Philip Rivers leads the NFL in interceptions. His team has also lost five straight games. According to the Rivers’ Law of Averages, San Diego’s quarterback is due for a breakout game.
There’s a reason why the Chargers have been at or near the top of the division for the last five years. It’s because of the man leading the team on offense. This year, however, has been Rivers toughest year, but the Broncos refuse to take him lightly.
“He’s been in funks before,” Champ Bailey said. “I’ve never seen him in one this long but he’s too good a player to stay in one. We’ve just got to make sure that we don’t let him get out of that this week.”
Rivers has 17 interceptions and 15 touchdowns through 10 games. Just last season he had 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 16 games.
“I’m expecting a Pro Bowl guy,” Brian Dawkins said. “I’m expecting a guy who is going to continue to claw and scratch, and try to will his team to victory.”
The last time the Broncos and the Chargers met, Rivers went 18-of-29 for 250 yards with 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD, and 1 interception. It wasn’t his typical 300+ yard passing day with 3 TDs but it didn’t need to be because the Bolts’ running game really stepped up. Ryan Mathews had 125 yards on 24 carries, and that’s what primarily helped them to 29 points.
The Broncos, however, have improved their run defense. They are now ranked 16th against the run, giving up 114.1 rushing yards per game.
“We’re just playing faster,” John Fox said of his team’s improvement. “Guys are more comfortable. They’re not thinking. This game is about playing fast.”
The Jets had just 83 yards on the ground. The Chiefs managed 134 rushing yards, but they only put up 10 points on the day. The Raiders had 100 yards on the ground which isn’t much considering their ground game has Michael Bush. That’s the Broncos last three games. That’s their last three wins.
Containing a team’s quarterback and limiting their running back has been the key ingredient to the Broncos defensive success in recent games.
Containing Rivers is their objective on this last Sunday in November.
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