Chargers-Broncos Preview

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• Broncos Beat Chargers On Late Two-Point Conversion

SCOUTING REPORT

Chargers beat up, but should find a way to win Denver throttled the Raiders on "Monday Night Football," and the Chargers lost a heartbreaker to Carolina thanks to QB Jake Delhomme's last-second heroics. In light of the news that LB Shawne Merriman is electing to have season-ending surgery, the Broncos are in an excellent position to get a leg up in the AFC West. This is a great week to play San Diego, but do not overlook just how talented the Chargers truly are. This is a big game.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
SDG	8-8	439	347	5-3	3-5	5-1	7-5
DEN	8-8	370	448	4-4	4-4	3-3	5-7
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

San Diego Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Rivers 65.2 4254 28 9 Volek 64.5 231 1 1

Denver Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Orton 62.1 3802 21 12 Simms 29.4 23 0 1

San Diego Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Tomlin... 223 730 3.3 12 Sprole... 93 343 3.7 3

Denver Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Moreno 247 947 3.8 7 Buckha... 120 642 5.4 1

San Diego Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jackso... 68 1167 17.2 9 Gates 79 1157 14.6 8

Denver Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Marsha... 101 1120 11.1 10 Gaffne... 54 732 13.6 2

Full Player Stats: San Diego | Denver

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	SDG	349.0
	DEN	396.0
Yards Passing	SDG	241.1
	DEN	279.4
Yards Rushing	SDG	107.9
	DEN	116.4
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	SDG	349.9
	DEN	374.6
Pass Yds Allowed	SDG	247.4
	DEN	228.5
Rush Yds Allowed	SDG	102.6
	DEN	146.1

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Series tied 8-8
Dec 24, 2007	SDG 23, @DEN 3
Oct 7, 2007	SDG 41, DEN 3
Dec 10, 2006	SDG 48, @DEN 20
Nov 19, 2006	SDG 35, DEN 27
Dec 31, 2005	SDG 7, @DEN 23
Sep 18, 2005	SDG 17, DEN 20
Dec 5, 2004	SDG 20, @DEN 17
Sep 26, 2004	SDG 13, DEN 23
Nov 16, 2003	SDG 8, DEN 37
Sep 14, 2003	SDG 13, @DEN 37
Dec 1, 2002	SDG 30, @DEN 27
Oct 6, 2002	SDG 9, DEN 26
Nov 11, 2001	SDG 16, DEN 26
Oct 21, 2001	SDG 27, @DEN 10

The last time San Diego and Denver met, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers bothered the Broncos with more than just his play on the field.

These teams will face off for the first time Sunday since a chippy game between the AFC West rivals last Christmas Eve.

In what appeared to be a meaningless game with the Chargers on their way to clinching the No. 3 AFC playoff seed and the Broncos moving closer to their first sub-.500 season since 1999, San Diego won 23-3 at home in a heated contest on Dec. 24.

The animosity started early in the first quarter following a collision between former Broncos safety John Lynch and Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson after a 2-yard run. Tomlinson's helmet came off and Lynch took it with both hands and threw it about 10 yards, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Then, with the game out of reach and Rivers already pulled in the fourth quarter, the Chargers' signal-caller ventured onto the field to yell at Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler following a failed fourth-down pass.

Two days after the game, Cutler brushed off the incident.

"We've talked about it. I'm not going to get into it," Cutler said. "It was an unfortunate situation. They talked a lot and the talk got heated between the two teams. Personally I don't think the teams like each other, which is fine. It's just going to add to it next year. It's going to be exciting."

On Monday, Rivers told the Chargers' official Web site that what happened last December is in the past.

"I'm not going to get into it through you guys, through the media, all week long," said Rivers, who has thrown seven touchdown passes and only two interceptions while winning all four of his starts against the Broncos.

"I'm just not going to do it. I'm going to talk football about Denver and see what kind of team they are as I get to prepare for them and go play the game. Whatever happened to me is gone. It's eight months ago and I'm going to move forward."

The Broncos have more than trash talk to worry about after being swept by the Chargers for the second straight year in 2007. San Diego also won 41-3 at Denver on Oct. 7.

The Chargers' focus is also elsewhere after learning star linebacker Shawne Merriman will undergo season-ending knee surgery. Merriman had an NFL-high 39 1/2 sacks over the past three seasons and played in three straight Pro Bowls.

"Shawne informed me he did not feel right and thought it best to shut it down," Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said in a statement Tuesday. "The road to winning the AFC West just got more difficult, but not impossible. Nothing is impossible. Shawne is a great player and an inspirational leader. He will be missed."

Merriman had no sacks and only two tackles in San Diego's shocking 26-24 home loss to Carolina in its season opener last Sunday. The Chargers rallied from a nine-point deficit to take a 24-19 lead with 2:27 to play, but lost when Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dante Rosario as time expired.

The Chargers had lost only one of their previous 16 regular-season home games.

Denver opened its season on a happier note, winning 41-14 in Oakland on Monday night behind Cutler and rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal. Cutler threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns, while Royal caught nine passes for 146 yards and a TD.

With Brandon Marshall serving a one-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct code, Royal -- a second-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech -- was featured in the offense and had the best performance by a Broncos rookie receiver since Rick Upchurch's 153-yard performance against Kansas City in 1975.

"This just opens up a lot of possibilities for us," Cutler said. "We anticipated B-Marsh getting a lot of double coverage up top, and now you can't, because Eddie is on the other side. I've had a good feel for Eddie, and I've been throwing it his way more and more."

San Diego has won two straight in Denver for the first time since 1967-68. The Chargers have never won three in a row on the road against the Broncos, who have won their last eight home openers.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Scouts Inc.: AFC offseason needs

You can think of this as the ultimate primer for the NFL offseason, or at least the AFC offseason: Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. breaks down all the squads in the AFC and tells you their top three needs to address, be it via the draft or free agency.

Broncos' Marshall, owner Bowlen on same page

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and receiver Brandon Marshall fell onto the same page last week, both saying they'd like the two-time Pro Bowler to return next season.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

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AFC West: Stability keeps Chargers out of turmoil below

There is a major New England Patriots influence in this division. Denver fired long-time head coach Mike Shanahan and replaced him with 32-year-old Josh McDaniels, who spent eight years with the Patriots including the last three as offensive coordinator.

Chargers' Merriman working his way back

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Stadium developer unveils proposal, but Chargers balk

" Local developer Perry Dealy unveiled his proposal to replace Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley Thursday, a day after the San Diego Chargers called his plans unrealistic in a fax sent directly to him.

Majestic Realty terminates negotiations with Walnut over proposed NFL stadium

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Versatility remains Bingham's specialty

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League won't punish Marshall

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Broncos' Marshall has quick trip

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Broncos' Marshall denies ever abusing ex-girlfriend

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall defended himself Sunday on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," which detailed seven reported incidents of domestic violence.

Scheffler on board with Broncos' plan

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No Bronco escaped new coach's scrutiny

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