Denver Broncos: Week 11 State of the Franchise

More weekly goodness from the gracious Broncos PR guys. View the full release here.

The Denver Broncos (6-3) and San Diego Chargers (6-3) will meet for the 100th time on Sunday with the winner moving into sole possession of first place in the AFC West. Kickoff at INVESCO Field at Mile High is set for 2:15 p.m. MST.

QUICKLY:

• The Broncos, who are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, defeated San Diego 34-23 on Monday Night Football on Oct. 19. Facing a Chargers team that has won its last four games, Denver aims for its first season sweep of its series with San Diego since 2005.
• Sunday’s game vs. San Diego marks the first time Denver has played a team 100 times in the regular season. The only team the Broncos have faced 100 times including playoffs is Oakland (98 reg. / 2 post.).

OFFENSE:

• WR Brandon Marshall has posted at least 100 receiving yards in each of his previous two games. He scored on TD catches of 75 and 40 yards in the first quarter last week at Washington, becoming only the 11th player in the NFL since 1940 to post two TD grabs of 40 yards in the opening quarter.
• RB Knowshon Moreno leads all NFL rookies with 591 yards from scrimmage and 520 rushing yards, which represent the eighth-highest total by an NFL rookie through his team’s first nine games since 2005.
• QB Kyle Orton registered a 134.7 passer rating (11-18, 193 yds., 2-0) in the first half at Washington last week before missing the second half due to an injury. QB Chris Simms replaced him and saw his most extensive action since his last pro start (9/24/06 vs. Carolina) with Tampa Bay.

Knowshon Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos runs the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on November 15, 2009 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins defeated the Broncos 27-17. (Larry French/Getty Images)

DEFENSE:

• Coached by long-time NFL defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, the Broncos are tied for second in the league in sacks (29) while ranking fourth in points per game allowed (16.8) and fifth in yards per play allowed (4.8).
• OLB/DE Elvis Dumervil has an AFC-best 11 games with two sacks since entering the NFL in 2006. That total ties for the ninth most in league history through a player’s first four NFL seasons.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

• WR Eddie Royal handles return duties for the Broncos in addition to his work at wide receiver. He is the only player in the NFL to post at least 1,300 yards from scrimmage and 1,300 return yards since his rookie year in 2008.
• ILB/FB Spencer Larsen’s five solo special-teams tackles in November (3 games) tie for the third-highest total in the NFL.

Thanks to BT’s own Josh Temple for the sweet graphic!