Final

Chargers 23

(4-6, 2-4 away)

Broncos 30

(7-3, 4-1 home)

Coverage: CBS

4:25 PM ET, November 18, 2012

Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO 

1 2 3 4 T
SD 7 0 9 723
DEN 0 17 7 630

Top Performers

Passing: P. Manning (DEN) - 270 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: W. McGahee (DEN) - 7 CAR, 55 YDS

Receiving: D. Alexander (SD) - 7 REC, 96 YDS, 2 TD

Chargers-Broncos Preview

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Sunday Blitz: Chargers-Broncos Recap
Jim Basquil and Eric Allen break down the Broncos' 30-23 win over the Chargers.Tags: Sunday Blitz, Jim Basquil, Eric Allen, NFL, Fantasy
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A historic comeback helped the Denver Broncos tie the San Diego Chargers atop the AFC West standings last month.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos can take a firm grip of the division lead -- and put a huge dent in the Chargers' playoff chances -- with its first season sweep in this series in seven years.

The Broncos go for their fifth straight victory on Sunday against a Chargers team trying to get back on track with its fourth consecutive win at Denver.

Facing a 24-0 halftime deficit, the Broncos rallied for a 35-24 victory at San Diego on Oct. 15 to pull even with the Chargers at 3-3. Since his three second-half touchdowns in that contest helped the Broncos post the fourth-greatest comeback in league history, Manning has guided Denver (6-3) to three more victories and a two-game edge over second-place San Diego (4-5), which has two wins in its last seven games -- both against lowly Kansas City.

While Manning is a making a strong case for an unprecedented fifth MVP -- he owns the league's best passer rating (108.0) and is completing a career-best 69.7 percent of his passes -- he's definitely not doing it alone.

The Broncos, who have the league's sixth-ranked defense, have 12 sacks in the last two contests and are allowing 18.8 points per game during the winning streak.

Denver's special teams have also come up big lately with Trindon Holliday returning kicks for TDs in each of the last two games.

The NFL said this week that his 76-yard punt return in last Sunday's 36-14 win at Carolina should have been ruled a touchback after he flipped the ball out of his hands before crossing the goal line, but that doesn't change the fact that San Diego could have its hands full with the speedy returner.

"Denver's playing amazing right now," Chargers safety Eric Weddle said. "All three phases are playing well off of each other and it shows on the tape."

San Diego coach Norv Turner couldn't have enjoyed watching the second half of last Sunday's 34-24 loss to Tampa Bay. Coming off a 31-13 win over the Chiefs that ended their three-game skid, the Chargers were outscored 17-3 in the final 19-plus minutes.

Philip Rivers had three TDs, but he was picked off twice in the second half, the last one returned 83 yards for a score in the fourth quarter.

"The big negative plays, the turnovers are killing us," Turner said. "Our biggest thing is we need to go put four quarters together, play at a high level, take care of the ball and not give up. If a team's going to make plays on you, make them earn it. Don't give up easy plays. It's a challenge for us coming into Denver."

Rivers is 5-1 visiting the Broncos following a 29-24 victory on Oct. 9, 2011, but the Chargers' signal-caller has been awful in the fourth quarter with a 56.5 passer rating and a league-worst six INTs.

Chris Harris' 46-yard INT return for a score with 2:05 left sealed the Broncos' victory on Oct. 15.

Manning, meanwhile, has nine TDs, no INTs and a 121.9 passer rating in the fourth quarter.

After throwing a touchdown to Brandon Stokley last Sunday, the veteran quarterback is one shy of passing Dan Marino for second all-time with 421.

"I have never felt comfortable kind of being mentioned with him," Manning said.

Manning, though, has no problem giving credit to an offensive line that's allowed just 11 sacks this season.

"They have done a great job and certainly every quarterback appreciates it when you don't get sacked," he said.

Rivers has been sacked twice as much, yet just four times in the last three games.

The Chargers' line, though, could face one of its stiffest tests of the season in Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil, who are the league's top-duo in terms of sacks with 17.

Dumervil, though, is questionable after leaving last Sunday's game with a left shoulder injury. An MRI on Monday did not reveal a tear and he didn't practice on Wednesday.

Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams, the team's leading tackler in five of the last eight seasons, could make his season debut after missing six games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs and the next three for a second alcohol-related driving conviction.

Denver's secondary will have to keep an eye on Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, who has all four of his TDs -- he caught a season-best two against Denver -- in the last four games.

Gates is one TD shy of matching Lance Alworth for the team record with 81.

Chargers back Ryan Mathews is questionable after missing practice on Wednesday with a stiff neck. He ran for 74 in last month's loss to Denver after averaging 127.3 in his first three games in this divisional matchup.

More from ESPN.com

DE Freeney, Chargers agree to contract
The San Diego Chargers made a move to bolster their pass rush Saturday, agreeing on a two-year deal with defensive end Dwight Freeney, league sources told ESPN's Ed Werder.

