PREGAME:
Here we are in the open-air press box of Qualcomm Stadium. It’s a gorgeous day in San Diego — the sky almost matches the retro powder blue uniforms the Chargers are sporting.
Both teams are on the field warming up as we’re about 45 minutes from kickoff.
BRONCOS AT CHARGERS GAMECENTER: For play-by-play action and up-to-the-minute stats, check out the DenverBroncos.com Gamecenter. We’ll keep you updated here with scoring plays, drive recaps and all the fun bits and pieces you can’t get from looking at a box score.
BRONCOS ON TWITTER: Another option is to follow the @Denver_Broncos Twitter account. There are constant updates on there throughout the game. You don’t have to be on Twitter to read the posts, but if you are, you should follow the account for news throughout the week as well.
INACTIVES: With 52 players on the active roster as opposed to the typical 53, the Broncos have just six players inactive for today’s game.
COIN TOSS: The Broncos won the toss and elected to defer, and the Chargers will receive to start the game. Ryan Clady served as the Broncos’ gameday captain, along with team captains Chris Kuper, Willis McGahee — in his first game as a captain — Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins and Wesley Woodyard.
PREGAME PHOTOS: Take a look at pregame warmups from the field level courtesy of team photographer Eric Lars Bakke.
CHARGERS TAKE 3-0 LEAD: A 53-yard field goal by Nick Novak — his career long — gave the Chargers an early, 3-0 lead.
BRONCOS STARTERS: Here’s a quick look at who started for the Broncos on both offense and defense.
INJURY UPDATE: Cassius Vaughn is questionable to return with an ankle injury.
GATES TD MAKES IT 10-0: A 6-yard pass from Philip Rivers to Antonio Gates finished off a 15-play drive with a Chargers touchdown to bring the score to 10-0.
DUMERVIL TAKES DOWN RIVERS: Elvis Dumervil has now notched a sack in four straight games, having just taken down Philip Rivers.
TEBOW PUTS BRONCOS ON THE BOARD: With the half winding down, Tebow threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Eric Decker to bring the Broncos within three points, as the Chargers lead 10-7 going into halftime.
NOVAK HITS ANOTHER FG: A 25-yard field goal by Nick Novak gave the Chargers a 13-7 lead.
PRATER NARROWS DEFICIT: A 41-yard Matt Prater field goal capped off an 11-play drive to bring the score to 13-10 in favor of the Chargers.
NOVAK MISSES FIELD GOAL: The Chargers looked to answer Prater’s field goal right away, but Nick Novak missed a 48-yard field goal wide right to keep the Broncos within three points.
MILLER-DUMERVIL CONTINUE TO SHINE: For the fourth consecutive game, linebacker Von Miller and defensive end Elvis Dumervil split sacks.
PRATER TIES THE GAME: Broncos kicker Matt Prater ties the game with a 24-yard field goal with 1:34 left in the fourth quarter.
HEADED TO OT: The Broncos and Chargers are headed to overtime after San Diego ran out the clock to end regulation.
NOVAK MISS GIVES BRONCOS GOOD FIELD POSITON: Nick Novak misses a 53-yard field goal attempt in overtime, giving the Broncos the ball on their own 43-yard line with 2:36 left in the game.
BRONCOS WIN IT IN OVERTIME: Matt Prater drilled a 37-yard attempt to give the Broncos a 16-13 overtime victory.
Samoan, whats up dude? Long time guy?
My heart will not slow down! Seriously — what a breathtaking game — I’m practically seeing stars!
WE LOVE YOU BRONCOS!!!!
loving the broncos all the way out here in Kosrae FSM…YEAYA!!!
Hate him or love him. Since he has taking over … we have gone 5-1 … 5 and freaking one. Thats amazing. Makes you wonder what the number woulda been if he started the beginign of the year … but like him, I believe there is a reason for everything and everything happens in its time, and it is right now.
The kid has willed this team to win. The same team. The same team that under orton many wanted to blame the run game and the defense … THE SAME TEAM is playing lightsout now and believing. An unselfish bunch too because this isn’t the most ideal way to get glory. But its effective, and I bet u the vets love it. They have played enough exciting games in their career, right now they just want it to get done.
