SD/DEN not worried about losses.

[Atlas]

What, us worry? Chargers, Broncos not in panic mode after losses

SoCals link: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssen...s/12656586.htm

EDDIE PELLS

Associated Press


DENVER - While the fans and other outsiders worry, the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers are treating Week 2 as Business As Usual.

"My only urgency has to do with the fact that we need to play 60 minutes of good, solid football," Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said.

And Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer: "I'm surprised and shocked that we're still talking about it," he said of Denver's season-opening blowout loss to Miami.

But one of these two teams, both of whom view themselves as playoff and Super Bowl contenders, will probably be thinking much differently after falling to 0-2 following Sunday's game.

The Broncos opened the season looking anything like the perennial contenders they've been over the past decade with Mike Shanahan in charge. Plummer and the offense were awful, going 1-for-12 on third-down conversions and forcing the defense to wear out in the humid Florida weather.

"One thing that bothered me the most and is probably going to bother me until I die, is we were 8 percent on third down," Broncos receiver Rod Smith said.

On almost every level, the Chargers team Denver must face next is better than the Dolphins team that dismantled the Broncos.

San Diego lost to Dallas 28-24 at home in its opener, a game that ended with the Chargers failing to get in after marching to the Dallas 7-yard line late in the game.

The Chargers were without tight end Antonio Gates, serving the last part of a suspension stemming from his contract holdout in the preseason. LaDanian Tomlinson, meanwhile, can set an NFL record by scoring a TD rushing in his 14th straight game.

Denver knows stopping those two will be key to keeping its five-game winning streak alive against the Chargers in Denver. San Diego snapped a seven-game losing streak in Kansas City last year en route to its first AFC West title since 1994.

"We just played ball," quarterback Drew Brees said of the KC win last year. "Obviously we did play better. I think we had chances to win in previous games, but for whatever reason it didn't happen. Denver's a good team, but I feel very confident about what we can do."

While the Broncos, who could play without injured cornerback Champ Bailey (shoulder), expect to get a big dose of Gates and Tomlinson, the Chargers will go against a Denver offense that badly needs to turn things around.

Not only were the Broncos abysmal on third down, they managed only one touchdown in four trips inside Miami's 20. Plummer went 22-for-48 with two interceptions for a passer rating of 51.6. Running back Mike Anderson hurt his ribs and has been listed as questionable.

The Broncos loss was their worst on opening day since 1966 and had the city on edge.

Many of the Broncos, though - most notably Plummer - said moving on was the best way to deal with the bad loss.

"I'm not going to sit here and mope and whine," he said. "We're not going to sit here and worry about what we did down there. It's over. It's done. We don't like how it happened. Now, what we're going to do is go play San Diego."

The Chargers, meanwhile, started 1-2 last season and still went 12-4 and won the division. Their game last week was nowhere near as bad as Denver's. Thus, they may have better reason to take this as just another game.

"While we did some excellent things the other day, when the opportunities at the end presented themselves, to stop them on third-and-2, or score for us on first through fourth down, we failed to do that," Schottenheimer said. "That's the only thing that we have to address."

[Rulon Velvet Jones]

I'd like so much to see Denver ruin that 14 game TD streak of LT2's.

[ludo21]

I love Rod Smith's passion.

Passion is the key to life. I love it!

[Rulon Velvet Jones]

I'd also like to see the Chargers try so desperately to get Gates back into the game right away that Brees forces passes into coverage.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Rulon Velvet Jones

I'd like so much to see Denver ruin that 14 game TD streak of LT2's.

It's funy that you say that. Read this here!!

SoCals link: http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/bronc...082272,00.html

Chargers may be just what Broncos need
San Diego has been outscored 79-3 all-time in the first half at Invesco Field

By Ryan Thorburn, Camera Sports Writer
September 15, 2005

ENGLEWOOD — Sometimes answering stupid questions is part of the lucrative work of coaching and playing in the NFL.

After the Broncos suffered a 34-10 loss at Miami to begin the regular season, Denver head coach Mike Shanahan was asked if he was surprised by the result.


