(Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

With starting running back Willis McGahee out with an injury, Denver’s backfield has found itself in a predicament.

Rookie Ronnie Hillman has shown flashes of speed and elusiveness but cannot pass block to save his life.  Fourth-year back Lance Ball has never been more than a so-so back and Knowshon Moreno has been inactive since Week 2.

As of today, Moreno may be the team’s best option and activating Jeremiah Johnson from the practice squad is another possibility.

There is at least one more option, however, in free agent running back Tatum Bell, who would like a third chance in Denver.

“Broncos need to gone (sic) make that call [to] me [for] these last games.  Let me eat,” Bell tweeted on Monday afternoon.

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(AP Photo)

Denver’s backfield was dealt a tough blow on Monday afternoon.  Coach John Fox announced that starting running back Willis McGahee suffered a torn medial collateral ligament and compression fracture in his right knee against San Diego on Sunday.

“Willis McGahee did have a ligament tear,” said Fox.  “It’s non-surgical.  He’s not on IR at this point. Obviously, he’s very disappointed.

According to the Denver Post, McGahee could miss the remaining six games of the regular season.

“He was probably on to one of his better games when that occurred.  Right now, the guys have stepped in for him, both Lance Ball and Ronnie Hillman. We had Knowshon Moreno inactive for the game.  He’s a possibility as well as Jeremiah Johnson, who’s on our practice squad.”

Moreno hasn’t been active in eight consecutive weeks, but he provides a much better pass blocking option than Hillman and is more experienced than Ball.  As of Monday, Fox did not hint at bringing in another running back.

“Right now, we’re not making a roster change as far as an IR with anybody new,” concluded Fox.

Near the end of Denver’s 30-23 victory over San Diego on Sunday afternoon, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers displayed a comical pouting party and went home.

Down by just one score with time still on the clock (0:17 before the play and 0:08 after the play), Rivers walked off the field after being sacked by Denver’s Elvis Dumervil—eliminating any chance of stopping the game clock.

With all of his receivers down field, it would have been hard for Rivers to get the offense back to the line of scrimmage in time to stop the clock, but with a competitive nature, it’s a little surprising that he wasn’t even compelled to get it a try.

After being sacked four times, fumbling three times and throwing two interceptions, maybe Rivers wasn’t compelled to do anything but get off the field.  And that he did.

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

On a day when the stands at Sports Authority Field were filled with orange jerseys, it was the Blue Crush defense that turned heads—and frequently planted San Diego quarterback Philip River‘s head into the turf.

The Broncos’ (7-3) defense, led by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Von Miller, sacked Rivers four times while forcing three fumbles and two interceptions.  In the first half, the Chargers (4-6) averaged 1.9 yards per play—the game was already decided by halftime.

Denver’s defense was on a roll, allowing 0-of-26 third down conversions dating back to their Week 9 match in Cincinnati.  It wasn’t until the Chargers’ twelfth third down of the game that San Diego was able to convert for a first down.   Click here to read the rest of this entry »

(AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski)

Bad news for San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers—both Elvis Dumervil a D.J. Williams are active for Denver’s defense today.

Dumervil, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive end who battled a shoulder injury during practice this week, has recorded 18 tackles and 7.0 sacks in eight career games against Rivers.

Meanwhile, Williams, a 245-pound veteran linebacker who just returned from two suspensions, has recorded 43 tackles and 4.0 sacks against Rivers during the same time frame as Dumervil.

To make matters worse for Rivers, who has been sacked 22 times this season, his starting left tackle, Jared Gaither, is out with an injury.  Starting in Gaither’s place today will be undrafted rookie Mike Harris, who has allowed three sacks for -26 yards this season.

The complete inactive list for both teams can be viewed on the team’s official website.  Kickoff is scheduled for 2:25 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast on CBS.

Denver’s defense will benefit from Williams’ return and Dumervil’s presence. Even if both players only have limited roles, the Broncos defense has enough depth to perform well regardless.

(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

The Broncos have a chance to do something this afternoon that they haven’t been able to accomplish in nearly five years—defeat San Diego at home.

Denver, once dominate at home with the aid of Mile High Magic, had lost its home field advantage leading up to the arrival of quarterback Peyton Manning.  This season, the Broncos are 3-1 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High and will be looking to improve that record on Sunday.

The last time the Broncos beat the Chargers in Denver was during the 2008 season, when a Jay Cutler fumble-ruled-incompletion helped the team to a 39-38 victory.  Since then, the Broncos have tried Kyle Orton, Chris Simms, and Tim Tebow against San Diego, falling short in three consecutive seasons.

