Posted Sat Jun 14th by E. Halsey Miles
Yea, yea. I’m skipping game 1 — I don’t want to think too much about that game. The team we face that day won’t be the team every other opponent they have faces that day. Too much trash talk. Just like the old days, but it makes it really hard for me to guess what’s going to happen.
So that moves us on to our other division rival. The San Diego Chargers. Right now they’re the AFC West team to beat.
…I’m not actually sure the Bolts are going to be the team to beat again this year.
- I still don’t believe Norv Turner is actually a good head coach. The team struggled a lot last season trying to implement Turner’s system and they didn’t really succeed until he scaled that back and went back to Marty’s system. Head coaches are, by their nature, highly entrenched into the idea that Their System Works, so I would expect to see more of that.
- For two, Phillip Rivers isn’t showing the right qualities to be an elite NFL quarterback. While it’s true that he has, to some extent, lacked targets, Antonio Gates and Chris Chambers are both elite wide receivers. (Yes, take that one as you will). Vincent Jackson makes a quality #3 WR. Which is enough decent targets to shine. I don’t think he will, unless he somehow stops making the bevy of mistakes he made last year.
- For three, their O-line, while good, lacks quality depth, and last year they had issues with motivation. This goes back to Turner, I think, and I predict this problem will intensify. Mark this: Around mid-season, an O-line starter will get benched for seemingly no reason. (Reason: Lack of effort due to dissatisfaction).
- For four, we’ve stopped Ladanian Tomlinson before, and that was with Lorenzo Neal. We’re going back to the scheme that was successful against LT. So the question marks are going to be DJ Williams and Niko Koutovides — K2 is going to be the key guy to to stop LT. Boy, I’m putting a lot on that guy’s shoulders, aren’t I?
My bold prediction:
Sun, Sep. 14 is going to be one HELL of a game. Defense will win the day; both teams have the right tools to shut the other team’s offense down. San Diego’s DL + LB core is superior to our OL core, unless Ryan Clady turns out to be All That And A Bag Of Chips in only game 2. We’ll put up some pretty good plays because Brandon Marshall is The Man and we’ll have an enviable group catching the ball, but their defense will successfully keep Jay Cutler from having enough time to throw the ball and there will be lots of really good drives stopped in a short field. A couple of touchdowns will get through here and there, but this’ll be a day of field goals.
And we’ll do the same to them; our secondary will smother their receivers and they won’t get enough of the running game to make the difference. Antonio Gates will make one absolutely amazing touchdown and Chambers will get the other.
Final score: Broncos 26, Chargers 23.
(Incidentally, I predict we’ll only get one touchdown on offense. The other will be either Dre Bly or Champ Bailey picking off a bad Rivers decision). I’ll count this pick as being right if the pick nets a really short field and are able to pound the ball in with a power running back.)
Published on 06/14/2008 at Sat Jun 14 14:00.
Tagged: Denver Broncos,Predictions,San Diego Chargers.