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.
Tags: San Diego Chargers
Please draft a DT in the first round this year.
Merry Christmas to you too, Mason. Have a safe trip back to Denver.
no way, dan connor from penn state
Maybe an O-Lineman instead…
at least we get a lot of t rowe price commercials! (sorry i work there). what what!
back to back fullback hand offs what brillant play calling,
again andrew send me the fax number so i can send my resume to bowlen because i can call better plays than that. just horrible
dan connor or kenny phillips
Our Linebackers would look exponentially better if our front 4 could do anything….Engleberger and McKinley are backup quality players, and Dumerville really should be a 3-rd down specialist.
Mason. If you need a room my home is about 60 miles up the 15 freeway. You can have my kids room. I will kick them on the couch. Merry Christmas….West Coast
I am watching the game with friends, who are not Bronco fans, they didn’t see any Bronco games this year. 3&2, I said: we run to the middle, and we they stuff it. It happenned. 4&1, I said: run again, to the middle. It happened again! This is how predictable our playcallig is. The Chargers left all WRs alone, because they knew what was coming! We need some change, some spark!!!
Thanks for the offer, West Coast, but I’ll be on the plane back to Denver tonight … I figure we’ll pass the fat guy’s sleigh somewhere en route.
mason, all joking aside, you’re the man and you have the greatest job ever. hope you have a great christmas tomorrow, i’ll c u next year man. LOVE 2 ALL THE BRONCOS FANS, cuase lets admit it, you have to be a freak about the broncos to be on a blog and watch them at the same time
our worst enemy is first and goal
how about we sign lance briggs since i doubt the bears will resign him… then we can draft a very good DT
I said it before, and I will say it again.
We make players look like pro-bowlers, and teams super bowl winners.
This is SILLY!!
WHY ARE WE RUNNING THE BALL ON 4TH AND 1. WHO ARE WE FOOLING!!!
NOW #57 LOOKS LIKE THE GREATEST LB IN THE NFL!!
AND THESE COMMENTATORS ARE KILLING US BY SPEAKING THE TRUTH…
WE SUCK THIS YEAR….
Merry Christmas….
Had all I can stand and headed to bed. Hope all you Bronco fans out there have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. XOXO to you Mason for the ugly comment, g’nite
Mason… Tell the big guy my daughter left out cookies but if he aint here by midnight Im eating them. Have a very Merry Christmas Mason. Im out.
I think I might actually be cheering for the Raiders next week to beat the living snot out of Phillip “ugliest release in the NFL Rivers. I would love to see the Jaguars spank the Chargers once again. With that said, the Broncos are a bad football team, but San Diego will do nothing in the postseason thankfully.
Have an extra glass of egg nog for me, gang … the P.A. is playing “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley right now. How appropriate.
well its apparent that phillip rivers has no class, they just showed highlights of him taunting pretty much everyone in a bronco uniform. it amazes me because he is a terrible qb. Mason has he been taunting all game?
Wow, do you seriously see Rivers talking all that trash to Cutler? This is unbelievable my blood is boiling right now. I wish I could get a shot at that losers face right now, I’m disgusted by this pathetic display of a season and if things do not turn around by next season I will be very upset and surprised. I can’t wait to see Rivers cry when LT retires soon.
Its sad to see a huge dissapointment like Rivers act like that. He already has proven to be one of the worst first round pick quaterbacks to play. If I were him I would shut up. He is not very good! Cutler has way better numbers than him. What a joke. The D and the run game win for the chargers NOT PHILIP RIVERS. I bet everyday the Chargers wish they could have Drew Brees back. &*^% YOU RIVERS!!!
well the chargers have owned us for the last 4 games, but payback is a you know what, i hate losing but at least we are closer to a top ten pick and boy do we need it. lets look at the bright side of things this is new englands year anyway so everybody that goes to the playoffs is just going to lose so we will be in position to come back strong next year
Can someone explain to me why Bates only rushes 3 on passing downs? Our DB haven’t defended a pass all season. The 4 times I saw the Broncos blitz it was picked up beautifully by San Diego. The coaches really need to rethink what they are not doing. Maybe in 3 years we may be competitive.
