In a game that tested the San Diego Chargers’ propensity for blowing games late, costly mistakes from the Denver Broncos (12 penalties and two fumbles) eventually plagued the Orange & Blue as they went on to lose in San Diego by a score of 21-13.
The Broncos started off another game on their back heels, for the fifth time in 2016, the defense allowed a score on their opening drive, as Philip Rivers found Hunter Henry for a five-yard completion on a long, methodical drive.
San Diego was on the field 17 of the opening 19 minutes and in doing so somewhat subdued the Broncos defense by taking a 10-0 lead. Denver managed to limit damages with a muffed punt recovery by the interim head coach’s special teams unit, but Trevor Siemian and the offense could only find a field goal, ending the half 10-3.
In the second half, the Broncos defense was gashed on a 48-yard run by Melvin Gordon leading to a Chargers to a field goal in the red zone, a common theme for the defense this game.
Denver’s offense never seemed to capitalize on the defense’s big second-half stops. As on the ensuing drive on 2nd-and-10, Jordan Taylor fumbled the ball setting up yet another Chargers field goal.
When they weren’t handing the ball over to the Chargers, the Broncos were moving backward with the ball. Penalties, were the team’s ultimate Achilles heel on the night, particularly on the offensive line. With the game still in reach and San Diego up 19-3, a holding penalty by Max Garcia in the Denver end zone would be the apparent back breaker, leading to a safety and pushing the lead to three scores.
But it wasn’t quite over.
San Diego would fumble the ensuing free-kick off the safety, a planned play by Joe DeCamillis the Denver coaching staff, and the Broncos would capitalize on with a Siemian pass to Bennie Fowler for a five-yard score.
With time remaining and the lead down to 21-10, Denver got the ball back from the defense, but a Demaryius Thomas fumble with 3:43 remaining put another stop to that.
The Broncos mounted a brave attempt in the end by getting another field goal, recovering an onside kick and putting together a final drive. But alas it wasn’t to be. The Chargers managed not to waste away another late lead and Denver was punished for blowing too many chances.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
The Chargers have two rookies on defense who really stood out in Joey Bosa and Jatavis Brown. Brown, in particular, was dominant. In a crucial series with 5:45 left in the game Brown took over; first sacking Siemian to pin the offense back to 2nd-and-30, then the very next play forcing the huge Thomas fumble, a momentum breaker.
The Akron product also led all defenders with 14 tackles in addition to his sack, forced fumble, and an additional tackle for a loss. Not bad for a fifth-round pick.
PLAY OF THE GAME
You have to love interim head coach and special teams ace Joe DeCamillis using a little trickery on the free kick after the safety to force the Chargers fumble. It wasn’t enough, but this play completely turned the final quarter of the game around. Nice execution by rookie punter Riley Dixon here as well.
Free Kick for @Broncos…@Chargers can't handle it.#Broncos Ball!
💻📱: https://t.co/cwnT5bPB2K
📺: @NFLonCBS #TNF https://t.co/mG4beqyNt0— NFL (@NFL) October 14, 2016
QUOTE OF THE GAME
“Way too many mistakes. All the way across the board. Hard to win a game that way.”
– Interim head coach Joe DeCamillis
TURNING POINT
In a game full of missed opportunities and momentum swings, two plays really stand out. First, Jordan Taylor’s fumble with 9:37 left in the third quarter and Denver only down 13-3, a big momentum changer. Right as it seemed the defense was getting stops and the offense managed to get some positive yards, they coughed the ball up.
The other big turning point is the safety coming off of a holding flag. The Broncos could have tied the game with two TDs and two two-point conversions, but the safety made the game a three-score affair.
BY THE NUMBERS
5 – The Denver defense has now allowed opposing offenses to score on five of the six opening drives they’ve faced in 2016. Four of those have been touchdowns, while the Indianapolis Colts only managed a field goal.
16 to 50 – The Broncos run-to-pass ratio, a ways away from the balance this team strives for. While Siemian didn’t play well, he’s going to have an uphill battle if the team’s only running 16 times a game.
LASTING IMPACT
The Broncos have lost six games in Gary Kubiak’s tenure, and all have come in pairs (meaning every loss has been back-to-back). They’ll hope the trend continues.
Denver, with two consecutive losses now, has some important corrections to make on both sides of the ball. The defense needs to find ways to start quicker, while the offense has to fix just about everything, starting rhythm, blocking and the running game.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Broncos have a long 11 days until their next game against the Houston Texans in Brock Osweiler’s return to the Mile High City. The added preparation and time off couldn’t be coming at a better time as there are plenty of things that need correcting on either side of the ball, as well as injuries that need rehabbing.
