In a throwback game to celebrate the roots of the AFL, the NFL couldn’t have asked for much better to celebrate the occasion.  These two cities, along with their football teams, have come a long way since their humble beginnings back in the old American Football League. 

While both these teams share similar histories, their look and their viability in today’s NFL couldn’t be more polar opposites.

In the old AFL, San Diego did win one championship.  Since then, they have only made Super Bowl appearances and have fallen short in delivering on old promises.

Denver won two AFL championships, only it was with the Denver Dynamite and the Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League.

The Broncos’ franchise, however, has appeared in six final dances and is a two-time Super Bowl Champion that currently appears to be returning to their old championship form.

The Denver Broncos are six and “Oh My!”

Just admit it; no one had the Broncos undefeated after this stage of the season, and that includes you.

The Broncos are doing their yeomen’s work with definition, meaning, attitude, purpose, and good old fashioned hard working football to match their throwback jerseys.

The Broncos, like their vertical striped piping are on their way up while making more believers week by week!

So to think this team could be 12-0 when they face the currently 6-0 Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 13 isn’t so far fetched anymore.

 

 

Sticking to the Script

The Broncos did not start with a bowl of dust and a hearty “Hi-Ho Silver!” but they did come to play in San Diego.

The Broncos forced the Chargers to punt early on after snuffing their first drive.

Then Broncos won the battle of field position briefly as they could not muster a drive worthy of a score.

 

San Diego Gets Mission Focused Early

Following a punt by the Broncos the Chargers showed their shockingly brilliant powers.

Phillip Rivers connects with Malcolm Floyd for 18 yards and a first down from the six.

On 3rd-and-9 Rivers hits Floyd on a slant for 21 yards another first down against an all out blitz.

Then Rivers chest passes the ball to LaDainian Tomlinson who rambled for 25 yards and another first down.

Rivers then again hit Floyd for 13 yards and another San Diego first down.

LT then rambled from the backfield for 13 yards and yet another first down.

The Chargers were hotter than those bolts of lightning on their throwback helmets.  Denver was in a bad way as well on the drive that consumed a majority of the first quarter.  The Broncos also feared a loss of their spark on defense as Brian Dawkins left during the drive with a possible pulled hamstring.

As brilliant as the drive was for the powder blue SoCalers, it came to an end just as fast at the Broncos two yard line.

The Chargers had to settle for three points instead of the touchdown their offense deserved most of the drive.

 

Eddie Royal’s Special Treatment

On Denver radio they call him Eddie Roy~Al with Cheese .

In San Diego, they called him, but he never returned their calls because he was gone; and by the way the Chargers are still trying to reach him.

On the Denver sideline they called him by one word:

Money!

Eddie Royal is in a Denver Taco Bell commercial for a promo that gives fans the “Royal Treatment” with free tacos if the Broncos score two or more touchdowns.

This week’s promo truly is the Royal Treatment as he delivered with two touchdowns on special teams during the Monday night affair.

In one play, Eddie Royal attained what San Diego worked so hard for in their opening drive but could not, that being the end zone.  Royal returned San Diego’s ensuing kickoff 93 yards for the Broncos first touchdown and a shocking first-quarter lead.

For a guy that wound up with zero catches on the night at his usual receiver position, he proved to be the game’s difference maker.

Royal followed up his kick return for a touchdown with a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown later on in the second quarter.

 

Chargers Still Determined

Following Eddie Royals kickoff return for a touchdown San Diego started their next drive like they had the previous one.

The Chargers gashed the Broncos for big yardage going 74 yards in eight plays and cashing in this time with a touchdown to Northern Colorado phenomenon Vincent Jackson.  Rivers connected near the backline with Jackson on a deep crossing route from the three yard line. 

On the drive, Philip Rivers was perfectly hot, going five-for-five and picking up 63 yards to regain the lead 10-7 against Denver’s stalwart defense.

At the 1:20 mark of the second quarter the Chargers completed the hat trick of special teams’ touchdowns with a punt return for a score of their own.

Not to be outdone, Darrin Sproles returned his punt 77 yards to put the Chargers back on top before the half at 20-17 and solidifying this as an AFL throwback game.

 

Tony Schefflers Magic

It’s been said the Broncos throwback uniforms makes them look prime for some sort of Busker Fest where jugglers and magicians alike prove their skills before an open audience.

Tony Scheffler looked the part of the showman with his 19-yard touchdown grab from Kyle Orton while walking the tightrope on his circus catch.

The catch put Denver up by a single point at 24-23 late in the third quarter.

 

Denver ’s ‘For Real Defense’ Rears It’s Ugly Head

On third and three near midfield Elvis Dumervil hit Phillip Rivers and causes a fumble that eventually led to another Broncos field goal to push the margin to four points.

Denver’s defense combined with the offense to salt away the game.

The defense kept the pressure on the Chargers offense and would not allow them to get anything significant as they attained three sacks in five plays at one point. 

Champ Bailey and DJ Williams put the hurt on Malcolm Floyd on a fourth and eight at the Broncos 38 yard marker.

The Broncos then went 62 yards in five plays with one more magic trick being pulled off by Tony Scheffler down to the Chargers eight.

The final part of this masterpiece was a five yard pass to Brandon Stokley for six.  On a play that was reviewed and very close, the ball never crossed the goal-line plane, however, Stokley toe tapped the goal line for the touchdown.

The Broncos left feeling super charged with the final score.

 

Denver Broncos   34

Super Chokers     23 

With the win the Broncos are three and a half games up on their nearest division rival San Diego and now own a tie breaker against them with ten games to go in the regular season.

These Broncos appear to be playoff bound!

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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