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| ARI at SEA | BAL at MIN | BUF at NYJ | CAR at TB | CHI at ATL | CLE at PIT | DEN at SD | DET at GB |
| HOU at CIN | KC at WAS | NYG at NO | PHI at OAK | STL at JAX | TEN at NE | ||
Week 6 Game Recap: Denver Broncos 34, San Diego Chargers 23
Denver Broncos
| QB Kyle Orton, Pass: 20 - 29 - 229 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 5 - 11 - 0 |
Orton was calm, cool, and collected in this heated matchup of division rivals on Monday night. The Chargers tried to get after Orton to force him into mistakes, but often he would throw the ball away, throw it in the dirt, or just take the sack. Orton also did a good job of finding his hot read when the blitz was on. Most of the time it was tight end Tony Scheffler, who spent most of the night split out as a wide receiver. Orton took his shots downfield when the throw was there, with limited success. This was his second game without the glove on his throwing hand, and once again his release seemed natural and fluid. The veteran quarterback also did a good job of setting up defenders, which resulted in big plays later in the game. The Broncos did a good job of protecting Orton, and with plenty of time in the pocket he was able to make it all the way through his progressions and find the open receiver.
| RB Knowshon Moreno, Rush: 18 - 44 - 0, Rec: 1 - -1 - 0 (2 targets) |
Moreno was running hard against a defense geared to stop him, and picked up most of his yards up the middle. As we've seen most all year, Moreno ran hot and would fight for every yard possible on a play. He was very determined, running with good field vision, but when a hole wasn't there he would just lower his head and try to grind out a couple of yards instead of hesitating and getting tackled for a loss. Moreno seemed to get banged up after a play where he ran into the pile and was pushed back by several defenders. He didn't miss much time, but when he was back in the game he didn't seem to be as effective.
| RB Correll Buckhalter, Rush: 10 - 46 - 0, Rec: 4 - 29 - 0 (4 targets) |
Buckhalter returned from the ankle injury that kep him out of the Patriots game, and once again provided a spark on offense nearly every time he touched the football. Cbuck ran with a good pad level, and kept his legs churning to pick up yards after contact. Buckhalter had a fumble in this game, but it didn't stop the Broncos from going back to him. The versatile back was also used effectively as a receiver out of the backfield, and showed good instincts when running after the catch. Buckhalter's production when he was in the game helped open things up when the Broncos used the play action pass.
| RB LaMont Jordan |
Jordan did not receive any carries, even in the fourth quarter (where he gets most of his carries) with the Broncos needing to put the game away.
| RB Peyton Hillis |
Hillis was once again only used as a fullback and on special teams. He didn't have any boneheaded penalties this week, and could see a few carries here and there as the season goes along.
| WR Brandon Marshall, Rec: 5 - 49 - 0 (6 targets) |
The Broncos once again came out force feeding the ball to Brandon Marshall. While the other receivers on the team will get looked to when the matchups dictate it, Marshall is the key to get this passing game on track. Orton has developed a trust with the big wideout, and will throw it up to let Marshall make a play on the ball. Marshall did a good job of turning upfield and looking for running room after he would catch a pass. Defenders find it tough to cover Marshall because of his size, but he can also find difficult cutback angles which he did on a couple of his catches Monday night. The Broncos are more than willing to use Marshall in a number of ways and lined him up wide, in the slot, and would bring him in motion out of trips formation -- all in an effort to confuse the defense and get him the rock. Marshall didn't find the endzone against the Chargers, but is clearly the most important part of this passing offense.
| WR Brandon Stokley, Rec: 3 - 24 - 1 (3 targets) |
Stokley made it onto the field as the Broncos starting slot receiver, and the veteran proved to be an important target for Orton as the game went on. Unlike Gaffney, who struggled to get open against the Chargers, Stokley was very adept at finding the soft spots in the zone. He made tough catches when he had to, and was also a willing blocker when the Broncos were grinding it out on the ground. Stokley's touchdown catch was reviewed by the replay booth, and the call on the field stood. The ball crossed the plane as Stokley caught the pass and was coming out of the end zone. He was touched down by Antonio Cromartie before he rolled into the end zone, but officials decided that the ball was across the plane when he originally secured the pass.
| WR Jabar Gaffney, Rec: 1 - 27 - 0 (4 targets) |
Gaffney was not on the field before Brandon Stokley, and did not do as much against the Chargers as he had in previous weeks. Orton still looked to Gaffney, but most of his targets fell incomplete. Gaffney just didn't get open on his option routes, and even when he did get separation the defensive backs covering him had enough recovery speed to make a play on the ball.
| WR Eddie Royal (4 targets) |
Royal didn't show up in the box score as a receiver, but his play on special teams helped the Broncos beat their division rival. In the first-quarter, after the Chargers got on the board with a field goal, Royal took the ensuing kickoff 93-yards for a touchdown. Then, in the second-quarter Royal fielded a punt and ran untouched for the 71-yard touchdown. It was only the sixth time since the merger that a player had a kick return and a punt return for touchdowns in the same game. The Broncos look to exploit mismatches in the passing game, and if they don't feel Royal has a good matchup they may not throw to him much. However, if you get credit for return touchdowns then you have to be pleased with Royal's production the last two weeks.
| TE Tony Scheffler, Rec: 6 - 101 - 1 (6 targets) |
Scheffler started the game split out wide as a receiver, and spent most of his time out there. He was a hot read for quarterback Kyle Orton when he was in trouble, and did a good job of fighting for extra yardage after the catch. The Broncos love to exploit mismatches, and on Monday night they decided to pick on safety Eric Weddle -- who was lined up against Scheffler for most of the night. When the heat was on Orton would throw short to Scheffler on the sidelines. Little did Weddle know the Broncos were setting him up for a big play. In the third-quarter the Broncos decided to strike. Orton pump faked the short route that had been working all day to Scheffler and floated the ball towards the end zone. Scheffler was able to run underneath it, secure the pass, and get two feet down for six points. Later in the game Scheffler had a big reception on a key drive as Denver was looking to score once more. Again, Scheffler gathered in a short pass on the sideline, only to turn upfield, break an arm tackle and gain 52-yards on the play.
| TE Daniel Graham |
Graham wasn't a big part of the gameplan today, but did work hard as a run blocker.
