Sean Payton, Bo Nix, and the Denver Broncos are AFC West champs.
Now the Broncos (13-3) can secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday. With that comes home-field advantage and a bye. It’s already been announced that Justin Herbert will not play the season-ending game, and Jim Harbaugh also announced that other LA starters with “the most bruises” and need “the most healing” won’t play.
It’s no surprise then that Denver is a huge -11.5-point favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook. The total sits at over/under 36.5 points, with a lean toward the over at -115.
LA Chargers: Twevelth in total offense (341.1 yards per game), 12th in rushing offense (122.1 YPG), 15th in passing offense (219.0 YPG), tied for 17th in scoring offense (22.8 points per game).
Denver: Ninth in total offense (349.1 yards per game), 19th in rushing offense (118.9 YPG), ninth in passing offense (230.2 YPG), 14th in scoring offense (23.9 points per game).
LA Chargers: Fourth in total defense (288.1 yards per game), ninth in rushing defense (104.7 YPG), sixth in passing defense (183.4 YPG), seventh in scoring defense (20.1 points per game).
Denver: Third in total defense (282.1 yards per game), second in rushing defense (89.7 YPG), eighth in passing defense (192.4 YPG), fourth in scoring defense (19.3 points per game).
Here are the MHR staff’s keys to Sunday’s game.
Don’t eff around and underestimate the Chargers
The Broncos will face another backup quarterback and a team without some (if not most) of its starters. Take the same approach as the finale against the Kansas City Chiefs last season. Dominate. Don’t take anything for granted, and approach this like a playoff game. Don’t eff around and underestimate LA just because Herbert and other starters won’t play. Head into the Wild-Card bye on a positive note while securing home-field advantage and remain unbeaten in the best throwback uniforms in the NFL. — Ian St. Clair
For two weeks, the Broncos have driven into the red zone and kicked field goals. Take care of business down there and put six on the board. — sadaraine
Don’t Make Trey Lance Look Like Tom Brady
This defense tends to make backup quarterbacks look like elite magicians. I’d like to avoid that annoyance in the final week and have this team dominate heading into the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 1-seeded team. — Tim Lynch
Control the tempo of the game
For the second week in a row, the Broncos get a backup QB. They also get a team resting starters heading into the playoffs. Keep it simple. Run the ball and win the time of possession and field position battles. Let the defense make life miserable for the Chargers offense, while Bo Nix runs a methodical offense. — Adam Malnati
If the game is well in hand in the third quarter, start pulling some starters. The last thing we need is a critical starter going down with a severe fourth-quarter injury while we’re multiple scores ahead. — Taylor Kothe
Score more points than the Chargers
The Broncos have played 16 games this season, and in 13 of them, they have scored more points than their opponents. Do that once again in Game 17, and the Broncos will improve to 14-3 and be the one seed in the AFC. It’s that simple. — Scotty Payne
