Chargers knock off Broncos to take AFC West

The improbable has happened in San Diego. The Chargers have won the AFC West and are going to the playoffs. For the third year in a row San Diego has won their division although this year’s route to the title was nothing like the last two. In a game that meant everything for both the Chargers and Broncos, win or go home, San Diego routed their divisional foe 52-21 and have won the right to play January football.

The Chargers offense functioned like a well oiled machine on Sunday, driving all over the Broncos defense throughout the game. Denver actually held the lead briefly at 6-3 in the first quarter, but the Chargers responded quickly with an 8 play 73 yard drive that last 4:44 and ended with a one yard touchdown run by Ladainian Tomlinson. San Diego took a 10-6 lead and would never look back. Before the first half was over Rivers would throw for a touchdown, a 12 yard pass to Brandon Manumaleuna, and Tomlinson would rush for another from four yards out to give the Chargers a 24-6 halftime lead.

Denver opened up the second half trying to find a way to get back into the ballgame and was successful in scoring their second touchdown of the day, a 37 yard run by Tatum Bell. The lead was trimmed to 24-13, but the Chargers were just getting started. San Diego answered immediately with a 69 yard scoring drive that took less than three minutes. Rivers threw for his second touchdown, connecting with Darren Sproles for 13 yards and the score. It took only one play on the subsequent Denver drive to get the ball back into the Chargers hands as Luis Castillo picked of a pass from Jay Cutler. And the Chargers made them pay by tacking on another seven points when LT rushed for his third touchdown, making the score 38-13. The blowout was on.

At the start of the fourth quarter the Broncos made one last bid to get back into the game. Jay Cutler drove his team into Charger territory, connecting on five of six passes before hitting the big one, a 25 yard touchdown to Tony Scheffler. The score was quick, two minutes and forty nine seconds, and just what Denver needed, but once again San Diego had the answer.

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With the score in favor of the Chargers at 38-21, San Diego sought to put more distance between them and the Broncos and leave nothing to chance. One Rivers completion and four rushes by Darren Sproles would be all they would need for another score. Sproles scored the touchdown on a two yard run that put the Chargers up 45-21. The Chargers added another touchdown later in the quarter when Jacob Hester ran it in to the end zone and San Diego’s scoring barrage had finally ended.

The Chargers completed the improbable comeback. Once they were a 4-8 team about to be eliminated, but on Sunday they were 8-8 and divisional champions. Of course they never would have gotten there without a Denver collapse. Nevertheless the Chargers played good football down the stretch, their best football of the season. And although 8-8 is a mediocre record the Chargers should be considered a dangerous team going into the post season. They’re a veteran team with many offensive weapons and playoff experience and because they won their division they’ll be hosting the wild card game next weekend. And the team they’ll get to play is the team they eliminated in the divisional playoff round last year, the Indianapolis Colts.

By Steven Mondelli
ProFootball-fans.com San Diego Chargers Correspondent