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Denver Broncos: 5 things we learned in win vs. Chargers

By Sayre Bedinger

CARSON, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Case Keenum #4 of the Denver Broncos celebrates his completion to set up a game winning field goal by Brandon McManus #8 to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 23-22 at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Case Keenum #4 of the Denver Broncos celebrates his completion to set up a game winning field goal by Brandon McManus #8 to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 23-22 at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos argues with the officials after a last second field goal was called back due to a Los Angeles Chargers timeout at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, California. The Broncos would make a last second field goal to win the game. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos argues with the officials after a last second field goal was called back due to a Los Angeles Chargers timeout at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, California. The Broncos would make a last second field goal to win the game. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Playoffs. Playoffs? The Broncos are not out of the discussion.

Consider the following:

If this were college football, the Broncos’ win against the Los Angeles Chargers would be the most impressive win on their resumé so far. With that said, the team also has a quality win from week one against the suddenly hot Seattle Seahawks.

The Broncos are two plays — literally — away from being 6-4 right now.

No single play defines an entire game but the Broncos had Demaryius Thomas wide open in their first meeting against the Kansas City Chiefs (in Denver) for a touchdown that would have won the game, but Case Keenum slightly overthrew him.

Brandon McManus also missed a field goal in the final seconds of the team’s recent game against the Houston Texans, which would have also sent the Broncos into the winner’s circle.

Now, you are what your record says you are, but those two games, in particular, could have gone either way and the Broncos also competed well against the Rams and Chiefs (again).

I won’t sit here and say the Broncos should be 8-2 this season, but they actually should be 6-4 and they are not far off from being 8-2. Their 4-6 record is indicative of missed opportunities and failure to execute at the right time, so they deserve their record but I think it’s obvious that this Broncos team is better than their record indicates.

All of that to say this: The playoffs are not out of the question, for now.

The Broncos are one game out of the AFC playoff chase with a big win against the Chargers, who may have saved their collapse for the second half of the season instead of just starting out with it this year.

There’s one realistic wild card spot available right now, unfortunately being held by a team that beat the Broncos already (Baltimore), but their record of 5-5 is not out of reach and there are a number of other AFC teams at 5-5 competing for that final wild card spot.

The Broncos don’t exactly control their own destiny with five AFC losses already this season, but if they keep winning, they stand a decent chance of making the postseason. They’ve proven this season they can compete with the best teams in the NFL, so who knows what might happen if they sneak into the dance?

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