CHARGERS MATCHUPS: vs. Denver Broncos

By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Sunday, December 23, 2007 10:42 PM PST ∞

Chargers on offense

(Edge ---- Chargers)

RB LaDainian Tomlinson's chances of winning a second consecutive rushing title increased greatly when Pittsburgh's Willie Parker (1,316) broke his leg Thursday. Either Tomlinson (1,311) or Minnesota rookie Adrian Peterson (1,278) should win the crown. The chances of L.T. winning also are helped by a porous Denver run defense (140.2) that ranks 29th in the NFL. QB Philip Rivers (18 touchdowns, 15 interceptions) has six multi-touchdown passing games this season, including throwing for two scores against Denver earlier this season when the Chargers beat the Broncos by 38 points. TE Antonio Gates (nine TDs) needs 102 receiving yards for his second career 1,000-yard season. Vincent Jackson had 84 yards against Denver, his second-highest yardage day of the season. Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil (11 sacks) has emerged as a supreme pass rusher and is tied for ninth in the NFL in sacks. MLB D.J. Williams has a team-leading 149 tackles, while WLB Jamie Winborn figures to make his first start of the season for injured Ian Gold (knee). Denver ranks sixth in passing defense as teams are always wary of CBs Champ Bailey (42 career interceptions) and Dre' Bly (38 career thefts). FS John Lynch is no longer one of the top safeties in the NFL, but the Torrey Pines High alumnus is one of the NFL's true gamers.

Chargers on defense

(Edge ---- Chargers)

The pressure is on CB Antonio Cromartie, the franchise-record holder and NFL leader with 10 interceptions. Not only did the sports souvenir store at Westfield North County mall run out of his No. 31 jerseys at 1 p.m. Saturday, but secondary coach Bill Bradley is reminding Cromartie on a near-daily basis that he himself once intercepted 11 passes in an NFL season. As Bradley says, the challenge is on for Cromartie to catch him. The Chargers will look to build on their league-leading totals in interceptions (27) and takeaways (41) against Denver QB Jay Cutler (18 TDs, 12 interceptions), and it doesn't hurt to have antsy OLB Shawn Merriman (11 1/2 sacks) back from a knee injury that caused him to miss last week's slaughter of the (Detroit) Lions. ILBs Stephen Cooper (team-high 156 tackles) and Matt Wilhelm (124 stops) have played so well that nobody even mentions Randall Godfrey or "Downfield Donnie" Edwards anymore. DE Luis Castillo (ankle) would like to return tonight, but there's no reason to rush him with replacement Jacques Cesaire playing so well. DE Igor Olshansky has a career-best 63 tackles. The Broncos won't have a 1,000-yard rusher for just the second time in the last 13 seasons, but undrafted free agent Selvin Young (603 yards, 5.6 average) looks like the real deal. Playing at an unreal level is WR Brandon Marshall, who has 86 receptions for 1,136 yards.

Special teams

(Edge ---- Chargers)

The Chargers have eight Pro Bowl players, but P Mike Scifres isn't one of them. Scifres has been outstanding, but his 46.5 average (sixth in the NFL) and 39.7 net average (third) trail Pro Bowl pick Shane Lechler of Oakland (league-best 49.0 average, second with 41.3 net average) in both categories. Scifres rates as a huge advantage over Denver's Paul Ernster, who will be punting in an NFL game for the first time tonight after the Broncos released troubled Todd Sauerbrun last week. K Jason Elam is Old Man Reliable for the Broncos. Elam plays in his 235th career game tonight, surpassing John Elway as the franchise leader in games played, and has topped 100 points in 15 consecutive seasons. He has 103 points this season. Chargers K Nate Kaeding has 95 points. The Chargers' special teams units have been outstanding. The kickoff coverage unit ranks fourth in the NFL, allowing 19.6 yards per return.

What to expect

(Edge ---- Chargers)

A "Monday Night Football" game on Christmas Eve provides a gift-wrapped opponent for the Chargers. Denver (6-8) rates as one of the NFL's biggest disappointments this season, and it remains to be seen how motivated the Broncos are after being eliminated from playoff contention a week ago. Instead of last-minute visits to the mall, Denver players can get stressed out by watching replays of that 41-3 beating the Chargers put on them in early October. Reminders of that one-sided rout, in which rabid Broncos fans raced toward the Invesco Field exits, ought to anger any Denver player with even minuscule pride. At least tonight's contest carries a high level of relevance for the Chargers. Win their final two regular-season games and the Charger wrap up the coveted No. 3 seed, which means no chance of meeting the runaway New England Patriots prior to the AFC Championship Game should both teams advance that far. A win tonight would also leave Denver coach Mike Shanahan with just his second losing record in 13 seasons as Broncos coach.

PICK: Chargers 34, Broncos 21

---- Mike Sullivan

Another view

Bill Williamson, Denver Post

Chargers 37, Broncos 20

White (sand) Christmas Eve throws coal at downtrodden Broncos.

CHARGERS OFFENSE

Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt.

WR 89 Chris Chambers 5-11 210

LT 73 Marcus McNeill 6-7 336

LG 68 Kris Dielman 6-4 310

C 61 Nick Hardwick 6-4 295

RG 79 Mike Goff 6-5 311

RT 66 Jeromey Clary 6-6 306

TE 85 Antonio Gates 6-4 260

WR 83 Vincent Jackson 6-5 241

QB 17 Philip Rivers 6-5 228

RB 21 LaDainian Tomlinson 5-10 221

FB 34 Andrew Pinnock 5-10 250

PK 10 Nate Kaeding 6-0 187

CHARGERS DEFENSE

DE 99 Igor Olshansky 6-6 309

DT 76 Jamal Williams 6-3 348

DE 74 Jacques Cesaire 6-2 295

OLB 95Shaun Phillips 6-3 262

ILB 54 Stephen Cooper 6-1 235

ILB 57 Matt Wilhelm 6-4 245

OLB 56 Shawne Merriman 6-4 272

CB 23 Quentin Jammer 6-0 204

SS 42 Clinton Hart 6-0 205

FS 20 Marlon McCree 5-11 202

CB 31 Antonio Cromartie 6-2 203

P 5 Mike Scifres 6-2 236

DENVER OFFENSE

WR 15 Brandon Marshall 6-4 230

LT 78 Matt Lepsis 6-4 290

LG 73 Chris Kuper 6-4 302

C 62 Chris Myers 6-4 295

RG 70 Montrae Holland 6-2 322

RT 64 Erik Pears 6-8 305 

TE 88 Tony Scheffler 6-5 250

WR 84 Javon Walker 6-3 215

QB 6 Jay Cutler 6-3 233

RB 35 Selvin Young 5-11 207

FB 37 Cecil Sapp 5-11 229

PK 1 Jason Elam 5-11 195

DENVER DEFENSE

DE 60 John Engelberger 6-4 260

DT 79 Marcus Thomas 6-3 315

DT 99 Alvin McKinley 6-3 294

DE 92 Elvis Dumervil 5-11 260

WLB 51 Jamie Winborn 5-11 242

MLB 55 D.J. Williams 6-1 242

SLB 58 Nate Webster 6-0 232

CB 24 Champ Bailey 6-0 192

SS 21 Hamza Abdullah 6-2 216

FS 47 John Lynch 6-2 220

CB 32 Dre' Bly 5-10 188

P 3 Paul Ernster 6-0 212