The Broncos seem to be as healthy as they’ve been all season entering Sunday’s matchup in San Diego.
Six players are listed on the injury report — David Bruton (Achilles), Brian Dawkins (ankle), Daniel Fells (concussion), Willis McGahee (hand), Julius Thomas (ankle) and Cassius Vaughn (hamstring).
All six are officially probable for Week 12.
“We struggle with injuries all year — everybody does,” Head Coach John Fox said. “They just come at different times, and fortunately we are healthy right now going into the last six games.”
FINAL AFC WEST ROAD GAME AWAITS
As far as Champ Bailey is concerned, every game from here on out is important.
But this Sunday bears extra significance, since it comes inside the AFC West.
“When you win games, the next game is always just as important as the last,” Bailey said. “This is a division opponent, so we know the emphasis on that. We have to understand that if we want to get to the playoffs, we have to beat our division teams.”
At 5-5, the Broncos know they’re right in the thick of the division race. And while their sole focus is on the team in front of them, Bailey said “it feels good.”
“It feels like you have something to play for other than pride,” he said. “That’s a great thing for this organization.”
If the Broncos beat the Chargers on Sunday, it will be just the fourth time in franchise history that the team went undefeated on the road within the division in a season.
Bailey knows that the team has a challenge ahead of it before that statistic becomes a reality.
“We are aware that they have run this division for the past few years, but this is another season,” he said. “Every season is different. Everybody is going to have an opportunity to go out and prove what they’ve got. This is another opportunity for us. When they beat us, they beat us pretty good the first game. The score was close, but when you look at the tape, they really beat us. We know we have to up our game from the first in order to compete with this team.”
NOWHERE TO RUN
In the first Broncos-Chargers matchup of the season, San Diego ran for 206 yards, led by Ryan Mathews’ 125.
Fox said the defense is well aware of that stat, and is looking to make sure this Sunday isn’t a repeat performance.
“They rushed really well on us last time, and I’m sure the defensive staff has shown that (tape) to them a couple times,” Fox said. “We’ll see how it works out this time.”
Fox said the defense, and team as a whole, has improved since the teams’ Week 5 matchup, and Brian Dawkins expects .
“We’re going to go out and play football and do our best to keep the points down and grind,” he said. “That’s all we do. That’s what we’ve been doing the last couple of weeks — grinding it out, going out and trying to play sound football for one another and having a good time doing it. That’s what we plan on doing this week.”
Below are photos from Friday’s practice:
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: San Diego Chargers, Week 12
The D is much improved since the last time we played S.D.
One thing is for sure, with a team as healthy as ours is now and as banged up as the Chargers are, there will be no excuse in this one. The pressure is on to pull this one off, no doubt in my mind, losing to this depleted reeling Charger team would be a big let down.
Heck yeah, there O-line is in poor shape for starters.
Our defense is playing great right now. If I were Champ or Dawk I would be telling my defensive team mates A shout out a quarter, thats our goal.
A shut out a quarter.
A shout out a quarter, LOL! That sounds more like a battle cry. HaHa!!
lol thats what I thought you meant, but hell ya we better be ready, division games always tough no matter how much they are struggling
And no thanks I don’t want Wilson from Arkansas, in the third round or anywhere else as far as I’m concerend, playing against a good D like LSU he looked very average at best sailing the ball over many receivers heads, not impressed.
Well goodnight Broncos Country, I work night shift and need to take a nap. Talk to you all tomorrow
That was for Turtle btw.
The D should be allowed to dial it up more this game and go after Rivers.
I want to see him running more in the backfield. He makes more mistakes, as most QBs do, when frazzled.
Plus it’ll just be good entertainment.
if the D makes rivers feel the pressure. it’s game over, I could care less how well the chargers play deffense it’s not good againts the run. The only way loose is if orton is our qb for this game. Denver wins 27-14.
Uh. Ok.
New blog.
Word of advice to Smiley:
Come back at another time when this abraham blogger isn’t here, he isn’t worth the hassle, you can trust me on this one. Been banned twice already and keeps popping up with a new handle and usually dishing out nasty innuendos just like above.
And the turkeys still digesting
I really don’t think the D will give up that many yards again
I know the B-Ro’s like to make it close and tense, but i wanna see them DESTROY the Chargers. Another Raider game, please!! The O’line is beat to hell and Rivers has been a shadow of himself. ITS TIME TO STOMP THEM IN THEIR HOUSE!!! IT’S BEEN TOOOOOO LONG.
man I cant wait to watch our BRONCOS hopefully beat the chargers. I am so exited that the D is playing so well. miller the QB killer is going to keep his sack streak alive and doom is going to get his also. it will be Tebow time Sunday lets GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BRONCOS FOR LIFE!!!!!!!
Grant with some hops to slam it through at 10′! Looking for some great play this week to put the Chargers out of their misery.