"Yeah," Shanahan said through gritted teeth after the franchise's worst opening-day defeat in 39 years.

On Wednesday, the entire organization tried to shift the focus from the debacle against the Dolphins to the Invesco Field opener against the San Diego Chargers. The longtime AFC West rivals are also licking their wounds after a painful opening-day loss at home to Dallas.

Before the Broncos finally turned the page with a rain-soaked afternoon practice, quarterback Jake Plummer was asked if he was "surprised" at how poorly his team played in Miami.

"I'm surprised and shocked that we're still talking about it," Plummer said. "We're playing San Diego this week, and they are a division rival. You guys (in the media) are talking about it amongst yourselves. We're moving on. We have to move on. As players, you have to. I'm not going to sit here and mope and whine. We're not going to sit here and worry about what we did down there. It's over. It's done. We don't like how it happened. Now what we're going to do is go play San Diego."

After the Broncos got off on the wrong foot to start the 16-game march through a difficult schedule, the Chargers may represent the ideal opponent based on recent history.

Denver has won all four times San Diego has visited Invesco Field. In those games, the Broncos have enjoyed halftime leads of 20-0, 19-0, 27-0 and 13-3 — a combined 79-3.

Drew Brees threw 27 touchdown passes in leading the Chargers to the division title and keeping Philip Rivers on the bench last year. But San Diego's starting quarterback also struggled in Denver early in the campaign, completing only 14 passes with no touchdowns, and the Broncos held on for a 23-13 victory.

Plummer had 294 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions in that first meeting. The Chargers' offense generated 214 total net yards.

"It is a tough place to play, but in my career we haven't gone and played well at Denver any of the times we played (there)," Brees said. "Part of that is just because Denver is a good football team. ... Last year we went to Kansas City and won there in November, that was the first time we had won there in seven or eight years. We felt like we could go in there and win and we feel like we can go into Denver and win."

The Chargers were able to finish 12-4 despite leaving Invesco Field with a 1-2 record last season. But no team that started 0-2 in 2004 made the playoffs and only three of the 36 teams to qualify for the playoffs in the last three years began 0-2.

Cue the stupid question drumroll, please! Is this a must win?

"I think everybody looks at every AFC West game as a must win. If you do not look at it that way, you are not being realistic," Shanahan said. "I think we all understand that it is not, but if you don't look at it that way ... I think you are probably not going in the right direction in this organization, especially at home."

Another statistic that bodes well for Shanahan's squad on Sunday — the Broncos are 18-3 in home openers since 1984, including a five-game win streak. Clearly, it's time to move on from Miami.

But that doesn't mean what happened in Week 1 should be forgotten.

"It's significant," starting fullback Kyle Johnson said of the 24-point loss to a Dolphins team coming off a 4-12 season. "It's not like baseball where you have 162 of these games. People make as big of deal as probably as should be. It is a big deal."

[Popps]

On almost every level, the Chargers team Denver must face next is better than the Dolphins team that dismantled the Broncos.

I'm not so sure about that. I'd take Miami's D over the doltz' any day.

[Broncoman13]

Originally Posted by Popps

On almost every level, the Chargers team Denver must face next is better than the Dolphins team that dismantled the Broncos.

I'm not so sure about that. I'd take Miami's D over the doltz' any day.

SD's D is a lot younger all over the field. They have some very good players in Jammer, Keil, Castillo, Williams, Merriman, and Davis. There's more in there as well that have youth on their side...this team will be around for a while!

[fontaine]

Originally Posted by OSKIE

SD's D is a lot younger all over the field. They have some very good players in Jammer, Keil, Castillo, Williams, Merriman, and Davis. There's more in there as well that have youth on their side...this team will be around for a while!

I really don't see how in the world two rookies (one of whom is yet to play and the other has a total of one game under is belt and is now injured) can be classified as very good players.

[Crushaholic]

Two teams hungry for a win...this will be a heck of a game!

