Sunny day here in San Diego, and we’re packed into the press box at Qualcomm Stadium. It’s an open-air press box, so it’s always fun to be able to soak in the full atmosphere of the game.
Like the Broncos, the Chargers have painted the field with an old-school feel, as well — the end zones are blue with white diamonds outlined in yellow, and the AFL’s 50th anniversary logo is painted at midfield.
Players are on the field warming up, and there have already been sightings of the brown-and-white striped socks along with the brown and gold pants. Clearly we’re in for an interesting uniform combination yet again.
Sad and scary scene to open the evening, though, as a long-time Chargers gameday employee fell from the press box to the level below — about 25 feet. It was announced that he has been taken to a nearby hospital, and medics were still administering CPR as he was taken away. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers, and if we hear any updates, we will let you know.
3:40 p.m. PDT: Looks like Robert Ayers, Marcus Thomas, Kenny Peterson, Daniel Graham, Brandon Marshall, Jack Williams, Renaldo Hill, Wesley Woodyard, Andra Davis, David Bruton, Darcel McBath, Tyler Polumbus, Russ Hochstein and Brandon Gorin are on the field warming up.
3:52 p.m. PDT: The Monday Night Football desk is set up just off the field — Stuart Scott is standing nearby, and Suzy Kolber is walking on the sideline. Fans are beginning to file into the stadium — there’s a scattered crowd here at Qualcomm.
3:59 p.m. PDT: A couple notes about the Broncos on Monday Night Football, courtesy of the PR staff’s always-superb pregame notes. This is the third time the Broncos and Chargers have met on MNF, and hold a 2-0 advantage. Denver has won three of its last four divisional games on MNF, however, including last season’s 41-14 season-opening win at Oakland. The Broncos are 11-11-1 all-time in divisional matchups on MNF.
4:08 p.m. PDT: The jerseys aren’t very spread out in San Diego. Every single fan in a jersey I’ve seen so far is either sporting Philip Rivers’ No. 17, LaDainian Tomlinson’s No. 21 or Shawne Merriman’s No. 56. In the midst of it all, just spoted three fans in three different Broncos jerseys — one Champ Bailey, one Eddie Royal and one Alfred Williams. Oh, just spotted a couple Antonio Gates jerseys.
4:19 p.m. PDT: Brett Kern is on the field in the Broncos’ white and brown get-up. Chargers punter Mike Scifres is donning San Diego’s powder blue jersey and white pants.
4:26 p.m. PDT: Going down to the field to get some pregame photos courtesy of Zach Eisendrath. Right now it’s the in-between period of warm-ups when the only uniformed players on the field are both teams’ kicker and punter. Lonie Paxton is on the field with Kern and Matt Prater, as well.
4:28 p.m. PDT: Just got the inactives for today’s game. Chris Baker, Brandon Gorin, Spencer Larsen, Brandon Lloyd, Kenny McKinley, Jarvis Moss and Seth Olsen will not dress for tonight’s matchup. Tom Brandstater is inactive as well, listed as the team’s third quarterback.
For the Chargers, LB Antwan Applewhite, WR Buster Davis, C Tyronne Green, C Nick Hardwick, DE-DT Vaughn Martin and FS C.J. Spillman are inactive. QB Charlie Whitehurst is inactive as well, listed as the team’s third quarterback.
5:02 p.m. PDT: Here are photos from the field, thanks to Zach Eisendrath. We’re not too far away from kickoff now.
5:03 p.m. PDT: Both teams are on the field — when the Broncos ran to form a huddle near the tunnel, some Chargers led by Merriman came over and for a minute there seemed to be a little jawing going back and forth as the two teams prepared for the clash. Get ready for some AFC West rivalry football.
5:20 p.m. PDT: Some skydivers just jumped into the stadium, and the seats are filling up as kickoff isn’t far away. AC/DC is pumping through the speakers — “Thunderstruck” — and it’s starting to feel more and more like Monday Night Football. But with it being so bright out, it doesn’t quite feel like a night game yet.
5:32 p.m. PDT: The Chargers are introducing their offense — Tomlinson is the last man out of the tunnel. After plenty of pyrotechnics, it’s time for the national anthem.
