San Diego (+ 7.5) @ Denver (10-23-14)

[oldunclemark]

CBS - 8:25 EST

Low 60s and dry.....over/under 51.5

SD is down to rookie RB Brandon Oliver ..(top 3 are out) and they ran for just 69 yards last Sunday.

Corner back Brandon Flowers (out) concussion.. LB Manti Te'o has not practiced this week

Denver without RB - Montee Ball and LB Danny Trevethan.

..also don't know who will start at RT for The Broncos Chris Clark was replaced last week by 2nd year player

Paul Cornick.

Winner takes the AFC West lead....almost a must win for Denver with 3 road games next...

Will certainly be a high scoring as SD cant run right now...Denver has covered the last two +7 home games

against Arizona and SF

[COLTS449]

I cant wait for this game. Should be one heck of a game. I think Denver wins 34-31 on a game winning field goal.

[Girlzarefanstoo]

One thing is for CERTAIN - we won't sneak in and steal a victory like we did there on Thursday night last year, LOL!

 

Denver will be geared up and ready to fight.

 

Now we see how tough my Chargers are or aren't.  I'd love to see Rivers rock his bolo again on national television post show ;-) 

[Bluefire4]

Don't really care who wins.  On one hand I despise the Chargers, on the other hand they could put us in first place.. or at least tied for it,

[oldunclemark]

One thing is for CERTAIN - we won't sneak in and steal a victory like we did there on Thursday night last year, LOL!

 

Denver will be geared up and ready to fight.

 

Now we see how tough my Chargers are or aren't.  I'd love to see Rivers rock his bolo again on national television post show ;-)

I think your guys will be attacking the right side of the Denver O-line...

Those Pagano brothers always cook up some trouble for Peyton

[HtownColt]

Chargers 27-23

[oldunclemark]

I cant wait for this game. Should be one heck of a game. I think Denver wins 34-31 on a game winning field goal.

CBS cant wait for this gamer either...C-4

Finally a game that wont get beat in the ratings by 'Selfie' and 'Agents of SHIEKD'

[amfootball]

This is the game of the week. I like SD's chances because they can give Denver fits but honestly this Denver team has no real weakness other than maybe the run game on offense. Philip needs to be sharp early and the D can't let Manning out to an early lead or else they will get rolled like the Niners.

[jvan1973]

CBS cant wait for this gamer either...C-4

Finally a game that wont get beat in the ratings by 'Selfie' and 'Agents of SHIEKD'

Actually all the games have led in ratings on Thursdays so far

[shakedownstreet]

it will give my stomach fits to pull for the chargers 

[oldunclemark]

Actually all the games have led in ratings on Thursdays so far

and as we've talked before..they have underperformed compared to what was expected.

It was a joke..Selfie and Agents of Shield aren't on Thursday night

Just a joke

[oldunclemark]

This is the game of the week. I like SD's chances because they can give Denver fits but honestly this Denver team has no real weakness other than maybe the run game on offense. Philip needs to be sharp early and the D can't let Manning out to an early lead or else they will get rolled like the Niners.

SD has the plan..

Controlling the ball takes away Denver's home field advantage..Denver rarely wins time of posession because of the offense they run.

The Chargers problem is that the line has been shuffled and Phillip is not the kind of mobile QB that bothers the Broncos

[jvan1973]

and as we've talked before..they have underperformed compared to what was expected.

It was a joke..Selfie and Agents of Shield aren't on Thursday night

Just a joke

They are having better ratings than anything else on tv. CBS is not regretting the decision to have the games on their network, and nobody is going to be fired for the decision like you speculated

[shakedownstreet]

They are having better ratings than anything else on tv. CBS is not regretting the decision to have the games on their network, and nobody is going to be fired for the decision like you speculated

 

all jokes are based on half-truths or misdirection. you are playing the part of the humorless person who points out the implausibility of the joke rather than simply laughing (or not) and moving on 

[TAPLOOK]

This is a statement game for the Chargers. 50-50 but I'd like to see the them pull it off.

[jvan1973]

all jokes are based on half-truths or misdirection. you are playing the part of the humorless person who points out the implausibility of the joke rather than simply laughing (or not) and moving on

Fair enough. I'm talking about another conversation OEM and i had where he was saying the ratings would be so bad someone at cbs would be fired for paying the nfl for the short Thursday night schedule. That isn't the case

[amfootball]

Fair enough. I'm talking about another conversation OEM and i had where he was saying the ratings would be so bad someone at cbs would be fired for paying the nfl for the short Thursday night schedule. That isn't the case

The NFL could air a game every night of the week at 2:00 a.m. and it would be among the highest rated for the day/week. The product is just that good even when the games are not competitive.

[chad72]

Could it be another game case like the previous Thursday night game where the Broncos get out to a lead and hold off a surge from the Chargers like the Colts did with the Texans?

 

Every other TNF game has been a snooze fest.

