Running down the significant stats and notable numbers following the Denver Broncos’ 21-13 loss to the Chargers in San Diego on Thursday night.
The Broncos were assessed a season-high 12 penalties for 103 yards in the contest. The Chargers, meanwhile, only were penalized three times for 20 yards.
A full eight of the Broncos’ 12 penalties were called on offensive linemen, with all five starters getting called for at least one infraction. The penalties resulted in 63 yards in losses and all but one occurred in the second half. The most costly penalties were two fourth-quarter holding penalties on left tackle Russell Okung (one in the end zone which resulted in a safety and another which nullified a C.J. Anderson touchdown reception).
Speaking of Anderson, he totaled 71 yards on 14 touches on the night but had 47 yards and a TD nullified by three penalties.
One more on penalties: The Orange & Blue now have been flagged 29 times for 248 yards over the last three games after being whistled only 17 times for 117 yards in the first three contests.
The Chargers marched 75 yards on 12 plays to score a TD on the game’s opening drive. That marked the fifth time in six games this season that Denver’s opposition has scored on its opening possession – totaling a league-most 31 points. It was San Diego’s only TD of the night.
The Broncos’ opening drive, on the other hand, resulted in a punt for third time in their last four games. They only have scored on their opening possession once – a TD following an interception in Tampa – in six games. That Aqib Talib pick against the Buccaneers, not coincidentally, was the only time the opposition has failed to turn its opening drive into points.
Trevor Siemian completed 30-of-50 passes for 230 yards and a TD in the game, but according to Pro Football Focus, Siemian only completed 1-of-8 throws for 20 yards on passes which traveled more than 10 yards in the air.
Tight ends Hunter Henry (a game-high 83 yards on six receptions) and Antonio Gates (16 on two) combined for 99 of the Chargers’ 178 receiving yards, leaving 79 on 10 receptions for the other five players who caught passes for San Diego.
San Diego QB Philip Rivers finished 18-of-29 for 178 yards and a TD in the game, but he didn’t throw an interception and was sacked only twice. In the previous four games against the Broncos – all Denver wins – Rivers threw six picks and was sacked nine times.
In the end, of course the Broncos’ NFL-record 15-game division road win streak was snapped by a Chargers crew which was in the midst of its worst AFC West skid (10 straight losses) in more than 30 years.