Things are different this season.  Manning has the Broncos offense rolling and the defense proved earlier in the season that it can stand up to San Diego’s star-powered offense.

A win at home this week would improve the Broncos 2012 season record to 7-3, Manning’s all-time record against San Diego to 6-3, Denver’s record to 87-40 when in blue, and their all-time record vs. San Diego to 57-48-1.

But perhaps more important than any of those numbers, the Broncos would improve to 2-0 against the Chargers on the season with a three-game lead (plus tie-breakers) in the AFC West.

Manning and Co. have a chance to do something that hasn’t been done in years.  Manning has become known for doing things that have never been done. You have to like the Broncos’ odds.

(Image courtesy of Stuart Zaas/Denver Broncos)

The Denver Broncos will wear their alternate all-blue (jersey and pants) uniforms when they take on the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field @ Mile High this weekend.  As part of the NFL’s Salute to Service campaign, each player will also be representing the military branch of his choice with a decal of that branch’s logo on his helmet.

The team captains, including quarterback Peyton Manning, will have camouflage captain patches on their respective jerseys and the skill players will break out Nike’s camo Vapor Jet Gloves.  When the team takes the field, they will be led by 25 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson Army Base.

Before kickoff, the team will honor the military with a patriotic pregame show. The team is asking fans to arrive early in order to sing the National Anthem together before the game.

At halftime, practice squad defensive lineman and Colorado Air National Guard 1st Lieutenant Ben Garland will present a game ball to military members.

“That’s a huge honor,” Garland told the team’s official website.  “Any time you’re able to represent not only the country, but represent the Broncos in an event like that, it’s a huge honor for me.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 2:25 p.m. MT on Sunday afternoon and the game will be broadcast on CBS.  Join us on game day as we cover the team’s first all-blue appearance of 2012 — see you at kickoff!

Sounds like Broncos‘ defensive end Elvis Dumervil will be a game-time decision this weekend.

“He was limited,”  Coach John Fox told the team’s official website. “I think we’ll play it day to day and I’m sure we probably won’t have a final decision until about an hour and a half before kickoff.”

Meanwhile, cornerback Tracy Porter (illness) has been ruled out and guard Chris Kuper (ankle) is listed as doubtful.  The Broncos complete injury report can be seen below:

The Broncos, 6-3, currently lead the AFC West and have a chance to extend their lead over the 4-5 Chargers at home this weekend.  Kickoff is scheduled for 2:25 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast on CBS (broadcast map).

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver’s defense may be without two defenders this weekend.  Defensive end Elvis Dumervil (ankle) and cornerback Tracy Porter (illness) have missed practice for two consecutive days and appear unlikely to play against the Chargers in Week 11.

“Right now, [Elvis Dumervil has] a muscle strain.  He’s getting treatment, doing everything he should be doing.  He’s in the meetings.  We’ll see what tomorrow brings,” Coach John Fox told the media.

If Dumervil is unable to play this weekend, watch for fourth-year defensive end Robert Ayers to see more action, while rookie Derek Wolfe gets involved as well.  Denver’s 31 sacks this season lead the NFL.  Ayers and Wolfe have recorded 4-of-31 of Denver’s quarterback take-downs this season.

On a positive injury note, offensive guard Chris Kuper (ankle) was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday — an improvement from not participating last week.  Unless he has a setback, Kuper should, at the very least, be able to play next week when the Broncos travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs.

Meanwhile, the team on Thursday announced the signing of rookie safety Duke Ihenacho to the practice squad and the release of linebacker Mike Mohamed from the squad.  Ihenacho was waived by the team on Tuesday but cleared waivers, allowing Denver to bring him back as a reserve defensive  back.

Porter has missed the past four weeks with seizure-like symptoms and young defensive backs Chris Harris and Tony Carter have stepped up in his absence.  Dumervil, on the other hand, hasn’t missed a game this season and ranks second on the team with seven sacks.  If neither player participates in this afternoon’s practice, expect them to be ruled out for this week’s game.

Below is NFL Film’s ‘SoundFx’ footage from Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning‘s performance against the Carolina Panthers last weekend:

Manning is on pace to break several of John Elway‘s franchise records with 4,808 passing yards and 36 scores through the air.  The Broncos, 6-3, currently lead the AFC West and will take on the 4-5 San Diego Chargers this weekend in Denver (broadcast map).