WEEK 18
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (10-6) @ DENVER BRONCOS (4-12)
DATE: Sunday (1/8/23)
STADIUM: Empower Field at Mile High
TIME: 4:25 PM ET
REFEREE: Shawn Hochuli
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER Broncos lead all-time series, 69-55-1
STREAKS Chargers have won past 2
LAST GAME 10/17/22: Broncos 16 at Chargers 19 (OT)
LAST GAME AT SITE 11/28/21: Broncos 28, Chargers 13
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
LAST WEEK W 31-10 vs. L.A. Rams
COACH VS. OPP. Brandon Staley: 2-1
PTS. FOR 22.7
OFFENSE 359.8
PASSING Justin Herbert: 452-662-4,466-23-10-92.4
RUSHING Austin Ekeler: 193-881-4.6-13
RECEIVING Mike Williams: 59-863-14.6-4
PTS. AGAINST 22.1
DEFENSE 338.3
SACKS Khalil Mack: 8
INTs Bryce Callahan: 3
TAKE/GIVE +5 (22/17)
PUNTING (NET) JK Scott: 42.8 (41.0)
KICKING Cameron Dicker (R) (2022): 79 (22/22 PAT; 19/20 FG)
CHARGERS NOTES
• LOS ANGELES clinched postseason berth for 1st time since 2018.
• QB JUSTIN HERBERT completed 21 of 28 atts. (75 pct.) for 212 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 119.9 rating last week, his 44th-career game with TD pass, tied with HOFer Peyton Manning for most-ever by player in 1st 3 seasons. Aims for his 3rd in row at Den. with 2+ TD passes. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 4,466 pass yards in 2022 & is 1st player in NFL history with 4,000+ pass yards in each of 1st 3 seasons.
• RB AUSTIN EKELER had season-high 161 scrimmage yards (122 rush, 39 rec.) & 2 rush TDs last week. Aims for 3rd in row vs. Den. & 5th in row overall with rush TD. Aims for 3rd in row vs. division with 100+ scrimmage yards. Leads NFL with 18 TDs (13 rush, 5 rec.) & ranks 4th with 103 catches, 3rd-most catches by RB in season in NFL history. Can become 6th player ever with 20+ TDs in consecutive seasons.
• WR MIKE WILLIAMS had 7 catches for 94 yards last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 75+ rec. yards. Has 443 rec. yards (110.8 per game) in his 4 road games this season.
• WR KEENAN ALLEN aims for 6th in row with 60+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in 3 of his past 4 vs. Den. Has rec. TD in 2 of his 3 road games this season.
• TE GERALD EVERETT had 3rd TD catch of season in Week 17.
• LB JOEY BOSA had sack & FF in last road meeting.
• LB KHALIL MACK aims for his 5th in row vs. Den. with sack & 9th in row vs. Den. with TFL.
• LB DRUE TRANQUILL had 9 tackles & 2 TFL last week. Aims for 4th in row with 9+ tackles. Has sack in 2 of past 3. Had 2 sacks in Week 6 meeting.
• DE MORGAN FOX aims for 3rd in row with 2+ TFL & sack.
• CB ASANTE SAMUEL JR. had season-best 6 tackles last week. Has PD in 4 of past 5.
DENVER BRONCOS
LAST WEEK L 27-24 at Kansas City
COACH VS. OPP. Jerry Rosburg: 0-0
PTS. FOR 16.0
OFFENSE 316.0
PASSING Russell Wilson: 279-459-3,241-13-10-82.5
RUSHING Latavius Murray (2022): 156-657-4.2-5
RECEIVING Jerry Jeudy: 62-818-13.2-6
PTS. AGAINST 20.7
DEFENSE 318.0
SACKS DeShawn Williams: 4.5
INTs Justin Simmons: 6
TAKE/GIVE -1 (19/20)
PUNTING (NET) Corliss Waitman: 46.5 (41.6)
KICKING Brandon McManus: 102 (21/23 PAT; 27/35 FG)
BRONCOS NOTES
• QB RUSSELL WILSON passed for 222 yards & totaled 3 TDs (season-high 2 rush, 1 pass) last week. Has 5 TDs vs. INT with 96.5 rating in 3 career starts vs. Chargers. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 95+ rating. Is 2nd QB ever (HOFer Peyton Manning) with 3,000+ pass yards in each of 1st 11 seasons.
• RB LATAVIUS MURRAY had 72 scrimmage yards (56 rush, 16 rec.) last season. Has 70+ scrimmage yards in 2 of past 3. Aims for his 8th in row vs. Chargers with 50+ scrimmage yards. Is only player in NFL with 500+ rush yards in each of past 8 seasons & only player with 4+ rush TDs in each of past 8 seasons.
• RB CHASE EDMONDS led team with 73 scrimmage yards (39 rec., 34 rush) in Week 17. Aims for 3rd in row with 50+ scrimmage yards.
• WR JERRY JEUDY aims for 5th in row with 6+ catches. Aims for his 4th in row at home with 70+ rec. yards. Has career-high 62 catches this season.
• WR COURTLAND SUTTON has 70+ rec. yards in 4 of his 5 home games this season.
• TE ALBERT OKWUEGBUNAM had 1st TD catch of season last week.
• S JUSTIN SIMMONS had career-high 6th INT of season in Week 17, tied for NFL lead. Has INT in 2 of past 3. Had 6 tackles & PD in Week 6 meeting. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4 vs. LAC. Is only player in NFL with 5+ INTs in each of past 3 seasons.
• S KAREEM JACKSON tied for team lead with 7 tackles last week & has 5+ tackles in 5 of his past 6. Had 8 tackles, TFL & PD in Week 6 meeting.
• LB ALEX SINGLETON had 1st FF of season in Week 17. Aims for 9th in row with 6+ tackles. Had career-best 21 tackles & 2 TFL in Week 6 meeting.
• LB JOSEY JEWELL has 7+ tackles in each of his 12 games this season.
