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Published on 10/19/2009 at Mon Oct 19 23:43.
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San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers passes under pressure from Denver Broncos linebackers Robert Ayers (56) and Wesley Woodyard (59) during the first quarter of their Monday Night NFL football game in San Diego, California October 19, 2009. (REUTERS/Fred Greaves)

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers passes under pressure from Denver Broncos linebackers Robert Ayers (56) and Wesley Woodyard (59) during the first quarter of their Monday Night NFL football game in San Diego, California October 19, 2009. (REUTERS/Fred Greaves)

FINAL SCORE: BRONCOS 34, CHARGERS 23 • ATTENDANCE: 68,615

McDANIELS LEADS BRONCOS TO 6-0 START

With the win over the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football, Denver Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels became the fourth rookie head coach in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to start 6-0. He joins Red Miller (1977) as only the second head coach in Denver history to win his first six games with the club.

ROOKIE HEAD COACHES TO START 6-0 OR BETTER, NFL, SUPER BOWL ERA (SINCE 1966)
Coach Year Started Finished Playoffs
Josh McDaniels, Den. 2009 6-0 TBD TBD
Mike Martz, Stl. 2000 6-0 10-6 Wild Card
Red Miller, Den. 1977 6-0 12-2 Super Bowl XII
Chuck Knox, L.A. Rams 1973 6-0 12-2 Divisional Playoffs

ROYAL’S RETURN TOUCHDOWNS HELP FUEL DENVER

WR Eddie Royal became the second Bronco and just the 11th player in league history to record a kickoff return for a touchdown (93 yds. in first quarter) and a punt return for a touchdown (71 yds. in second quarter) in the same game. Royal is the sixth player to accomplish the feat since the 1970 NFL merger. Former Broncos HB Al Frazier had a kickoff return (90 yds.) and a punt return (55 yds.) for a score in the same game vs. Boston on Dec. 3, 1961.

KICKOFF RETURN TD AND PUNT RETURN TD IN SAME GAME, NFL, SINCE 1970
Player Opponent (Date) KO TD PR TD
Eddie Royal, Den. at S.D. (10/19/09) 1 1
Dante Hall, K.C. vs. Stl. (12/8/2002) 1 1
Devin Hester, Chi. vs. Den. (11/25/2007) 1 1
Michael Lewis, N.O. at Was. (10/13/2002) 1 1
Eddie Payton, Det. vs. Min. (12/17/1977) 1 1
Darren Sproles, S.D. vs. Ind. (11/11/2007) 1 1

Royal’s 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter was the ninth overall in club history and the first since CB Deltha O’Neal scored on an 87-yard kickoff return vs. New England on Oct. 1, 2000. His 71-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter was the 28th punt return for a score in team history and the first since WR Glenn Martinez scored on an 80-yard punt return vs. Tennessee on Nov. 19, 2007.

The two plays marked the eighth and ninth special-teams return touchdowns by a unit coached by Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer (4 KR, 4 PR, 1 Misc.).

LONGEST SCORING KICKOFF RETURNS, BRONCOS HISTORY
Player Opponent (Date) Yards
1. Nemiah Wilson at Kansas City (10/8/66) 100
Goldie Sellers vs. Houston (10/2/66) 100
3. Vaughn Hebron at Miami (12/21/98) 95
4. Randy Montgomery at San Diego (9/24/72) 94
5. Eddie Royal at San Diego (10/19/09) 93

DUMERVIL TAKES OVER NFL SACK LEAD

With two sacks (7 yds.) against the Chargers, OLB/DE Elvis Dumervil recorded his fourth multi-sack game of the season and took over the NFL lead with 10 sacks on the year. Dumervil, whose 36 sacks since his rookie season in 2006 are the fourth most in the NFL, has 11 career multi-sack games in the same span that represents the second-best mark in the league.

Dumervil finished five tackles (four solo) and a forced fumble (his second forced fumble of the season and ninth of his career).

DEFENSE DOESN’T ALLOW THIRD-DOWN CONVERSION IN SECOND HALF

The Broncos held the Chargers to 0-of-5 on third downs in the second half and have not allowed a third-down conversion by an opponent in the second half in their last four games (opponents are 2-for-35 on the season – 5.7%).

MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES

  • CB André Goodman recorded his first career sack in the second quarter on a third down that led to Royal’s 71-yard punt return for a touchdown.
  • CB Champ Bailey led all Denver defenders with seven tackles (all solo) to go along with a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
  • TE Tony Scheffler (6 rec. 101 yds., TD) recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of his career (7-100, 1 TD at Hou., 12/13/07) and his second touchdown of the season in the third quarter to put the Broncos on top 24-23.
  • QB Kyle Orton (20-of-29 for 229 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT) finished with a passer rating of 115.4. It marked the third time this year he has recorded a passer rating of 100.0 or higher.
  • San Diego finished with 73 rushing yards (3.5 avg.). Denver is the only team in the NFL that has not allowed an opponent to rush for 100 yards this season.
  • therealch3
  • anthony33

    Funny thing…Broncos will be underdogs (again) in their next two games. Love it.

  • Mark Wilder

    You need to check your stats a little better before writing a column. I believe you'll find the Denver Broncos went 13-0 their 98 season under head coach Mike Shanahan.

  • therealch3

    Yes they went 13-0 in 98 under Shanny but those were games 38 through 50 with Shanahan at the helm of the club.

    Only Miller and McD have won their first 6 as Broncos head coach.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Rookie head coaches mang.

  • Estes2SD

    6-0… This is amazing, I can walk around the streets of southern california with my chest out proud. Thank you mighty Broncos. Thank you.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Stick that chest out Estes! 6-0 baby! Rub it in those pathetic whiny SD fans' faces! Revel in it! Bwahaha!

    (feelin pretty good today, btw)

  • Gary in SD

    Me too Estes, me too!!!… Were you there last night? What a great scene it was. Bronco fans were there in FORCE!

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    I was there for the loss last year, couldn't get the time off mid-week to go this time. What I wouldn't do to trade those experiences!

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    (except of course, if I had gone, we would have certainly lost. Broncos are 0-2 when I'm at Qualcomm)

  • Gary in SD

    I haven't seen that many Bronco fans at this game since the Elway days. I moved to SD in '96 and have been to this game about 8 times. I've quit going the last few years because charger fans are not classiest of winners. I'll leave it at that. I've been to a game in Oakland that we lost and it was even as bad… Couldn't resist going to this game this year though! It got so loud last night in the 4th quarter by Denver fans, they actually turned on music to drown out the “Here we go Broncos” chant!

  • Gary in SD

    I haven't seen that many Bronco fans at this game since the Elway days. I moved to SD in '96 and have been to this game about 8 times. I've quit going the last few years because charger fans are not classiest of winners. I'll leave it at that. I've been to a game in Oakland that we lost and it was even as bad… Couldn't resist going to this game this year though! It got so loud last night in the 4th quarter by Denver fans, they actually turned on music to drown out the “Here we go Broncos” chant!