Chargers and Broncos in Monday Night Showdown

The 2009 NFL season is only six weeks old, but already the Chargers are facing a must win situation. San Diego has played all but four games and has gotten off to another slow start at 2-2. Their chances of winning the AFC West title will be at stake when they host division rival Denver on Monday night. It’s often considered foolhardy to crown a division champion this early in the season, but with the Broncos off to a 5-0 start another win for them would push the Chargers to 3 and a half games out of first place. Such a lead in the NFL could be insurmountable even for the comeback Chargers.

At the end of last season the Chargers rallied to win the west by taking their final four games including a 52-21 victory over Denver in the season finale. It was a near miraculous comeback, one that San Diego may not be able to duplicate this year. Denver is playing a much better brand of football under new head coach Josh McDaniels. Despite the loss of star quarterback Jay Cutler and off season troubles with wide receiver Brandon Marshall the Broncos have been finding ways to win every week and against some of the best teams in the NFL. Last week they came from behind to defeat the Patriots in overtime and they’ll take the momentum from that win and a 5-0 record into Qualcomm stadium.

> Find San Diego Chargers hats & Merchandise online through Pro Football Fans for all your team gear!

The Chargers have had plenty of rest coming out of their bye week, but may still be licking their wounds from the Steelers game which they lost 38-28. In that game the Chargers defense gave up over 330 yards receiving and 177 rushing. Stopping opposing offenses, especially in the passing game, has been a major issue for San Diego all season long. Another problem has been their own rushing attack which has struggled since opening day. A big reason for that has been the ineffectiveness and at times absence of Ladanian Tomlinson. LT missed games two and three on the season but returned against the Steelers with an unproductive outing. The hope in San Diego is that the bye week has helped Tomlinson to heal and return to his dominant form.

A healthy LT and a typical Phillip Rivers is what the Chargers will need if they’re going to beat the Broncos, whose main secret to success has been their defense. Rivers has continued to produce in 2009 with over 1200 yards passing and 6 touchdowns and still maintains his flair for the dramatic in bringing his team back late in games. However, in Denver he will be facing the second ranked team in total defense and top team in rushing the quarterback. The Denver secondary is also adept at man to man coverage lead by Champ Bailey, which will make life even more difficult for Rivers. If there ever was a time for the Chargers running game to have a breakout performance this will be it. Rivers clearly won’t be able to do it alone.

Monday’s game might be the Chargers best and last chance to make a serious run at the AFC West crown. A win would get them back above 500 and pull them to within a game and a half of the Broncos. The schedule will lighten up a bit over the next two weeks with games against the Chiefs and Raiders so they could be in a very good position by the time they have a rematch with the Broncos in Denver in week eleven. A loss, however, and the Chargers may have to start thinking about wild card the rest of the way.

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