If the Chargers lose to the Broncos on Sunday in Denver, the season will be lost (not mathematically, but realistically). If San Diego is to keep their playoff hopes alive, these three players will have to be big in the Mile High City.
- Danario Alexander: This kid has come up large in two straight games. He already has the 4th-most receiving yards on the team. In Tampa, Alexander was targeted 7 times, one more than Eddie Royal and Robert Meachem combined. Denver has allowed big receiving games to tall wideouts like A.J. Green, and in their last meeting Antonio Gates caught a pair of touchdowns. Look for Alexander to open up the field for Gates again, which should lead to big plays for the Chargers.
- Jeromey Clary: The right tackle has been maligned by Chargers fans in recent years. He's going to have to be stout against a Broncos pass rush that mutilated the Bolts offensive line in the second half of their last meeting. Elvis Dumervil has a shoulder injury and is not expected to play (he had two sacks in that game) so all eyes can focus on Von Martin, who's second in the NFL with 10 sacks. Mike Harris will need help on the left side, so Clary MUST hold his own against whoever the Broncos send out in Dumervil's place.
- Melvin Ingram: The Chargers' first round pick was a beast in the pre-season, but only has a half of a sack in 9 regular season game. The best way to disrupt Peyton Manning is to knock him around. He's only been sacked 11 times this season and went nearly untouched in the second half of their last meeting, completing 13 of 14 passes to lead Denver's historic comeback. Ingram has been slowed by a few nagging injuries, but if he can have the kind of impact the Bolts expected when they drafted him, the Chargers can (and should) win.