 

I am thinking Broncos 31 Chargers 24

[Moose Of Woe]

Sproles....Sproles..........SPROLES NOOOOOOOOO!

 

Oh, sorry, I'm still having nightmares. Yes I realize he's not even in SD anymore as he killed us again on the Eagles. The scars are that deep.

 

Go Team Noodle. I want us and them to have the top two seeds and meet in the AFC Championship game.

[shakedownstreet]

Sproles....Sproles..........SPROLES NOOOOOOOOO!

 

Oh, sorry, I'm still having nightmares. Yes I realize he's not even in SD anymore as he killed us again on the Eagles. The scars are that deep.

 

seems like he killed us with the saints too. i hate that little [bLEEP]'er!

[ram29jackson]

it wont even matter at the end of the season if SD happens to beat Denver twice. Denver will win the division anyway.

 

but I'll still pick that Denver wins this one.

[oldunclemark]

The NFL could air a game every night of the week at 2:00 a.m. and it would be among the highest rated for the day/week. The product is just that good even when the games are not competitive.

The product is just as good (to me anyway) but the ratings aren't

ratings tank late in a noncompetitive game...

They did in the World Series Tuesday night.

You sell future games based on ratings. That's how it works. Every point counts

[oldunclemark]

They are having better ratings than anything else on tv. CBS is not regretting the decision to have the games on their network, and nobody is going to be fired for the decision like you speculated

But what do you think of the Broncos-Chargers...which was the subject of the post

[jvan1973]

But what do you think of the Broncos-Chargers...which was the subject of the post

should be a great game

[dgambill]

Should be a good game. SD usually gives Peyton fits....and even though that secondary has had issues they always seem to get enough pressure that they force an errant throw or two. If SD controlls the clock like last year they will be right there. They may not do it on the ground but perhaps with short throws to Royal and Allen and then go after Denvers LBs with Gates and their TEs I still think they can control the clock. I think Denver still wins but given Peyton LOVES preparation and the extra short week I think its close...much closer than the SF game. 27-23

[oldunclemark]

Gates is a real tough match for the Broncos..

TJ Ward isnt a coverage guy at all..

Conditions are so good....and Rivers just doesnt give you many interception chances anymore

I think the 'over' is a lock..just like the last 2 Denver home games

[Shane Bond]

Easy win for Denver. Not even close.

[Dr. Guildo]

The over is too darn high. Peyton over the years has struggle against the Chargers while throwing 27 ts's and 21 picks. I think the Broncos win a close game, but you never know.

[oldunclemark]

Is this the first meeting of Dwight Freeney and Peyton Manning?

[jvan1973]

Is this the first meeting of Dwight Freeney and Peyton Manning?

Yep

[Ryan Pelley]

A year ago on Thursday night, we saw the Chargers control the game, running effectively. Must have been a full moon, because Ryan Matthews was uncharacteristically healthy and great.  Personally, I don't see that happening again tonight with San Diego missing Matthews, Woodhead and Brown. Brandon Oliver has looked good, but without the solid depth, I'll give the nod to Denver's run defense.

 

Also during last year's game, Denver was unable to run. No run D + no run O = Bad formula to win games. I think that's the biggest factor in tonight's game. If Denver can run the ball effectively, sustaining long drives which in return keeps Manning going, they'll win big. If they can't, close game. Regardless, I see Denver winning.

[teganslaw]

I'm going with an upset here, Chargers winning in a close game. They have always given Manning a rough time, and I don't see anything to change that. Denver has the advantage, but I've never trusted San Diego. They're a team to watch out for.

[chad72]

Peyton's games vs Chargers as a Bronco: 35-24, 30-23, 28-20, 20-27 and 24-17 (Playoffs) for a 4-1 record so far, much better than his record vs the Chargers as a Colt.

 

Most of them were 1 score games, that is what I expect this one to be as well with the Broncos winning 31-24

[oldunclemark]

almost wind..no rain

..the difference may be that Denver's Ryan Clady, Emmanuael Sanders. TJ Ward, Von Miler, Aqub Talib and Demarcus Ware did not play in any of the 3 SD-Denver games last year.

Its always risky to put much stock in games played in previous year when the teams have changed..

Early Thursday the spread is up to 8 1/2

[PotatoHead]

Go Peyton!!

[teganslaw]

I called this one wrong. I expected a better game from San Diego and Philip Rivers. All that negative yardage..... In my weekly football picks, I guess it doesn't pay to go against Peyton, (pun intended.)

[Shane Bond]

Easy win for Denver. Not even close.

Yeah sounds right

[sweetsurrender]

Yeah sounds right

Except it was close.

[jvan1973]

Except it was close.

2tds is close?

[sweetsurrender]

2tds is close?

Easy win? Not even close? It was 14-7 at half. 2 scores is not a blow out. If game was in hand Peyton would not have jumped around like a Mexican jumping bean with two minutes to go.