What makes us so effective is we do the complete opposite of what others do. This is a passers league, everyone prepares for everyone the same because they all do the same thing with minor differences and different play makers, but we don’t even do it like that. So they gotta break out a whole knew game plan and though process. And its working. TT is the reason the run game is even for effective. Running gives us TOP. TOP gives defense rest. Tebow time keeps the team believing. And Tebow time happens because the team keeps it close. Its all a circle. THIS IS A TEAM. A VERY EFFECTIVE TEAM.
Simple gameplan. Keep it close, and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
And if you haven’t noticed his passing is getting better, his reads are better, and his pocket mobility is getting better, u are not watching the same game. Doesn’t happen overnight but i see it happening.
TRB
This guy is long term. Haters beware. Nobody circles the wagons like the Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow!!
Great game and a gutsy tough fight all the way down to the last minute. Exactly how I thought it might play out. Tebow is getting better with his throws each week. Although you gotta credit the offensive line the past 7 weeks for being absolutely steller. They continue to improve each week along with the defense and there is no better time to get better every week than late in the season. Thats how teams win when it really counts
TRB, I dont think we would have done as well in the first 5 games as we have the last 6 with Tebow starting instead of Orton because its the defense gelling about the time Tebow took over that has helped us win the most. No denying though that we would have been more competative at the least. Also makes you wonder just how well he might be doing if he’d had a full offseason to work his weak areas.
Can’t deny that we are winning ugly, but a win is a win especially when its a division win. Its weird, but this team really reminds me a lot of when Reeves was coaching. He always tried to keep the score close or at least within striking distance and then turn Elway loose once the other team was firmly entrenched in a slower tempo.
The scary thing for me is that after our next away game we then play 3 out of 4 at home and we are really only a serious underdog to one team from here on out (Patriots). If this team decides to play well at home, we might actually see a playoff game featuring our team for a change (while Mcdanials new team struggles to avoid a top 3 draft pick).
Elway was definitely wrong in his TIMING of what he said about Tebow not being the long term answer. I mean it’s probably more true than not, but you gotta at least show faith in the kid while he’s behind center. Especially since we’re in the hunt for a playoff spot AND still keeping stride with the Haters for top of the division.
After the game Tebow admitted throwing the ball out of the reach of pretty much everyone when he isn’t sure. “Yeah I throw the ball out at times instead of trying to force it in there. I could try and force it in there, but I think that [confidence] will come with time,” Tebow said. “The last thing we need is turnovers, because that could just kill the momentum of a game.”
He’s just doing what Coach Fox preaching: ’Do not turn the ball over.’ And at 5-1 with Tebow as our starter, I for one think he’s doing a GREAT job.
-Royalty
Also props to the DEFENSE BUDDY YEEAAHHRRR! lol
Von with the Mile High Salute on another sack — My Soldiers are Eternal.
Gig ‘Em!!!
-Royalty
Wow great win. Was dyin over here. I browsed over the comments and man I see alota ppl giving tebow a bunch of credit. I like tebow, I do, but he did not perform any more than okay. Good running and below average passing. He has one hekuva heart and seems to come through in tough times but I do not think elway spoke wrong or too early when he said the qb of the future is not on our team. This winning streak is great but this tebow love is blinding ppl to the fact his overall qb play is pretty bad. But I guess imma be in the minority on that so long as he keeps winning, and that’s ok. I just hate it for us long term.
Tebow played better than rivers. I love me some Tim Tebow.
The d is playing great. I see alota comments saying fox sux and he’s hurting tebow, even sayin he does it on purpose, but the fact we’re winning with how the offense plays says good things about fox to me. Tebow should be glad fox is the coach and putting together these defensive onslaughts that make the offense and tebow look good when the clock hits 0:00.
Tebows passing was above average..There were a few drops in there and they were catch-able. Without an offense we don’t score at all, which is usaully why QB get credit for wins and credit for loses..
Fox beat turner today IMO. Turner will be gone soon.