Merry Christmas to everyone in Broncoland.
We’ll get ‘em next week…
when LT lashed out last year at the patroits taunting them, why didnt he tell Rivers to stop then hmm????
Rivers = no class
Oh, and I (not seriously, but half-kiddingly) hope someone takes out a bounty on Rivers next week. The Raiders would love to see their rivals from the south without their #1 QB for the playoffs, right?
His smack-talking was disgusting to watch…but he did have scoreboard in a BIG way over our guys…
Again, Merry Christmas.
I’m sick to my stomach… I’m about as mad as Cutler has been through this whole game. I feel for our young QB, he had one rough night and it wasn’t even his fault. Of course he had his own mistakes BUT our offensive line has got to give him a solid pocket so that he’s not rushed all the time… Cutler couldn’t catch one break tonight. Our offensive line has a job to protect the QB and they did squat, hence the 4 sacks (there’s probably more but I spaced out most of the game, it was that awful to watch).
We played a team, let alone a defense, that came out to play… like I had feared, we didn’t come out to play. I wish our guys would have proved me wrong. I’m not even looking forward to the game against Minnesota… I’m ready for this season to be over and done with, we desperately need an offseason to recuperate and I really think our guys need a break from all this. All this losing is starting to get to them and it is clearly showing… tonight was just flat dreadful. I’ve got hope and faith but its certainly not easy. I’m so upset and angry and frustrated with how this season is going, I’m honestly speechless, believe it or not.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!
Oh, and to Mason and everybody in Broncos Country…
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!
It is bad enough to lose but to a little punk like Rivers thats too bad. This is the worst season I can remember. Shanahan should stop trying to be GM and coach. From Travis Henry to even Daniel Graham who is way overpaid. Dre Bly gets beat repeatedly. They start stiffs like Engleberger. Since GM Sunquist is such a genius why not start his boy Crowder and get more experience. Lepsis and Pears also stiink and Javon Walker should go. Finally, I appreciate a forum where we can do this because it makes me feel better. BRONCO FANS MERRY CHRISTMAS!
This is my first comment but I have to vent a little. Im a die hard fan but here are of the issues I think that needs to be addressed.
Coaching
1. Im not exactly sure who is calling the offensive plays but it is horrible. Gameplan sucks pretty much every game and every situation especially important downs/drives. I know we have our injuries but passing to Marshall every play is not fooling anyone.
2. Offensivie coordinator needs to go for sure and Im starting to wonder if Shanny needs to go as well. Luv Shanny but it appears he lost his touch. The bootleg and zone blocking is just not working for obvious reasons. O-line even if everyone is healthy is just not cutting it. Too undersize and o-line push what so ever. Teams are just prepared for the same stuff from Shanny.
3. D-Coord. dont have a clue. Have to go by all means. There are so many issues with players missing tackles, assignments etc. Also how in the world you are not prepared for the bootleg against houston.
4. Special teams appear to improve just a little but still doesnt cut it. Just horrible.
Things to address for next year (not in order of importance)
1. Need big athletic offensive line. Small guys just not working as d-ends/tackles are bigger, stronger and faster these days. This is the main reason why we cant score in red zone.
2. RB situation still needs to be addressed. Need a strong, fast every down back. Selvin and Hall can definitely back up.
3. Still need another receiver that can stretch field and make big plays. Hopefully walker comes back healthy.
4. D. Graham sucks may need to address this.
5. Dline is horrible. Dumervil is impressive but thats it. I know guys are young but they need help in every way tackles for sure.
6. LBs – move dwill to weak need strong and middle through free agency. There are not too many strong side lbs right out of college to start and make impact.
7. Need studs at safety. Abdullah is okay but need more time everyone else needs to go although i still luv lynch he is not cutting it no more.
Bright spots
1. Cutler, Marshall
2. Champ still the man. The run d is horrible so he was looking for run alot and in single cover a lot more. Still the best corner and by far best tackler for corners. Against texans they put wr in motion to take bailey from that side and ran to the ball where he left. I think foxworth should play corner a lot more than safety.
