NFL Week 11 - San Diego Chargers (7-2) @ Denver Broncos (7-2)
San Diego Chargers (7-2) @ Denver Broncos (7-2)
Sunday, 8:15 pm Eastern
NBC
Opening Line: Denver - 3
The San Diego Chargers (7-2) and Denver Broncos (7-2) face off in a battle for the AFC West at Invesco Field in the first of two meetings in four weeks between the division rivals. NBC again gets what could be the game of the week in the NFL. San Diego won its third in a row last week scoring 42 points in the second half of a 49-41 victory at Cincinnati. ''It was a terrific win for us, but it doesn't mean anything this week,'' said coach Marty Schottenheimer. ''We're done with it. We're moving on now. Of course, we've got a big contest this week against Denver.'' SBG Global reports that the public is split on the side but are counting on a lot of points.
Denver is a 2.5 point home favorite with a total of 42 at SBG Global.
San Diego has lost six straight in Denver and 10 of the last 11 visits, going 11-34-1 there all-time. ''We know what's at stake,'' LaDainian Tomlinson said Monday, ''first place.'' In his last five games, Tomlinson has 15 touchdowns. Tomlinson will be facing Denver's fifth-ranked rushing defense (86.2 yards per game). Quarterback Philip Rivers coming off his best game as a pro, will be facing the NFL's 27th ranked pass defense and could have a field day.
The Chargers have been a great underdog. They are 11-1-1 against the spread in their last 13 games as an underdog. They are also tough in the division and at night. They are 4-1 ATS in their last five night games. They own the AFC West going 10-3-3 in their last 16 within the division. You would think Denver would be excellent at home but that has not been the case recently. They are only 1-4 ATS in their last five home games. They are also only 2-6 ATS in their last eight games as a home favorite.
Denver quarterback Jake Plummer, 7-2 as a starter against the Chargers, will look to take advantage of a San Diego defense that allowed 545 yards, including through 421 through the air, last week. Plummer has been notorious for making mistakes so it may come down to how many he makes this week against a porous Charger's defense. The teams meet again Dec. 10 in San Diego.
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