Something’s got to give when the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers meet on Sunday.
asserted
Broncos → get → Sunday
Either the Broncos will earn their first AFC West win or the Chargers will extricate themselves from a crowded NFL basement.
asserted
Chargers → earn → basement
Led by quarterback Bo Nix, the Broncos (2-2) have slumped offensively, ranking both 27th in scoring and in total yards per game.
asserted
Broncos → lead → game
“Certainly this isn’t championship football,” said Denver coach Sean Payton, who decided this week to take back offensive play-calling duties.
asserted
who → say → duties
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh could say the same about his team, which has been plagued by penalties and turnovers.
uncertain
which → say → penalties
One of the league’s five winless teams, the Chargers are looking to avoid an 0-5 start for the first time since 2003.
asserted
Chargers → look → 2003
Meanwhile, the Broncos are seeking their first win at SoFi Stadium since 2023.
asserted
Broncos → seek → 2023
Davis Webb’s stint calling plays for the Broncos lasted just four games.
asserted
stint → call → games
Mike McDaniel’s tenure has gotten off to a rocky start, with the Los Angeles offense averaging 16.8 points, which is 29th in the league.
asserted
which → get → league
The Chargers have used a three-man rotation at running back for the last two games.
asserted
Chargers → use → games
“It’s an advantage to the Chargers with defenses having to prepare three different tackling plans for backs with various skill sets,” McDaniel said.
asserted
McDaniel → ’ → sets
“If you don’t disperse the carries, it’s very rare in this day and age that guys are available every week.”
asserted
guys → disperse → day
Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is dealing with a the same foot injury that limited him in practice last week and also in Sunday’s game at Seattle.
asserted
that → deal → Seattle
McDaniel and Payton meet again
asserted
McDaniel → meet → ?
McDaniel was Miami’s coach when the Dolphins routed Payton’s Broncos 70-20 in Week 3 of the 2023 season.
asserted
Dolphins → rout → season
It was the most points scored by an NFL team in a game since 1966.
asserted
It → score → 1966
The Dolphins racked up 726 yards of offense (350 rushing, 376 passing).
asserted
Dolphins → rack → offense
McDaniel chose to take a knee rather than kick a late field goal that could have broken the single-game scoring record.
uncertain
that → choose → record
Payton joked that he was a having a good day until it was brought up this week.
asserted
it → joke → day
“It’s a different offense a little bit,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
“That’s one of those games where we turned it over offensively, but you get burned a few times and you don’t touch the stove again.
asserted
you → ’ → stove
Last week: 49ers beat Broncos 24-14; Seahawks beat Chargers 30-23.
asserted
Seahawks → beat → Chargers
Last meeting: Broncos beat Chargers 19-3 on Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver.
asserted
Broncos → beat → Denver
Series record: Broncos lead 73-58-1.
asserted
Broncos → lead → ?
LA is dealing with major injuries up front and had four rookie linemen, along with veteran Cole Strange, protecting QB Justin Herbert to finish out last week’s loss at Seattle.
asserted
linemen → deal → Seattle
Pro Bowl tackles Joe Alt (neck) and Rashawn Slater (ankle) are doubtful to play.
asserted
Alt → play → ?
Trevor Penning is in concussion protocol and Kayode Awosika is still not practicing.
asserted
Awosika → practice → protocol
Reinforcements could come in the form of Branson Taylor and Scott Matlock, both of whom started the season on injured reserve and returned to practice this week.
uncertain
both → come → practice
Stats and stuff
— The teams are 5-5 in their last 10 meetings, with Denver losing three of the last four.
asserted
Denver → lose → four
— Nix has thrown for just 204.8 yards per game and rushed for a total of 25 yards.
asserted
Nix → throw → yards
— Chargers OLB Khalil Mack has a sack in three consecutive games.
asserted
Mack → have → games
— Herbert has at least one interception in every game, including two last week against Seattle.
asserted
Herbert → have → Seattle
He was sacked four times last week, too.
asserted
He → sack → ?
— Nix played at Oregon for two seasons after transferring from Auburn.
asserted
Nix → play → Auburn
Herbert played in Eugene for four seasons, highlighted by a 2020 Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin in his final college game.
asserted
Herbert → play → game
— The Chargers had 16 penalties for 130 yards last week against Seattle.
asserted
Chargers → have → Seattle
_
AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver contributed to this report.
___
asserted
Stapleton → contribute → report
The Aporia
