The Denver Broncos are just 24 hours away from hosting AFC West rival the Los Angeles Chargers. Denver is looking to extend their win streak to four straight games after an 0-2 start on the year, while the Chargers started off 2-0 and dropped two straight games leading into their bye week. Which matchups will be crucial to watch for on Sunday?
Denver Broncos key matchups in Week 6 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
If the Denver Broncos are going to win their fourth straight game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, they’ll have to find a way to excel in these matchups.
PS2, Broncos secondary vs. Chargers receivers
Patrick Surtain II is coming into Sunday’s game hot off of an impactful performance against the Las Vegas Raiders, one that earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Surtain will likely guard Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston, who has 11 catches on the year for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those TD catches came in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers. In coverage this season, Surtain allows an extremely low passer rating when targeted, with quarterbacks having a combined 48.3 rating when looking his way.
That’s where Riley Moss will come into play, as he’ll likely draw the matchup assignment on Josh Palmer, who has seven catches for 70 yards in three games this year. Moss is having a strong year himself, forcing quarterbacks to have a passer rating of 69.6 when looking his way.
The wildcard matchup to watch for will be Ja’Quan McMillian in the nickel against Chargers leading receiver Ladd McConkey, who has 176 yards this season on 15 catches. With Denver’s revamped front seven and the secondary’s ability to play man-to-man coverage, this will be one of the more crucial matchup groups for Sunday’s game.
Limiting air production is key, but the Chargers offense will try to open things up in the passing game if leading rusher J.K. Dobbins has success on the ground. In his first two games of the year, inside of Jim Harbaugh’s scheme, he ran for 135 yards in Week 1 and 131 yards in Week 2, averaging 13.5 yards per carry and 7.7 yards per carry. The following two games saw him rush for 44 yards and 32 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, two teams who have a good run defense, as the Broncos have through the first five weeks as well.
Justin Herbert has never won in Denver in his career yet, and the Broncos defense will look to maintain that trend.
Broncos offensive line vs. Chargers front seven
The Broncos’ offensive line will look different on Sunday, with starters Luke Wattenberg and Alex Palczewski being ruled out. Alex Forsyth, Bo Nix’s center at Oregon in his first season, will start at center. Veteran Matt Peart will fill in at right tackle for Palczewski.
Khalil Mack is playing in this game, and Joey Bosa is questionable. Keep Nix upright is crucial for Denver’s offense to have success, but they biggest key for the Broncos this week is to be more efficient on first and second down, which could lead to more manageable third down situations, and more importantly for head coach Sean Payton, more offensive possessions.
Coming into this game, the Chargers defense has gotten 11 sacks in four games, and Denver’s offensive line will be keying to limit that from impacting their production. Whether that’s Mack or Bosa, if he plays, and watching for blitz looks from Derwin James and Denzel Perryman, communication on the OL will be imperative.
The battle in Sunday’s game will be won in the trenches and through the air.
Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. MT on CBS.