5:34 p.m. PDT: The captains are at midfield for the coin toss. The Chargers have won the coin toss and elect to receive. See you in the first-half live blog.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Monday Night Football, Pregame, San Diego Chargers, Week 6
Love it! Lets go BRONCOS!
i know everyone did not like all the new england players we picked up but when russ hochstein enters a game no one can tell the difference it seems he was a solid backup lineman who can play anywhere
CANT WAIT! GO BRONCOS!! LETS MAKE IT TO THE BYE WEEK 6-0!!!
Come on Broncos, score early,score big. Lets get some revenge and make yourselfs and us proud!
i can not wait for the game to start and i hope we show the whole nfl exactly y we are 5-0!
RIVERS LOOKING UP AND SEEING 92…..PRICELESS
Cmon boys, play strong, play smart, play tough. Lets Go Broncos!!!!!
gonna get any pregame pics up?
THIS IS IT - Lets go Broncos - Big cheers comming from across the pond
jarvis is inactive… sigh….
Is this game going to be on like any local channels? Channel 4, 7, or 9? It doesnt seem like it, I was just curious
biggymac609 — just got the pictures from the field. Editing them now, will be up in a little.
C’MON DOOM - knock Rivers A** out!!!!!!!!!! We will be 6-0 in the morning - Revenge is sweet
Man did you see them faking. When we can out. This is what I was talking about. Patriot and Dallas good wins. This game has to be a statement game. No prisoners no exceptions. It’s time to put the foot on their neck and break it.
They had to seperate the teams as both teams started in on each other after warm-ups.
Game on Bolts!!
cmon broncos lets go show those chargers y we r 5-0
phillups and merriman were talkn smack so smack their a$$
GO BRONCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS!!!!
TURN THOSE LIGHTS OFF!!!!!!!!!
GT:
It is goin to be on CH. 20
Rivers mouth running again. Hope the Guy that fell is OK. Going to the Game now!! GO BRONCOS!!
looks like merriman wants clady to put him on his A**
Its too bad the officials did’n eject Merriman for his pre game anticts
im just waiting for moreno, bukhalter, or clady lays merriman out
Wildman347,
Thank you!
Come on Broncos, let the emotions pump you up even more and go out there and roll over them.
How long till kick off?
@!#$ the Chargers god i hate them…ya this is a rivalry game but how much more disrespectful can u get…
RIVERS LOOKING UP AND SEEING 92…..PRICELESS
28 min.
Cheers, ESPN are showing baseball instead of the game! I live on the other side of the world, New Zealand, took the day off school and they don’t even show it! O well follow it on here then. Our “D” has to dominate today stop Rivers in his tracks
SD has ZERO class… of course they’re gonna be a bunch of motor mouths. We will run them over like a 18-wheeler crushing a little bitty bug. SD will regret coming back from their bye to clash with us. Like I told SD a couple of days ago… lay on the bubble wrap thick cuz they are gonna need it!!! muwahahahahaha
Flip will be crying like a little girl come halftime cuz he’ll have bruises all over, including his ego. Bummer dude!
Keep the faith Bronco Country…
GO BRONCOS!!!!
POR FAVOR YA EMPIECEN EL JUEGO!!!!
Oh and OMG…. those socks!!!!!!!!! hahahahaha, MAKE IT STOP!!
The socks are shocking, but they worked last week so hopefully the same goes for today
This is the game I’ve been waiting for. It’s time to put up or shut up.
I want to hear ALL of BRONCOS COUNTRY RIGHT AT KICK OFF!!!!!!!
The Broncos aren’t wearing these old uniforms for the rest of the season, are they?
Who thinks this is as big a game for the Broncos as it is for the Bolts? Personally, I think it is. And I’d like to see the Broncos win by double digits.
3 min ….. lets DO this!!!
They just had to show that lose we had in 94. I still get sick to my stomach. When they so it on NFL Network. lol
Loss I mean.
Here we go Broncos, here we go!!!!
Way to go ST!!!
no flags today. that was our problem with this game last year.
3 and out thats the way it needs to be all day
Their doing great!!
Cmon D!!!
I LOVE IT !!!!