The Denver Broncos host the Los Angeles Chargers in a classic AFC West showdown from Mile High Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from Tuesday 12:20pm AEST.
After missing out on the playoffs last year, the Chargers and the Broncos will be eager to start the season off right. In what should be a competitive AFC West neither team can afford to drop a game to a division opponent so early.
With Keenan Allen and Melvin Gordon back to health and with Philip Rivers desperate to finally reach that elusive Super Bowl, the Chargers offense boasts enough firepower to worry even the vaunted Broncos defense.
The question for Los Angeles will be whether or not their offensive line can withstand the onslaught that is Von Miller. Ranked 21st in the league by PFF, the line is the only blemish on an otherwise talented offense.
Denver’s offense seems toothless by comparison. Quarterback Trevor Siemian managed to keep his starting job this offseason but he’s far from a top end talent.
He’s also playing behind an offensive line that is a patchwork of new faces, with potentially four new starters. The Broncos need rookie tackle Garett Bolles to find his feet early or this unit could be in trouble.
That will be music to the ears of the Los Angeles defense. The pass rushing duo of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are a nightmare for even the best lineman and should cause disruption all night in Denver.
Two seasons ago the Broncos defense would have been too strong for the Chargers but – with notable exceptions – they’re not quite the unit they were when they made that Super Bowl run.
Los Angeles on the other hand have improved, and if they stay healthy they could turn a lot of heads in the AFC.
Prediction: Chargers 30 Broncos 20.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
It's actually statistically not successful either. Despite today.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Yeah it was a wild one. Was very slow paced early before a frantic finish. More late game dramatic losses for the Chargers it seems.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
RECAP: The Denver Broncos defeat the Los Angeles Chargers in a nail biter, 24-21. The game looked like it was over entering the fourth quarter but the Chargers defence had other ideas. They forced an interception and a fumble that allowed their offence to capitalise and bring the game back from 24-7 to 24-21. That set up a dramatic end that saw rookie Chargers kicker Younghoe Koo’s field goal blocked in the dying seconds of the game. The miss came just seconds after a successful attempt was waived off due to a Bronco time out. Denver will be happy with how their defence performed for three quarters, but disappointed that costly penalties allowed Los Angeles back into the game. Los Angeles on the other hand will know they have a lot to clean up on offense. The late game heroics shouldn’t paper over the fact they were pretty ineffectual for most of the game. Denver’s defence had a lot to do with that. They stifled Rivers’ passing attacked and constantly caused disruption in the backfield. They might have lost T.J Ward and coordinator Wade Phillips but they’re still an impressive unit. Despite the two turnovers the Broncos offense did enough to win the game. For three quarters Trevor Siemian showed why he was the number one quarterback in Denver. His numbers didn’t pop but he came up with plays when he needed to and wasn’t at fault for either turnover. Denver follows up this game with a home game against the Cowboys in what should be another difficult test. Whereas the Chargers play their first game in Los Angeles since 1960 as they host the Dolphins.
Spinksy
Roar Guru
WOW, what a finish.
Marshall
Guest
I hate that, the 'icing' of the kicker. They need to get rid of it it's a farce and anti-climatic
Nate
Guest
That game turned on a bad non call on the pick, and then again on a soft DPI call against the Broncos to give the Chargers the last second shot. Glad the Broncos managed to come out on top with the HUGE play from Harris.
Nate
Guest
HELL YEAH!!!!!
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
BLOCKED Shelby Harris blocks the kick and this one is over. Denver wins a dramatic game. It's over. Broncos 24 – Chargers 21
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Chargers bring out the kicking team. The rookie kicker from South Korea has all the pressure in the world on him for a 44 yard kick - he makes it but not before Denver calls a time out. He's going to have to retake. Broncos 24 – Chargers 21
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Gordon get's the 1st down but there's no time left. Rivers fires a shot down the field towards Williams and Roby is flagged for pass interference. He's gone from villain to hero to villan again. Next pass is incomplete. They're at the Denver 36 with 17 seconds left.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Confusion by Rivers and head coach Lynn forces Rivers to take a time out. It's 4th and 1 with 44 seconds remaining. They need to get this and then get to the line and get a spike or it's over.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
2.58 left to play. The Chargers stop the Broncos and force the punt which is caught by Benjamin at the Chargers 38 yard line. Chargers have the ball with 2:00 minutes left to play and one time out. This is the sort of game gunslingers like Rivers were made for, but the Broncos have been a wrecking crew on defence for most the night. Fun stuff. Broncos 24 - Chargers 21
Nate
Guest
Got to love division games.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Chargers down the punt at the 15 yard line. Siemian is coming out with the ball, but after the way this Chargers D is playing that might not be a good thing for the Broncos.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
This is one of the great finishes to a game you're likely to see. No matter who wins it. The Broncos D steps up when needed and forces two incomplete passes to make it 3rd and 10. The Chargers then go underneath but the Broncos aren't fooled, they get the stop and force the punt.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
FIELD GOAL MISSED Score Broncos 24 - Chargers 21. 4:07 on the clock. Chargers ball. Wow.
Nate
Guest
Jesus, what is happening here?
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
This game has is going at a frantic pace as the Chargers D has caught fire. They've just sacked Siemian twice in a row to take them to the edge of field goal range.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
Siemian finds Green deep for a 44 yard pass and is hit by Ingram in the backfield. The Penalty extends the gain another 15 yards to the Chargers 31 yard line.
Conan McGlone
Roar Pro
TOUCHDOWN CHARGERS Rivers finds Benjamin streaking into the back of the endzone. They have 14 points of 2 turnovers and it really is game on. Broncos 24 - 21 Chargers