DrewLitton.com

• NFL Films breaks it down.  [NFL.com]
• AFC Playbook follows suit.  [NFL.com]
• Slow starts are nothing new for the Chargers.  [Longmont Times Call]
• Neither are fast starts for the Broncos.  [Sports Illustrated]
• Brandon Marshall is a happy camper again.  [CBS4 Denver]
• Champ calls the 2008 season finale the worst loss of his career.  [Denver Post]
• Despite San Diego’s lackluster running game, the Broncos expect a heavy does of Ladainian Tomlinson.  [Colorado Springs Gazette]
• Lest we forget why we hate Philip Rivers so much.  [DrewLitton.com]

Thursday Injury Report for the Week 6 NFL game between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers on Monday, October 19, 2009.

DNP – Did Not Participate; LP – Limited Participation; FP – Full Participation; NL – Not Listed

Chargers report after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

New/different video, since the Denver Post seems to take each one down within three hours of us publishing it. Ready… set… go!

Record: 2-2
Streak: Lost 1
Series vs. Denver: Broncos, 53-44-1
Last time: Chargers, 52-21, 2008
The Line: Chargers by 4

Who’s hot: QB Philip Rivers. Every Broncos fans’ least favorite quarterback (at least, before this happened) is the reason the Chargers have two wins at all.  Rivers is literally overcoming his team’s struggles in pass protection and finding ways to keep the Chargers in games.  Perhaps most impressive is the way Rivers has really improved his deep ball this season.  He’s always been a big play threat, but the veteran is among the league’s leaders in big (40+ yards) plays.  Case in point: Rivers has out-thrown Kyle Orton by nine yards — despite playing in one less game. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

In an improbable display of competence and a basic execution of football fundamentals, the Oakland Raiders stunned the football world Sunday when running back Michael Bush miraculously rushed for three yards against the Giants and succeeded in converting a first down.

Raiders Achieve First Down [The Onion]

• The Broncos are now tied for last in average drive start position after kickoff.  I can haz kick returner?  [Denver Post]
• Not that they need one if they can execute 98-yard drives like this.  [NFL.com]
• Kyle Orton: To pay or not to pay?  [DPO]
• We felt mentioning an Orton Pro Bowl was bold, but now the QB is getting MVP buzz.  [ESPN]

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos Kyle Orton celebrates Brandon Marshall's game-tying touchdown pass reception against the New England Patriots during their NFL football game in Denver, Colorado October 11, 2009. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

Denver Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels, quarterback Kyle Orton and safety Brian Dawkins take the podium and deliver plenty of juicy nuggets, as they do every Wednesday. Enjoy!

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

On if QB Kyle Orton’s performance was his most impressive this season

“He didn’t play perfectly, certainly, but I think that (New England) is a defense that gives you a lot of different looks to prepare for. (They) certainly gave us some things during the course of the game that Kyle adjusted to pretty well. Some things we didn’t practice because you couldn’t practice them. Going against a defense like that, (New England Head Coach) Bill (Belichick) always challenges you with different things. Kyle did a nice job of when he did get new things, he limited his mistakes, got us into some good situations and stayed ahead on the down and distance, for the most part, for the whole game.” Click here to read the rest of this entry »

After suffering an ankle injury in Week 4 that left him on crutches, Denver Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter returned to practice Wednesday. Buckhalter was held out last week — including Sunday’s game against the Patriots — with what was rumored to be a high ankle sprain.

What a fast turnaround for a usually-tricky injury. Expect Knowshon Moreno to still get the bulk of the carries, but Buckhalter’s return is encouraging. Because of the extra prep day, the Broncos won’t release a Wednesday injury report, but we’ll keep an eye on his status throughout the week.

A must-win game in October? For the Chargers, you betcha.  Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune talks about San Diego’s situation below. Bonus video after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater (L) and Mario Haggan (R) celebrate Prater's game-winning overtime field goal against the New England Patriots during their NFL football game in Denver, Colorado October 11, 2009. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

Off to a 5-0 start for the first time in 11 seasons, the Denver Broncos renew their rivalry with the San Diego Chargers (2-2) this week on Monday Night Football. With a potential 3.5-game lead in the AFC West at stake, kickoff at Qualcomm Stadium is set for 5:30 p.m. PDT.

QUICKLY:

• The Broncos have been one of the NFL’s best teams in the second half this year, outscoring opponents 59-7 (+52) while posting a 1,158-501 (+657) advantage in total yardage (includes overtime numbers).
• Head Coach Josh McDaniels is the sixth rookie head coach in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to begin his coaching career with a 5-0 record.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »