet, and believe it or not, that’s probably not going to change this week against their AFC West rivals. Broncos 17, Chargers 16.
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