Wow risky u thought his passing was above average? I say below average, and had u said average I may have given that to you, but not above average. Just did not see that. I could be wrong tho. I can’t wait to hear the analysts tomorrow.
Louisiana you’re crazy. Tebow played just great for a guy with about 10 games under his belt give or take a few. Dropped passes and horrible officiating– Tebow got face masked no call and favorable calls towards thechargers. Check yourself Louisiana or start cheering for the ain’ts son.
For those who have the NFL super fan they offer the games starting on sun night with the plays only. No commercials or a lot of commentary, just the plays. Gives you a chance to see the games u might of ran outta time & couldn’t catch and u can watch just the broncos game plays. When the plays run back to back to back you can see more what the team is doing on o & d with no distractions. Pretty cool.
I can assure u I’m far from crazy and ya he is getting better but no the officiating had nothing to do with his play. That’s ridiculous. His balls are not going to the spots receivers can catch them consistently, including easy passes. I will be willing to give him some time because he does have an impressive drive and will to win. That can’t be taught. Good kid, too, and we’ll see how much he improves. And I’m not sure how to ‘check’ myself so forgive me for not responding to that in any detail.
Lou im wit ya on waiting to hear the anaylist talk about his play. But you might want to check those incompletions, their were a lot of drops.
Ya I did see. I hate that because it’s not good for tebow when receivers drop passes. Altho he’s mentally strong so maybe not as much as other young qb’s. I don’t disagree he plays hard but as much as I can respect giving him an average grade considering inexperience, I don’t see anything above average about his passing. Yet! Who knows y’all may be laughing at me and saying ‘I told u lbf’ next year. I do hope so I swear!
lol lOU ALL IM SAYING 9/18 WITH ABOUT 6 DROPS…IF THEY WERE CAUGHT TEBOW WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN THROWING 8 LESS ATTEMPTS TO TO OUR RUN HEAVY OFFENSE
Btw great points by trb about TOP and teams preparing for tebow. I didn’t think of some of that u wrote in your last post. Like reading ur stuff.
My analysis on the game:
Offense: Our offensive line did an incredible job making holes and buying a lot of time for Tebow to throw. Tebow is looking much improved each and every week. He is getting better and better with his throws. I do however keep getting more annoyed with these drops by our wide receivers. However, I do understand that they are now trying to catch passes from a lefty instead of a right handed qb but they are still NFL wide receivers and need to catch the ball ESPECIALLY when it’s thrown right at them!
Defense: Our defense doesn’t even look familiar anymore! I find it unbelievable that they only held Rivers to 13 points. Miller and Doom are definitely something special and look to contribute in a major way. They both step up when we need them to. Our secondary looked improved tonight however I would still like to get another corner in the draft next year.
Special Teams- Prater didn’t let us down tonight which was a very good thing to see and Colquitt keeps doing his usual thing of owning the punt. He should definitely be in the probowl this year! Also, our returners are doing an amazing job as well. They scared me a lot of times taking it out of the very back of the end zone but they got past the 20 so it was all good to me!
Our team looks to be coming together as a whole and I love seeing that we have several good areas to our team instead of just one good area. For a while, our Broncos have only been good with the passing game and haven’t had hardly any running game or defense. Now we have a very good running game and defense and our passing game looks to be improving each and every week.
I LOVE ME SOME BRONCOS COUNTRY!!!
wow was that a great game. i cant believe there wasnt a pi on that throw to decker late. or face mask on tebow early. great win though nick novack pissing on the sideline was funny stuff though.
Does anybody know how serious Clady’s injury was?
our defense has been amazing!!! i think chris harris looked ok tonight making takles on the large te and wr for the chargers he is a small guy i couldnt imagine trying to take down gates. he did good though
chiefs just lost lol
It’s now looking like it’s just us and the Raiders at the top of the AFC West! I actually think that the Dolphins have a very good chance to beat the Raiders next week. They killed the bills last week and should’ve beaten the cowboys this week. They’re definitely a different team. The raiders about lost to a Bears team w/o a Cutler.