I still luv the broncos and always will no matter what but we are definitely in a rebuilding stage. I dont expect too much for the next couple of years especially because all of the issues cant be addressed in one year.
whats with that big mouth rivers what a jerk i wonder if he shook hands with cutler after the game or if jay just knocked him on his butt what a whiner i hope somebody cleans his clock this season
I hope next year that we knock off Rivers block. I have never liked that a$$. If I was which I am not (shivering from the thought of) a Chargers fan I dont think I would like him. Jawing like he was. Be a pro!! Next years battle ought to be a good one. I hope that they knock him out for the year.
Hey Rivers!!! U have no class. Glad u got worked your mouth out tonight. That mouth will get u real far into the play-offs. San Diego will be eliminated first round. They realy are not as good as they appear. OK tonight was no surprise to the nation. Only a few of us fans who still believe are shocked. Unfortunately another year loosing to our west coast rivals. This Bronco team has some serious work to do. The Broncos, as a team, just flat stink this year. Don’t be ssurprised to see some major changes in the off season. Shannahan will get 1 more season or else. He and the GM must take a long hard look at what happened this season and correct it. The city of Denver and the fans of the Denver Broncos won’t except another dismal season. No!!!!!! More free passes anymore Shannahan. Your style has been figured out and you’ve got to come up with some refreshing offensive schemes. A bunch of healthy players might help too. Offense must be consistent and gel better as a unit. Maybe they should spend the off-season toghether. As for me, I’m really dissapointed. I think I’ll watch My Christmas present, “The History of the Denver Broncos”. At least I get to watch the positives and not the negatives. I’ll get to maybe get a glimpse of what I hope our future is as a franchise. Cause everyone has seasons like these, Right? Just hope we don’t have to endure another season like this for a long, long, time. Cutler you’ll get better, u just need some help from an o’line. Maybe put that on your christmas list. Bailey, u need a new defensive line and more help in the secoondary. A d-line is the most important part of your success. Anyway, Merry Christmas Bronco Maniacs, we’ll be back!!!!!!!
Rivers is a complete disgrace to the game. I understand thrash talking happens but he doesnt have no class. The great QB’s would never act like this. I hope broncos take him out next year.
This game was never in doubt. I turned it off after the first half and I am honestly surprised we only lost by 20.
It will take years to get this team back to being a playoff caliber team. We have so many holes and, I can’t believe I am saying this, Shanahan did a crappy job this year coaching. He built this team so he has no-one to blame but himself.
This is going to be another wild off-season. A lot of this coaching staff and many of these players are history….but I don’t see improvement for 2 years…..and that’s only if we draft really well.
Oh, and I really hope Rivers gets his head knocked off next week….what a jacka$$.
I quit watching after it became 23-0 and very apparent that half the team (most of the offensive linemen I might add) quit tonight. For a bunch of guys with jobs on the line tonight and am very saddened by the effort put out on the field. Actions speak louder than words. Some of these guys probably think their fooling the coaches and the fans but they aren’t. Most fans have been loyal for decades and they can spot perennial losers. Most of the team gives great quotes after each loss but they don’t back up their talk with their play. I’ve said it before I really respect Coach Shanahan and what he has done for this franchise. True he hasn’t won that much without John Elway but John Elway was a totally different QB after Mike Shanahan took over in 1995. The defense is just awful and it’s because we have a combination of a lack of talent, some old players, and a terrible scheme. Offensive line is weak and needs an overhaul. I would definitely show some of the coaching staff and some of the players the door right after the Vikings game. Even with all that I’m still a fan and will be pulling for the ones giving the effort next Sunday against Minnesota. Merry Christmas to all and Have a Safe New Year and thanks for letting get on my soapbox.
Yea i imagine Rivers is gonna get whats due to him next week, i bet Warren Sapp has some frustrations to work out from getting worked by the jaguars this week and would probably love rubbing Rivers face all through the dirt.
Somebody show graham the word “block” and ask him if he knows what it means?
Do the same for henry.
Ask dre bly if he can take some time away from writing his press releases to actually practice once in awhile. If he did he might actually be in the same zip code as the receiver he’s supposed to be covering.
