Typically, NFL players do not like to play in Thursday games because of how tough it is to play two games days apart from each other. The Denver Broncos may not mind playing on Thursday as they look to get rid of the bad taste of losing when they face AFC West division rival San Diego Chargers.
The Broncos played horribly in week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons and looked a step behind. Rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch did not look prepared and the Falcons exposed a few holes in the Broncos defense. They are now 4-1 and will look to avoid another mishap against the 1-4 Chargers.
They will look to win without their head coach. Broncos Head Coach Gary Kubiak was taken to the hospital for flu-like symptoms on Sunday and was kept overnight. The next morning, it was revealed Kubiak has a complex migraine condition that caused fatigue and body weakness. He will not coach the team this week as special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis will serve as interim head coach for the week.
Quarterback Trevor Siemian has a good chance of suiting up for the Broncos after missing one game due to a sprain in his non-throwing shoulder. According to reports, Siemian has progressed since his injury and will look to return Thursday versus the Chargers. He was limited in practice on Monday. In his absence, he was definitely missed.
During Siemian’s absence, the Broncos gave up a season high six sacks. It was a combination of Lynch holding onto the ball and the offensive line being over matched. Falcons’ edge rusher Vic Beasley Jr. dominated the Broncos offensive line and right tackle Ty Sambrailo as he racked up a career high three and a half sacks.
The blocking may improve as the Broncos look to get back right tackle Donald Stephenson and blocking tight end specialist Virgil Green. Both Stephenson and Green missed the last three games due to calf injuries. Each player practiced fully on Monday and will, hopefully, help bolster the run game.
“It’s huge,” said running back C.J. Anderson on Green’s return. “It just feels good to have your guy back–that’s prideful in blocking and what he wants to do, the way he moves people, even catching the ball.”
Anderson has struggled without Stephenson and Green paving the way on his rushing attempts. Anderson averaged only 42.3 yards a game when Stephenson and Green did not play compared to 83 yards per game when they did. The running game will need to have a solid game to take the pressure off Siemian’s shoulders, as he is not 100 percent.
The defense will also need to bring their A-game against Philip Rivers. Rivers is a fierce competitor and is not scared to take chances throwing the ball deep. The Broncos may have the best secondary, but some holes were exposed in the Broncos pass defense. Rivers will look to exploit them with his Brett Favre-esque gunslinger mentality.
Falcons’ running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman had there way against the Broncos linebackers, combining for 167 yards receiving. It will not be a surprise if the Chargers and Rivers duplicate the Falcons game plan and try get there running backs in one-on-one coverage against the Broncos linebackers.
It will be difficult to win without Kubiak, but the Broncos must find a way to win and avoid losing two games straight. The Chargers have not started the season well, losing games in heartbreaking fashion and losing key players for the season due to injuries. The Broncos hope to continue the dominance over the Chargers, winning five out of the last six matchups.
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