San Diego (6-3), Denver (6-3)
This all seems so familiar.
The Broncos take a big lead in the AFC West, then squander it as the Chargers stop underachieving and begin playing up to their talent level. Then they meet with first place at stake.
It happened that way in 2008, and the Chargers won the finale to steal the division. San Diego has won four in a row, while Denver has dropped three straight heading into a Mile High faceoff.
Denver has scored only 16 points more than it has allowed, while the Chargers have a 35-point edge. The Broncos could be without quarterback Kyle Orton, and backup Chris Simms was very rusty at Washington.
The Chargers got their running game in gear against Philadelphia, and their passing game hasn't missed a beat. Perhaps most significantly, they're making some key plays on defense again.
Chargers vs. Broncos: What To Watch For
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When last they met, Eddie Royal was leaving the Chargers in his rear-view mirror with a pair of return touchdowns. Four wins and three Denver losses later, the Bolts and Broncos are tied in the AFC West.
Craig Elsten and Chris Ello from 619 Sports preview the big game in this podcast.
