7:27 P.M. PST: Broncos move to the San Diego 37 … and Jay Cutler runs up to the San Diego 16 on the next play, but there’s a flag down at the San Diego 30, an area around which Cutler ran … the penalty is on San Diego, so it is declined.

7:29 P.M. PST: Denver’s offense showing some vigor and verve on this series … Matt Lepsis is back in the game.

7:30 P.M. PST: Third-and-2 at the San Diego 3 … Cecil Sapp gets the call and picks up close to two yards, but it’s ruled a yard … Fourth-and-a few inches now … and Matt Wilhelm corrals Sapp as he receives the handoff.

7:35 P.M. PST: San Diego goes three-and-out after taking over at its 3-yard-line.

7:36 P.M. PST: I will be working on the game recap throughout this quarter, so my updates will be a little less frequent … please feel free to discuss the proceedings in the space below.

6:40 P.M. PST: Another Broncos possession goes by the wayside, as Luis Castillo bats down a Jay Cutler pass, allowing the Chargers to take over at their 49-yard-line.

6:44 P.M. PST: The Broncos force a three-and-out, and will regain possession at their 14-yard-line after a Glenn Martinez fair catch with 6:18 left.

7:52 P.M. PST: After an exchange of punts (I sound like the late Lindsey Nelson narrating Notre Dame highlights), the Broncos take over at their 13-yard-line with 3:55 left in the game.

7:59 p.m. PST: And it’s all about running out the clock now … good night from Southern California, and merry Christmas.

6:44 P.M. PST: Matt Prater’s first kickoff as a Bronco sails 64 yards … but San Diego will start their first second-half series at its 16 after a holding penalty. LaDainian Tomlinson is back in the game.

6:45 P.M. PST: San Diego on the move, up to its 39-yard-line … we have now seen all three Chargers runners on this drive as Michael Turner and Darren Sproles have each checked in.

6:46 P.M. PST: Nice tackle by D.J. Williams on Darren Sproles.

6:47 P.M. PST: Another third-down conversion by San Diego … Philip Rivers finds Antonio Gates, who had a nice little shove to the chest of Dre’ Bly as the ball was en route … no call, and the Chargers are at the Denver 37.

6:49 P.M. PST: Chargers now at the Denver 20.

6:51 P.M. PST: Broncos are challenging a Vincent Jackson reception at the Denver 10.

6:54 P.M. PST: The reception is upheld. San Diego has first and goal.

6:55 P.M. PST: Two carries to the right side pick up the score … the first one to Tomlinson and the second one to Turner. A flag flies, however … and the Turner touchdown will be nullified, much to the consternation of the crowd and the person who chooses the stadium’s music, who plays lyrics that go, “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.”

6:56 P.M. PST: Touchdown, San Diego … Rivers finds Chris Chambers across the middle in space … Chambers was hit at the 2-yard-line but flew over the goal line for the score. The drive chewed up 7:04 of the clock, covered 84 yards and took 11 plays to execute … Denver now trails, 23-0.

7:02 P.M. PST: Denver in desperate need of a scoring drive now … The Broncos began this series with 55 yards from scrimage.

7:03 P.M. PST: Brandon Marshall with a 15-yard catch to move the Broncos to their 49-yard-line.

7:04 P.M. PST: Broncos now in third-and-8 at the San Diego 49 … Jay Cutler finds Marshall again on third down … he springs forward as though he were flung by slingshot, leaving a defender flat-footed before finally falling at the San Diego 21 … Broncos have their deepest foray into Chargers territory since their opening series.

7:07 P.M. PST: Cutler looked for Tony Scheffler across the middle … Looked like there was contact on Scheffler before the football came in, but there was no call … Clinton Hart gets the interception.

7:09 P.M. PST: Chargers start at their 8-yard-line after a penalty at the end of the runback.

7:11 P.M. PST: Two plays later, a fumble … Marcus Thomas pounces on the loose football that Billy Volek lost on an odd attempt at a handoff to Michael Turner.

7:13 P.M. PST: A handoff for one yard, two incompletions and then Matt Lepsis hits the grass in obvious pain.

7:14 P.M. PST: Lepsis is sitting up now, but is still being treated on the field … now the medical staff helps him to his feet.

7:14 P.M. PST: Lepsis leaves the field under his own power.

7:15 P.M. PST: Jason Elam hits the 23-yard field goal … Broncos now trail 23-3 with 2:47 left in the quarter.

7:18 P.M. PST: Prater’s second Broncos kickoff sails 64 yards … and is returned 25 yards by Darren Sproles to the San Diego 31.

7:19 P.M. PST: San Diego goes three-and-out in its second series with Volek at the helm.

7:21 P.M. PST: Broncos take over at their 19 … Cutler finds Marshall for 10 yards and a first down on the first play of the series.

7:24 P.M. PST: A nice run by Cutler to the San Diego 47 closes the quarter.