If graham and henry can answer the question about blocking, try the O-line. It looked like they were passing out invitations to the Jay Cutler Pinata party they were hosting.
rivers is a jackass, but he had no reason not to be talking smack; our Defense let him stand back there all night and never even scared him let alone knocked his stupid ass down.
if Bates has a job by the middle of January, I’m not watching a single game next year.
Merry Christmas all and here’s to some real Bronco football next year.
This season has been a total disgrace. The way the broncos have played has made me sick. They have dishonored the memory of thetwo fallen teammates. I hang my head in shame. Merry Xmas Forever A Broncos Fan
Rivers is a joke. Who does he think he is talking $%#@ the way he was? He has no class what so ever. He is nothing more then a so so QB who cant win a playoff game. We have won plenty. This crap of us losing is something we are not used to. The Chargers are used to it so until Rivers can become an elite QB he needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut and think about what his excuse is going to be when they lose the first game in the playoffs again.
Granted we stunk up the joint but good god where were the flags for pass interference on the CHargers? I counted atleast 8 times that there was no flag. And what about the roughing the passer flag? The ball was already out of his hands and no flag. The Chargers are dirty classless players especially Rivers.
For the love of god please fire Jim Bates. We cant get or gift of the playoofs this year so atleast do us the favor of cutting his @$$.
And where in the hell was our offense? I dont blame Cutler for poping his top towards coaches and the team when he did. I would be pissed if I had to keep scooping myself up off the ground.
Rivers a so so quarterback and one of the worst first round picks? Last time I cheked he made the probowl his first year as a starter and although he struggles early, is getting hot at the right time. Cutler is a bigger clown…whining at someone everyplay and flailing when he barely gets touched…And how can Rivers not win a playoff game when he lost one to the Patriots that they should have won minus a missed field goal anda bogus interception-fumble on 4th down. I think all you Broncos fans are just a bit jealous. GO BOLTS!
I understand what Rivers is feeling; he was drafted out 1st round only to be stuck behind Brees. The chargers made an idiotic decision to let brees go for this douche, all season long people has been saying how the chargers choked with the decision to keep rivers. Jay Cutler comes in last year and already people are comparing him to the legend Brett Favre, if you were Rivers, I think you’d be mad too. With that said though, as much as I hate seeing players get hurt, I hope he breaks every single bone in his body next week and the week after that and never plays football again. As much as I despise the patriots, I hope they see the Pats in the playoff and then have Tom pass all over his ass and headbutts his guys (like he did against the colts) all over River’s eyes.
And BTW…please stop giving Cutler excuses…he got sacked 4 times which is not an awful amount…every throw he made regardless of if he had time or not was off the mark…he is not the answer and everyone needs to stop oohing and ahhing over his “skills” because you need to watch a quarterback in the game to get a feel for him. Cutler just seems like a little Pu$$y with no backbone who takes no responsibilty for how bad he is….hes not the answer for the broncos…just another one of the problems
LT, can’t we suffer on our own? Or are you just following the Philip Rivers model of talking trash to the opposition when your team’s comfortably ahead? By the way, the ESPN announcers were aghast at his behavior on the sidelines, as they should be. There was absolutely no call for him to be running his mouth off with his team up by as much as they were and in the playoffs. None. And if you think we’d rather have Rivers as our QB over Cutler you’re insane. Ask ANY SCOUT in football which guy they’d rather have for the future, (at least) 9 out of 10 will say Cutler.
Look, take nothing away from the Chargers defense at all, they clearly overmatched the Broncos line (and I don’t see how that’s Cutler’s fault) and played outstanding tonight. They really did. But as someone pointed out above, while Rivers was solid tonight, it was their D and LT as usual that made the difference. You think if LT wasn’t on the Chargers they’d be in the position they are in? With Norv Turner as coach?
If you do, and continue to insist that Rivers is the superior quarterback (and btw, he’s also got a lot more experience under his belt), then you’re really uneducated. But that’s okay. I’ll give the Chargers their props for playing flawless football as of late. The Broncos will be back next year. I hope we can come knocking on your door next year after the Chargers vanish in the playoff this season and Jay Cutler gets his revenge. For now, good luck.