Just to fill y’all in if you don’t know:
Raiders next three games:
Raiders at Miami
Raiders at Green Bay
Detroit at Raiders
We all know that Raiders have a VERY good chance to lose all of those games!! We have one game that will be really hard for us with that being the Pats and then that’s basically it. I am loving our chances and my prediction at the beginning of the season at 10-6 is looking to coming true!!!
John 7: “98-”99: For it was prophesied that he comith, thou arms bound, to rise to defeat the raging Rivers and Chiefs. Not even a Raider can stop pith thee Timothy. Thee greatest disciple, John, can not explain what IT is that thee Timothy seemith to have. Thy wave of orange and blue has risen to thee Bronco savior as he has comeith draped in orange, blue, and white linen. And thee nation was pleased.
thats funny stuff lmao
Great job all around, cant say enough about Allen’s defense it;s coming around so nicely. Kudos to Champ for shutting down Vjack, what a job that was. Nice 2 see 15 get a little more accurate altho there was some drops when he put it right there. I was worried we would get gashed on the run which did happen, mostly on the legs of Mathews which is disturbing since he had like 127 and had a total of like 84 his last 6 games but hey the defense all around was awesome.
Correct me if I’m wrong –
I think if PIT beats CIN assuming the Broncos beat MIN – the Broncos move into sixth seed and would be in wildcard contention. (This is, of course, in the meaningless ‘if the playoffs were to be played today’ scenarios.)
The Broncos have head-to-head against both the Jets and the Bengals.
The Broncos have conference record over Titans.
If Raiders lose to MIA then this is meaningless because the Broncos then are tied for first place and have strength of victory over Raiders and Conference Record.
Right?
sounds like your all over it DaddyBronc, side note B Lloyd caught his 30th pass today making our pick from StLouis offically a 5th rounder.
I still didn’t get my predicted ‘break -out’ game from Tebow – but it’s coming… Next week at MIN all the stars are aligned!!!
Saw Lloyd had a TD pass in the mix – ‘sOKay – he can have his stats, we’re in pursuit of rings!!!
What can I say, I can’t stay away… I was happy to see that they let Tebow throw a bit today. Some of those throws were excellent, and the drops are maddening. I saw 2 that ABSOLUTELY should have been caught. One each to Royal and Decker. I choose to ignore the bad passes, since this is what all the other teams seem to do with their QBs. Hey, he hit 50%, wasn’t that what we were hoping for?
I am really starting to like Chris Harris. Covering Gates is no easy task, and I thought that he did a pretty good job. Also, It seems like last week’s pick six gave Goodman a shot in the arm of confidence. His coverage today was really pretty good. Von Doom certainly showed up, too, and the sack by Dawk was AWESOME!
All in all, now that my blood pressure has returned to normal, it was a great game to watch, and the looks of pure dismay on the face of Rivers and Co at the end were priceless. SEMPER BRONCOS!!!
So…I think the Broncos are in a perfect position to make a deep playoff run if not even to the Superbowl.
I know it’s a lot of Kool-aid, but stick with me for just a few lines.
How many times has the ‘bad news Bears’ fairy tale been told, and in how many ways? Remember the Titans? Come on now…
Can’t you see that the Broncos are set up perfectly with unbelievable successes?
We have a QB who can’t pass, with the wrong body type, running a college style offense in the NFL…
We have the youngest offensive line in the NFL…
Our receivers are talented but young, with the worst case of dropsy – in the NFL…
Our defense has been banged up, barely serviceable at some positions, and so old at others we are afraid they won’t be around if wait any longer.
Unskilled….too young….mistake prone…injured…and too old –
and yet they are winning!!!!
Trying to bring out the romanticism in you folks – some of you are a rough crowd!!!
Go ahead – drink the Kool-aid! Just enjoying the ride!!!
i said it at the beginning of the season like many of you, give Tebow a shot and he won’t fail you. Great to see the way our Broncos are playing! all over the filed with passion! we all know where its coming from to, the holy spirit is in these guys! playing for each other and for the one that gave them the opportunity! praise the Lord! Tebow has got into our Broncos! what y’all think bout Tebow now??
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