The San Diego Chargers will go to Denver to meet the Broncos Thursday night in a game live streamed on the NFL Network at 8:25 PM ET.
The Broncos (11-2) are in the AFC West driver's seat after clinching a playoff spot and putting up a season-high 551 yards in Sunday's 51-28 win over Tennessee. Their 1,086 offensive yards in the last two weeks is their best two-game stretch of the season.
At 6-7 following Sunday's 37-14 home win over the Giants, the Chargers don't have any room for error in their final three games.
Controlling Denver, however, has rarely happened this year.
Peyton Manning has thrown for 800 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions in the last two weeks, and his 39 completions against the Titans set a team record. With 45 TDs on the season, he is five shy of matching Tom Brady's single-season record from 2007 -- which eclipsed Manning's then-record of 49 set with Indianapolis in 2004.
He can match that personal best with another big performance -- he's thrown at least four TDs seven times this season -- though he'll likely have to do so without one of his top targets, Wes Welker. The slot receiver is doubtful for this contest after leaving Sunday's game with his second concussion in four games.
The Broncos have won four straight against the Chargers, including a 28-20 win in San Diego on Nov. 10, though the Chargers held the Broncos to a season-low 397 yards.
San Diego's 23-point win over the Giants was its largest margin of victory since a 38-10 win on Sept. 16, 2012 against Tennessee. And after allowing a total of 31 points in the last two weeks against Cincinnati and the Giants, San Diego's confidence is high.
"That is one of our better all-around games," Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. "Overall, in all three phases, guys were making plays. It was different guys. We might not have thrown for X number of yards, but (it's) the way we won the game."
Philip Rivers went 21 of 28 for 249 yards with three TDs, no interceptions and a season-high passer rating of 137.4. The Chargers jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead.
And that's basically how they lost to Denver last month, falling behind 28-6 on the first possession of the second half.
