Denver Broncos Vs. San Diego Chargers: Bold Predictions For Week 6 Of 2016 NFL Season

The Denver Broncos will be kicking off the new week of football. According to ESPN.com, the Broncos head to California to play AFC West rival San Diego Chargers. Both teams are coming into this game on a short week to play on Thursday night. The Broncos are coming to this game as a field goal favorite to win the contest. The game will be televised on CBS and the NFL Network at 7:25 P.M. Central Time.

Both teams are heading in different directions so far this season. The Broncos currently have a 4-1 record. The team finally lost their first game of the year last week to the Atlanta Falcons 23-16.

The Chargers have started off the year with a 1-4 record. In all four of their losses, they have all been games the team could have won. San Diego loss to the Oakland Raiders last week 34-31. The Chargers had a chance to tie the game up with a field goal late in the fourth quarter, but the holder fumbled the snap.

Divisional game.
On the road.#TNF.#BeatTheChargers pic.twitter.com/rdEpSkQfSU

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 12, 2016

Denver will be playing without head coach Gary Kubiak. He will not make the trip with the team to San Diego after being hospitalized with a migraine. Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis is serving as the interim head as the team prepares for the Chargers.

San Diego has lost 10 straight to an AFC West opponent. The Chargers will look to overcome the streak on Thursday night.

The Chargers’ main focus this week should be ball security. San Diego have eight lost fumbles this season. Running back Melvin Gordon contributed with two of those fumbles. Head coach Mike McCoy told the media that Gordon’s fumbles will not affect his usage, as reported by CBS Sports.

San Diego could be without starting right tackle Joe Barksdale this week due to a foot injury. The offensive line has given up only 11 sacks so far this year. Last season, the Chargers offensive line gave up 40 sacks. Seven of those sacks came against the Broncos in 2015.

Philip Rivers has been lights out to start off the season. He has thrown for 1,469 yards to go with 11 touchdowns. Rivers will look to continue his hot start against a very stout Broncos defensive unit.

Last week, the Broncos offensive line gave up six sacks in their loss to the Falcons. Rookie defensive end Joey Bosa could be a key factor for the Chargers to win this game. In his debut against the Raiders last week, he exploded onto the scene. Bosa picked up two sacks and five tackles.

The Broncos are expected to start Trevor Siemian this week against the Chargers. He missed the game against the Falcons due to a shoulder injury. Siemian was expected to play last Sunday, but rookie Paxton Lynch played in his place.

No matter who plays under center, Denver’s offensive line will have to play better for the team to win this game.

The Broncos will look to get C.J. Anderson more involved this week. In the game against the Falcons, he rushed for 41 yards on 11 carries.

Denver’s defense has led the way for them so far this season. The defense is led by outside linebacker Von Miller. The unit has recovered four fumbles and will look for more against the Chargers. The defense has picked up 19 sacks so far. Miller is second in the NFL in sacks. Cornerback Aqib Talib is tied for second in the league in interceptions with three.

The Broncos should be coming into this game as a bigger favorite to win this contest. The Chargers have played well this season, but the turnovers have hurt them. The final score prediction for this game Chargers 24 and Broncos 21.

[Featured Image by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images]