This Christmas, im wishing for…..
Jim Bates to get his deserved firing.
LT sounds like you have diareah of the mouth as well. You have answered your own question of how he cant win a playoff game the Pats beat them. We have won playoff games and Super Bowls what have you done. Rivers is nothing more then so so. Even with the crappy year we are having Cutler is still way better then Rivers. Cutler has no backbone? If he didnt then why did he yell at coaches and players last night? The kid has heart and passion for the game and even though playoffs are not in our vocabulary he still wanted to win and didnt give up like the rest of the team. Its not Cutlers fault he got sacked its our offensive lines fault for not blocking. And if you think Rivers is a good QB then you are very ignorant. The only reason they are half way decent is because of Tomlinson and some defensive players if you think otherwise you are very misguided. I give credit where its due and the Chargers yet again out played us but it was not at the hands of Rivers. I am not a fan of the Raiders but I hope they knock Rivers around like a red headed step child. And may someone guide you the right way so your not an ignorant misguided Chargers fan.
I forgot to write something about Rivers last night… I can’t believe I didn’t but then again I must of just forgotten about the old fart b/c of what he did. And speaking of which, what he did along with other old farts on his nasty team was completely 100% disgusting, disgraceful, disrespectful and uncalled for. I’m actually quite surprised someone playing football on a “professional” level would do such a thing like what they did. Rivers especially showed absolutely no class last night and definitely lost alot of respect, at least from me, and I just wish they would have gotten penalized for that. Last time I checked taunting players was a penalty, am I right? But on the other side, we had some of the worst refs I’ve ever seen and of course they wouldn’t dare throw a penalty like that against SD. All I can say is I hope (more like I know) that the Chargers get what they deserve… a BIG FAT LOSS in the playoffs, AGAIN!!!!!!!!! I completely understand that both these teams just hate each other but what Rivers did was just disgusting, I could’ve just barfed on the guy. I think we all knew they were going to win but they don’t need to be snotty jerks about it.
I’ve got some advice for Rivers, not that I give a crap about the guy, but dude… what goes around, comes around and just for what happened last night I hope you guys get kicked around like a bunch of girls in the playoffs… they don’t stand a fighting chance against New England if they can even make it that far. You know, I would have expected all that taunting from the Raiders but not from the Chargers, I thought they were better than that as far as having at least a little respect for the other team but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO that idea flew right over their scrawny little heads… they don’t know what class or respect even means. They don’t deserve to be in the playoffs let alone the NFL. I would have figured if there’s a team like those guys that has a player like Tomlinson who’s modest and shows respect, his QB and other players wouldn’t have done what they did. It makes me sick but at least now everyone knows that Cutler is one calm, cool and very collected QB… I know there’s no way he would be that disrespectful, he knows his limits, he knows professionalism.
And really I feel for Cutler, he had one bad night all b/c his offensive line couldn’t protect him, wouldn’t protect him, causing him to get sacked 4 times which really isn’t all that bad but when you look at Rivers and how they protected him I almost mistook our defensive line for their offense!!!! I know we’re not going to the playoffs and its probably best that we’re not considering last night but for the love of the game of football… PROTECT YOUR QUARTERBACK!!!!!!!!!! I don’t blame Cutler one bit for being mad as heck last night, I would be too. He can’t make all the plays by himself, that’s why its called a team. Our guys could’ve at least played like they cared. This is all coming out in the name of frustration, next year better be the light at the end of the tunnel… I can’t take this anymore. Cutler, Marshall and what little we saw of Walker looked like the only offensive guys that we’re actually trying to do something, its pretty sad when only 3 of your offensive guys show up to play a game.
Well, I’ve had enough of this and to Rivers and his stuck up Chargers – I hope you guys get buried in the ground alive (not likely against Oakland but whoever they play first in the playoffs)!!! They don’t deserve to be a team, they don’t deserve to be apart of the NFL as far as their taunting and nastiness goes. They’re a disgrace as a football team, they’re a disgrace to the game of football and they’re an absolute disgrace to the NFL. The only good thing I really have to say about last night is Elam, thank you for showing up to play and helping us not to get shut out… you’re a lifesaver!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!