Report: P. Manning's money same in new deal
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has signed a new contract, although the deal doesn't alter his compensation, Pro Football Talk reported Friday.

Coach: Chargers would tweak D for Freeney
First-year San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy seemed impressed with free-agent defensive end Dwight Freeney during his San Diego visit, and he said the team will certainly design their defensive scheme to accommodate him if they sign him.

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Charles Woodson is still looking for a new home and the New York Giants have inquired about the veteran safety.

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ESPN Local

Chargers, Freeney agree to 2-year deal
SAN DIEGO (AP)  The San Diego Chargers agreed Saturday to a two-year deal with aging star pass rusher Dwight Freeney that could be worth $13.35 million. The deal to bring Freeney to the Chargers came four days after outside linebacker Melvin Ingram tore

Chargers agree to two-year deal with DE Freeney
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers have agreed to a two-year deal with star pass rusher Dwight Freeney that could be worth $13.35 million. The deal to bring Freeney to the Chargers came four days after outside linebacker Melvin Ingram tore the anterior

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Scouting Report

Chargers-Broncos: What to watch

After watching film of both teams, Scouts Inc. breaks down key elements of the Week 11 Chargers-Broncos matchup.

• San Diego must protect the pocket: Denver has arguably the most dynamic pass rush in the NFL as it leads the league in sacks with 31. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is doing an excellent job of designing blitz packages with LB Von Miller and DE Elvis Dumervil coming off the edge, although Dumervil's status will be in question for this game. The Chargers have been among the league's worst when it comes to getting their quarterback sacked and throwing interceptions. Look for more two-tight end sets as the Chargers do whatever it takes to keep Philip Rivers upright.

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San Diego Chargers

Denver Broncos

Matchup

 
SD
DEN
W-L4-67-3
Avg Points23.230.1
Avg Points Allowed22.121.2
Home Record2-24-1
Road Record2-43-2
Division Record3-23-0
Conference Record4-35-2
Complete Standings

Passing Leaders

San DiegoCMP%YDSTDINT
P. Rivers64.136062615
DenverCMP%YDSTDINT
P. Manning68.646593711
B. Osweiler50.01200

Rushing Leaders

San DiegoCARYDSAVGTD
R. Mathews1847073.81
J. Battle953113.33
DenverCARYDSAVGTD
W. McGahee1677314.44
K. Moreno1385253.84

Receiving Leaders

San DiegoRECYDSAVGTD
M. Floyd5681414.55
D. Alexander3765817.87
DenverRECYDSAVGTD
D. Thomas94143415.310
E. Decker85106412.513

Team Averages & NFL Ranks

TEAM OFFENSETEAMPER GAME AVERAGE
Total YardsSD
 
 297
DEN
 
 398
Yards PassingSD
 
 206
DEN
 
 283
Yards RushingSD
 
 91
DEN
 
 115
TEAM DEFENSETEAMPER GAME AVERAGE
Yards AllowedSD
 
 326
DEN
 
 291
Pass Yds AllowedSD
 
 230
DEN
 
 200
Rush Yds AllowedSD
 
 96
DEN
 
 91

Head to Head Matchups (Since 2001)

Series tied 12-12
Oct 15, 2012SD 24, DEN 35
Nov 27, 2011SD 13, DEN 16
Oct 9, 2011SD 29, @DEN 24
Jan 2, 2011SD 33, @DEN 28
Nov 22, 2010SD 35, DEN 14
Nov 22, 2009SD 32, @DEN 3
Oct 19, 2009SD 23, DEN 34
Dec 28, 2008SD 52, DEN 21
Sep 14, 2008SD 38, @DEN 39
Dec 24, 2007SD 23, DEN 3
Oct 7, 2007SD 41, @DEN 3
Dec 10, 2006SD 48, DEN 20
Nov 19, 2006SD 35, @DEN 27
Dec 31, 2005SD 7, DEN 23
Sep 18, 2005SD 17, @DEN 20
Dec 5, 2004SD 20, DEN 17
Sep 26, 2004SD 13, @DEN 23
Nov 16, 2003SD 8, @DEN 37
Sep 14, 2003SD 13, DEN 37
Dec 1, 2002SD 30, DEN 27
Oct 6, 2002SD 9, @DEN 26
Nov 11, 2001SD 16, @DEN 26
Oct 21, 2001SD 27, DEN 10

Research Notes

Philip Rivers was 3-of-4 with a touchdown when targeting Antonio Gates against five or more pass rushers in the first half against the Broncos in Week 6, with Gates accounting for four of Rivers' six attempts against such pressure. Rivers failed to target Gates against five-plus rushers in the second half, going 2-of-9 in the process.
  [+]
Peyton Manning's average pass traveled 8.2 yards downfield in the second half against the Chargers in Week 6, three yards more than his first-half average. Manning was 5-of-5 on throws more than 10 yards downfield in the second half, tied for his most such completions in a half this season.
  [+]

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