Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman: "We want to be a physical team"

The Denver Broncos went into sunny San Diego with one thing on their collective minds; be the No. 1 seed in the AFC. After an impressive team win and some help, Denver is now in the driver seat.

Denver was in control from the first whistle of the 17-3 lopsided victory and the defense practically lived in the San Diego backfield. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was under pressure the entire afternoon. Rivers was sacked four times and the Chargers committed three turnovers, including a 25-yard pick-6 from Danny Trevathan at the end of the first quarter.

“Besides my Madden team, I have never been on team like this,” Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson said, before giving credit to John Elway, the team’s general manager. “Elway did a great job putting this group together. We have dawgs, man. We have guys flying around making plays.”

11 players were impressive on the defensive side of the ball, none more so than linebacker Von Miller, who ended the day with two solo sacks and caught the attention of head coach Gary Kubiak.

“I thought he was exceptional. He practiced really good this week and I told him the other day. I said, ‘Von, in my opinion when your practice is hot it tends to come over to Sunday,’” Kubiak said. “It’s hard as a player 16 weeks in a row to be perfect at practice but I think he amped it up a little bit, was really good at practice this week and took it to the field.”

Miller now leads the orange and blue in total sacks with nine.

Now, most expected this type of play from a Wade Phillips led defense, but they were not the sole reason Denver won its 15th consecutive division road win (an NFL Record). Young gunslinger Brock Osweiler and the running game were also a factor.

“We want to be a physical team,” Broncos running back, and San Diego native, Ronnie Hillman stated after the win. “That’s the way we want to play, not to ease Osweiler in. Just being a physical team, that’s more important than trying to get him comfortable.” Hillman ended the day with 56 total yards in front of his friends and family.

Hillman was also asked about how important it is to take care of the football. “It’s very important. You can’t win the game when you’re losing the turnover battle. Just taking care of the football and defense doing what they’re doing, that’s the formula for a successful team.”

Denver has a +2 turnover differential on the season, which, no doubt, has positively impacted their success.

The Mile High crew now controls their own destiny and can secure the overall No. 1 seed in the AFC if they win out. But Hillman knows they need to stay focused on what’s next.

“We’re 10-2, now we have to work to get to 11-2,” he said after the win. “This game is over. It was a great win. Back to watching film tomorrow. Then after that, this game is in the past, we have another one to look forward to.”

Up next is another divisional game against the Oakland Raiders, who are now 5-7 on the season after a loss to Kansas City.

10-2 is a rewarding record, but not as rewarding as the No. 1 seed would be; Denver still has some work to do.