This week’s matchup between the Denver Broncos (10-3) and the San Diego Chargers (8-5) will give the Broncos a chance to add to their three-game winning streak. This game will feature the NFL’s fourth-leading passer, Peyton Manning (3,910 yards, 36 TDs), and fourth-leading receiver, Demaryius Thomas (1,266 yards, 10 TDs). San Diego comes into this game looking to continue their recent success, having won three of their last four. The game will begin Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET and can be seen on CBS.
The Week 8 matchup between the Chargers and the Broncos ended in a 35-21 loss for San Diego. Antonio Gates had an outstanding performance in that game, totaling five catches for 54 yards and two TDs. Keenan Allen was a factor as well, totaling 73 yards and a TD on nine catches. Emmanuel Sanders had a great performance for Denver, recording nine receptions for 120 yards and three TDs. Ronnie Hillman had a big game as well, totaling 109 yards on 20 attempts.
The Chargers, a four-point underdog, will be looking to hold down their home field when Denver comes to town. The matchup currently has a 50-point Over/Under (O/U). The Chargers enter the game with records of 8-5 Straight Up (SU) and 6-7 Against The Spread (ATS) this season. In the past five games, San Diego is 3-2 SU and 1-4 ATS. When the Chargers pass the ball, they do so at a high percentage. They complete passes 68.1% of the time they throw, second in the NFL. Denver’s defense should make it easy on the Chargers heading into halftime. The Broncos allow an average of 8.5 points in the second quarter, making them one of the worst in the league. On average, the Broncos earn 8.2 flags each game, one of the worst rates in the league. Such errors could be beneficial for the Chargers if they persist into this week’s game.
On the other side, the Broncos head into Week 15 with records of 6-7 ATS and 10-3 SU. The Broncos went 4-1 SU and 2-3 ATS over the last five games. The Chargers may be catching the Broncos at the wrong time. They have found their groove on offense in the past five games, averaging 402.4 total yards during that span. Moving on to the Denver defense, it has some favorable matchups that it may be able to take advantage of as well. Denver’s second-ranked run defense has given its competition nightmares. Opponents have only run for 72.8 yards per game against this terrifying unit. The Chargers will have to stay focused in the second quarter against Denver. The Broncos usually finish off the first half with dominance, averaging 10.4 points during the second quarter.
Predictions: SU Winner – DEN, ATS Winner – DEN, O/U – Over
Notes
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Denver’s last 10 games.
San Diego is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games.
Denver is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games.
San Diego is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games.
Denver is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games.
San Diego is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home.
Denver is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games on the road.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Diego’s last 5 games at home.
Denver is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing San Diego.
San Diego is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games at home.
Denver is 7-11-4 ATS in its last 22 games when playing San Diego.
San Diego is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Denver.
Denver is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Diego.
San Diego is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Denver.
San Diego is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Denver.
Denver is 9-0 SU when leading at the half this season. San Diego is 5-2 SU when taking a lead into halftime.
Denver is 9-0 SU when leading at the start of the fourth quarter this season. San Diego is 6-3 SU when leading after three quarters.
This season, Denver is undefeated (6-0 SU) in games where it wins the turnover battle, and only 1-3 SU in games where it loses the turnover battle.
This season, San Diego is only 1-3 SU in games where it loses the turnover battle.
The San Diego defense has forced an average of 2.0 turnovers over its last five games, but Denver is a perfect 6-0 SU this season when turning the ball over at least 2 times in a game.
San Diego has induced an average of 8.2 penalties on opponents this season, but Denver is 6-2 SU when penalized at least 8 times in a game.
Dating back to last season, Denver is 9-1 SU against AFC West opponents, while San Diego is 6-4 SU against divisional foes.
The San Diego passing attack is ranked 12th in the league, while the Denver pass defense is only ranked 13th. The Broncos’ passing game is ranked fourth, compared to the eighth-ranked pass defense of the Chargers.
The San Diego rushing attack is ranked only 28th in the league, while the Denver run defense is ranked second. The Broncos’ rushing game is ranked just 17th, compared to the 14th-ranked run defense of the Chargers.
Denver has given up 22.5 points per contest this year, which is ranked 16th in the league. San Diego has scored 22.5 points per game this year and is ranked 14th overall.
San Diego has allowed 20.9 points per game this year, which is ranked 12th in the league. Denver has scored 29.6 points per game this year and is ranked fifth overall.
