Current Odds

The Chargers opened as a 10-point home favorite and the line has since dropped down to 9½ and 9 in most locations. This is not a surprise as 56% of the public is supporting the Broncos according to the consensus sites.

The Over/Under line opened at 48 and has risen sharply to 50 total points as 67% of the public is predicting a high-scoring game according to the consensus sites. The weather will not be a factor as the forecast is calling for clear conditions with only a 10% chance of rain and temperatures in the low 60-degree range at kickoff.

Injury Report

Denver wide receiver Eddie Royal was limited in Saturday’s practice and remains questionable to play tonight with a hamstring injury. Royal is third on the team with 43 receptions and 466 receiving yards this season. Denver’s defense also has some injuries as linebacker Robert Ayers and safety Renaldo Hill are both questionable, while cornerback Andre Goodman is expected to miss tonight’s game.

San Diego enters off a bye week, but they still have some serious injury concerns on offense. Tight end Antonio Gates has been downgraded to doubtful after missing the most recent game at Houston two weeks ago. Gates leads the team in receiving with 40 receptions and 663 yards this season and 9 touchdowns. Running back Ryan Matthews has also been downgraded to doubtful with an ankle injury. Mathews was the Chargers’ first-round draft choice from Fresno State this season and is currently second on the team with 382 rushing yards.

San Diego wide receiver Vincent Jackson has not played this season due to a suspension, while WR Legedu Naanee is doubtful with a hamstring injury. The Chargers do expect to have WR Malcolm Floyd back in the lineup tonight as he is probable after missing the past three games with a hamstring injury. Despite playing only six games this season, Floyd is still second on the team with 513 receiving yards and leads the team with an incredible 21.4 yards per catch.

One-Dimensional Offense

Denver is strictly a passing team. The Broncos average 297 yards through the air per game on a whopping 7.6 yards per pass attempt. They cannot run the ball a lick as they average just 77 yards on the ground per game. But according to reports, the Broncos will make running the ball their top priority going forward.

”It’s important to be able to run the ball on the road during this time of year,” Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd said. And running back Knowshon Moreno hinted that may very well be Denver’s game plan against San Diego. “Whatever they want, if they want to hand it to me 30 times, I’m down for it,” Moreno said. “I feel pretty fresh right now, feel like I'm hitting the holes pretty hard, pretty fast.”

Head coach Josh McDaniels agrees: “We need to get him going. We’ve always felt he’s an every-down back who had the skill set to play in a lot of different situations.” It’s hard to change a team’s identity this late in the season so it will be interesting to see if the Broncos do run the ball more in this game.

Hamstrung No More

The Chargers offense, especially their wide receivers, has been hit hard by injuries this season. But that unit will be the healthiest it’s been all season as they expect to get both Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee back this week. Both guys were out with hamstring injuries that had them sidelined for several weeks.

San Diego’s offense was still putting up big passing numbers without them on the field, so it’s scary to think what they do now that they’ve got two of their main weapons back. “I don’t think there’s a play we’ve been hesitant to call or a play that we’ll call more so now that Floyd and Naanee are back,” said Rivers. “Really, that’s the beauty of the system we have, with Norv Turner and the offensive staff.”

They’ll still be without Vincent Jackson who is finishing his 3-game suspension and most likely without Antonio Gates who has a plantar fascia injury in his right foot. But Rivers is still confident in the guys he’s throwing to. “A couple guys go down and we keep the ball rolling. It’s been impressive what those guys have done and, collectively, what the group has done. And now we’re heading into the stretch run.”

Rivers Owns Denver

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers has played some of his best games against the Broncos. In eight career games against Denver, Rivers owns a 117.1 passer rating which is his highest among teams he’s faced more than twice. Rivers has thrown 14 touchdown passes and just 3 interceptions in those eight games with San Diego winning 6 of the games.

“I do like playing them,” said Rivers. “All the division games seem like rivalries, but this one, maybe it’s because they have happened to be the team we’re battling to win the division every year.”

Denver’s secondary is allowing opponents to throw for 230 yards per game on a whopping 7.5 yards per pass attempt. They allowed Kansas City to throw for 433 yards last week, and Indianapolis threw for 325 yards on them earlier this season. Since San Diego throws for 312 yards per game on an impressive 8.5 yards per pass attempt, there’s little to suggest that Rivers won’t have another monster game against the Broncos.