WR Eddie Royal became the first Broncos player to return a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the same game in the team's 34-23 victory.
The Broncos continued their habit of dominant second halves by outscoring the Chargers 17-3 after intermission.
Said Broncos DT Ronald Fields, "The coaches see what we don't do right in the first half and we fix it in the second half. If that continues, we are going to be very hard to beat."
Broncos QB Kyle Orton was 20 of 29 for 229 yards and two touchdowns, including a five-yarder to Brandon Stokely with just under three minutes to play.
The Broncos defense had five sacks and forced four fumbles over the course of the victory.
Said Chargers TE Antonio Gates, "It's tough to always be in this situation. We didn't plan on being here. We didn't plan on being
8-8 last year either. But here we are. We have to keep working, or
it could snowball and turn into a losing streak."
Chargers RB Darren Sproles returned a punt for a touchdown, making Monday night's game the first in NFL history to feature touchdowns on two punt returns and a kickoff return.
Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson had his best game of the season, but sounded frustrated that he wasn't on the field for a third-and-goal run in the first quarter.
The Chargers managed only one sack on Monday night, a stark contrast to the way the Broncos pressured QB Philip Rivers all night.
Chargers P Mike Scifres didn't have a good night, but sidestepped suggestions that he's being affected by a groin injury.
Broncos-Chargers one-liners
Posted by Josh Alper on October 20, 2009 9:52 AM ET
I was hoping LT would tell us how classy he is after the game last night. Way to show up your coach after being subbed for in the redzone, Mr. Class Act.
Brokeback_Bronc_Fan
Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate. Regurgitate.
You might try an original thought every now and then.
Norv isn't their coach. At that moment, the team was on its own and it will continue this way until another coach is brought in. You don't pull the ultimate TD back in that situation. It was 4-down territory and Norv lost his head. Again.
LT showed heaps of class by not ripping the head coach on the sidelines on national television. His teammates felt the same.
Let the mutiny begin!
PS - Gruden, your interview sounded like it went well. When can you start?
You forgot one: "Mike Shanahan, welcome to San Diego."
Yeah, all the shittalk from SD fans on this site over the past two weeks. You guys got owned last night. Rivers is a little bitch and LT was his usual self complaining that he is an over-the-hill banged up RB. I wouldn't love seeing SD suck so bad if they weren't so damn cocky that they are the shit. You are not the shit. You are old, have terrible coaching, and have missed your window.
EPIC FAIL
L.T. is done, lost a step, surprisingly enough didn't get hurt, but did look gimpy in the 3rd!!! Rivers can't handle the constant pressure he got all night!!!
With 5 minutes remaining, SD down by 4 or 5, 3rd down, ball at mid field, Phillip Rivers throws a pass into the flat that is 3 feet over the receivers head.
To top that off, on 4th down, and going for it, Rivers does the same thing (only this time a pass to the middle of the field).
I blame this loss on Phillip Rivers.
Yeah, sure, blame Rivers for that one pass. Chargers couldn't have lost because the O and D lines are decimated. Or because the special teams meltdown allowed Royal to run two back. Or that the offensive genius that is Norv yanked LT ont he goal line so that Sproles could get slaughtered up the middle. Obviously, the loss must be pinned on the QB.
And you wonder why Eli said no way to the chargers
Rivers is ok but I am very happy we have Eli calling the plays in the Swap
Another failed year for the Chargers and everyone thought the Giants were boneheads for making that deal
The Turner brothers need to be fired! They are horrible coaches.
"Yeah, sure, blame Rivers for that one pass. Chargers couldn't have lost because the O and D lines are decimated. Or because the special teams meltdown allowed Royal to run two back. Or that the offensive genius that is Norv yanked LT ont he goal line so that Sproles could get slaughtered up the middle. Obviously, the loss must be pinned on the QB."
Or... Could it be that SD was just out-played and out-coached? Or... Could it be that Denver might just have been the better team that night?
Truly a dearth of the usual San Diego front-running smarm here today. What happened, fair-weather sorts?
Electrogasm tried his/her best, but it's weak. Damn weak.
And andyinsdca, I hope you're right. Shamahan to San Diego. Just remember to stock your roster with Pro Bowlers and Hall of Famers before he gets there.
If you're relying on Shammy to actually build the roster, and you would be if he were hired, say goodbye to the post-season. For good.
phillip rivers didn't lose that game. the broncos defense won it(in the second half) and eddie royal returned two. i have to admit though, substituting tomlison for sproles on that goal line stand was pure stupidity. i'm a broncos fan , so i'm glad that turner made that call. who knows what could have happened if the chargers hadn't blown that opportunity? but of course, rivers had to deal with the aggressive pass rush of the broncos in the second half. and after the way that last year went down, all i can say is..... payback is a m----------r!!!!!