[Popps]

Originally Posted by OSKIE

SD's D is a lot younger all over the field. They have some very good players in Jammer, Keil, Castillo, Williams, Merriman, and Davis. There's more in there as well that have youth on their side...this team will be around for a while!

They're definitely younger. I still think I'd rather face their D every week this year than Miami's. That said, I hope we're not overlooking them. (Like we did last week?)

[BCWhitt]

Originally Posted by Popps

That said, I hope we're not overlooking them. (Like we did last week?)

After last week's debacle, we'd better not be overlooking anybody.........

[ludo21]

Originally Posted by Shorty

After last week's debacle, we'd better not be overlooking anybody.........

we will manage to do it agian....

[cmh6476]

I'm just glad they are showing this game in the kC area now, instead of the crapass game that was scheduled (GB/ Cle).

Too early to pick one team or the other to win. SD seems to have the tougher schedule down the road, but then I don't want the Chiefs going into Mile High with the Broncos staring 0-3 in the face...

[orange 4 life]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

I'm just glad they are showing this game in the kC area now, instead of the crapass game that was scheduled (GB/ Cle).

Too early to pick one team or the other to win. SD seems to have the tougher schedule down the road, but then I don't want the Chiefs going into Mile High with the Broncos staring 0-3 in the face...

fair post.

i friggin HATE playing you guys (or the fade or even chargers) when youre on a losing streak.
something about that kind of game just makes me more nervous.

if im you, im hoping for a bronco victory.
personally, i think it will happen along with a chiefs victory.
im not anywhere near 100%, but i do think the chiefs SHOULD beat oakland even in oakland. your defense still sucks but its alot better than oaklands, and your offense showed that despite age theyre still great. priest showed that it is HE and not tomlinson that is the best back in the west (and maybe all of football).
i suspect the monday night game will be the 1-1 broncos against the 2-0 chiefs with first place on the line.

jake

ps- i also expect the teams to come out of that game tied 2-1....with us having the tiebreaking edge.

[cmh6476]

Originally Posted by orange 4 life

fair post.

i friggin HATE playing you guys (or the fade or even chargers) when youre on a losing streak.
something about that kind of game just makes me more nervous.

if im you, im hoping for a bronco victory.
personally, i think it will happen along with a chiefs victory.
im not anywhere near 100%, but i do think the chiefs SHOULD beat oakland even in oakland. your defense still sucks but its alot better than oaklands, and your offense showed that despite age theyre still great. priest showed that it is HE and not tomlinson that is the best back in the west (and maybe all of football).
i suspect the monday night game will be the 1-1 broncos against the 2-0 chiefs with first place on the line.

jake

ps- i also expect the teams to come out of that game tied 2-1....with us having the tiebreaking edge.

I'll give you guys a rundown before next week's game. But we are looking at 7 new starters on the D side of the ball,a nd this D is much improved. I'm not necessarily saying Balt., Buf., Pitt, Philly imrpoved, but improved nonetheless.

[orange 4 life]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

I'll give you guys a rundown before next week's game. But we are looking at 7 new starters on the D side of the ball,a nd this D is much improved. I'm not necessarily saying Balt., Buf., Pitt, Philly imrpoved, but improved nonetheless.

oh i agree.
it showed sunday.
granted, the jets arent what people think they are, but a shutout is a shutout, and impressive against ANY nfl team.

the defense is much improved, but probably still no better than around #20.
conversely, i think the offense showed they are still special, but as the season wears on the age may show, and i would expect production to drop off.
to me, your season will come down to the turnover battle and the ability to win the close ones, which i think there will be ALOT of.

[Cito Pelon]

That was the worst opening day loss in 39 years? I didn't hear that in the Denver print media. or did I just miss it?

I don't think I missed it, I think it just wasn't reported.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

That was the worst opening day loss in 39 years? I didn't hear that in the Denver print media. or did I just miss it?

I don't think I missed it, I think it just wasn't reported.

I read it somewhere.

[Sassy]

If we go into MNF with KC 0-2...then I'll be worried...and pissed!