San Diego Chargers
| QB Philip Rivers, Pass: 20 - 33 - 274 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0 |
Rivers is always fired up to play the Broncos, and even got into a shouting match with the opposition before the game started. Denver sent many blitzes after Rivers throughout the game. At one point in the first quarter the Broncos had blitzed on 7 of 8 plays. Rivers did a good job of locating safety Brian Dawkins on the field and would regulary audible away from the blitz. He also did a good job of finding his hot read while the pressure was on. Rivers stood strong in the pocket early, and was even jumping slightly as he threw to get the ball over the oncoming rush. When the Broncos were in a base defense Rivers usually made them pay. The Chargers used screen passes, draw plays, traps, and shovel passes to try and keep the Broncos pass rush in check but by the end of the game the blitz finally got to Rivers. With pressure right in his face Rivers tried to find his receivers, but the Broncos were on him too quickly. The ultimate competitor, Rivers went down swinging but it wasn't enough for the Chargers to win the game.
| RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Rush: 18 - 70 - 0, Rec: 3 - 30 - 0 (4 targets) |
LT actually had some success against the Broncos as both a rusher and a receiver on Monday night. The Chargers used LT on screen passes and inside trap plays designed to slow down the Denver pass rush. Tomlinson was effectively using jump cuts to elude defenders and seemed like he was getting into a rhythm. The veteran back was running hard, and picking up good yardage after contact but the team had to go away from the ground game to play catch up in the fourth quarter. Tomlinson seemed frustrated after being taken out at the goalline in favor of Darren Sproles. Later in the game, with San Diego in full passing mode, Tomlinson struggled in pass protection against the Broncos fierce pass rush. Denver was effective using the double "A" gap blitz and it seemed like Tomlinson was confused as to which defender to pick up. When he did meet the rusher in the gap he regularly was crumpled while the defender continued on to pressure Philip Rivers.
| RB Darren Sproles, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
Sproles first and only carry came in the first quarter after LaDainian Tomlinson had carried the ball three times in a row to get to the Broncos 2-yard line. Tomlinson was replaced by Sproles, and on the sideline he didn't seem too happy about that. The Chargers tried to run an inside trap to the right side, but it was stopped by the Broncos and San Diego had to go for a field goal. Sproles biggest impact of the day came on special teams. After two returns for touchdowns by Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal, Sproles showed what he could do as a returner. He fielded the punt and found the seam quickly. Sproles then turned on the jets and scampered 77-yards for the touchdown.
| RB Mike Tolbert, Rec: 2 - 40 - 0 (2 targets) |
Tolbert lined up at fullback and was trying to blast open holes for LaDainian Tomlinson. He was also used on a couple of screen passes, and he showed great patience waiting for his linemen to create a convoy in front of him. On his first screen pass cornerback Champ Bailey tackled him and knocked the ball out of bounds with his helmet. On Tolbert's second screen pass he made sure to securely hold onto the ball with two hands.
| RB Jacob Hester, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0 |
Hester was used primarily as a blocker, but did get a carry in the second quarter as the Chargers were trying to soften up the Broncos defense.
| WR Vincent Jackson, Rec: 4 - 46 - 1 (7 targets) |
Jackson was fired up to play on Monday night, and Philip Rivers was looking for him while facing a blitz on seemingly every play. For most of the night Jackson was covered well by Champ Bailey, but once in a while he would break off a route and snare the ball before Bailey could get to him. Jackson caught Rivers only touchdown pass of the game on a drag route where he was trailed by second-year cornerback Jack Williams. On that play the Chargers lined up four receivers to one side of the field in an effort to confuse the Broncos secondary.
| WR Malcom Floyd, Rec: 3 - 51 - 0 (5 targets) |
Floyd was able to get open against the Broncos while the defense was in an almost constant blitzing mode. Once was over the middle against Champ Bailey, and Floyd made a nice move to break inside and snare the pass. Floyd was also able to work the sideline, and made for a nice hot read target because of his size when the blitz was on. In the fourth quarter with the game on the line, Rivers tried to go back to Floyd but the passes fell incomplete. The Chargers even went for it on fourth down with less than six minutes to go in the game. Linebacker D.J. Williams did a good job of delivering a crushing blow to Floyd as the ball arrived.
| WR Chris Chambers, Rec: 2 - 33 - 0 (4 targets) |
Philip Rivers tried to get the ball to Chambers deep a few times, and the veteran was able to haul in a couple of those passes. Chambers was also targeted on a couple of short passes in the third-quarter but they fell incomplete as the Broncos pass rush was putting the heat on. For the most part, the Broncos secondary did a good job of blanketing Chambers and forcing Philip Rivers to look elsewhere.
| TE Antonio Gates, Rec: 5 - 70 - 0 (9 targets) |
Gates was working the underneath routes for the Chargers, and did a nice job of getting open on jerk routes throughout the game. He even hauled in a jump pass from Philip Rivers over the middle of the defense which put the Chargers inside the Broncos 10-yard line. The Chargers were trying to exploit the Broncos linebackers in coverage, and early on they were having success. As the game wore on, the Denver pass rush was simply too much for the Chargers to handle and the coverage on Gates was much tighter.