Five Key Matchups: Broncos at Chargers

During their seven years competing against each other, Von Miller and Philip Rivers have developed a healthy relationship based on competition and respect. And for good reason: Miller has sacked no quarterback more than Rivers, whom he's brought down on 15 occasions. Rivers has respect for Miller that extends far beyond his rushing ability, though.

"Von's an every-down football player, Defensive Player of the Year-type guy," Rivers said Wednesday. "He's not just a pass-rusher."

If the Broncos are going to find success on Sunday, though, Miller will need to make his impact through the rush. He's tallied 9.0 sacks through nine games, and if the Broncos can tally a few more against Rivers, they should improve their chances to win. The problem? Sacking Rivers isn't an easy task. The Chargers have allowed just 13 sacks this year — the fourth-fewest in the league — and Rivers is taking care of the ball at a career-best rate.

"He's so tall and over the top, that ball is gone," Joseph said Thursday. "As far as knocking down passes, there are not very many on tape. We have to cover the first option and we have to rush this guy and get him on the ground."

Can Miller find a way to force the 15-year veteran into a couple of mistakes? The Broncos' fate may depend on Miller's ability to find success.

"I lick my chops every week, and definitely [against] the Chargers," Miller said Thursday. "Every team that I play, I have that mindset, 'It's going to be a three-sack, four-sack game.' It's no different going into this game."

After suffering a high-ankle sprain late in the Broncos' Week 7 win over the Arizona Cardinals, Royce Freeman appears set to return to the field against the Chargers. And the Broncos could certainly use his assistance. The third-round pick leads the Broncos in rushing touchdowns despite missing a pair of games and averages 4.4 yards per carry. Against fellow rookie Derwin James, though, none of those carries will likely come easy. James has been a revelation in his first season and is mentioned alongside Bradley Chubb as potential Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates. 

"Derwin James is a special player," Head Coach Vance Joseph said Thursday. "He's a strong safety for them, so he's in the box all the time. He's blitzing, he's the force player and he's covering tight ends. He's their [former Seahawks S] Kam Chancellor. That's where they use him. He's a play-maker. He can sack the quarterback, he can make plays in the pass game and he can cover all of your tight ends, so he's definitely a special player."

Offensive Coordinator Bill Musgrave said James has played closer to the line of scrimmage during recent weeks, so collisions between James and Freeman could be frequent.

The Chargers have several receiving threats between Melvin Gordon, Tyrell Williams and Mike Williams, but their passing offense still depends upon the success of Keenan Allen. After two injury-plagued seasons in 2015 and 2016, Allen rebounded to make a Pro Bowl in 2017 and is well on his way to another 100-plus catch season in 2018. Allen leads his team in both receiving yards and catches, and he's averaging an impressive 13.0 yards per reception. Luckily, the Broncos have a player capable of matching up against the dynamic receiving threat. Chris Harris Jr., a perennial Pro Bowler, has played up to the standard of being a No. 1 corner, and that will need to continue in Week 11. Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods has reason to believe that it will. 

"I just know for us, he's playing good ball," Woods said Thursday. "We've done some things in terms of moving him around a little bit, matching him up. But he's playing and he's very productive outside as well as in the slot. Right now, he's definitely one of our defensive leaders."

Even without Joey Bosa in the lineup, Melvin Ingram has found ways to put stress on opposing quarterbacks. He's recorded a sack in each of his last three games, and his strip sack of Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in Week 10 helped the Chargers break the game open. If Bosa plays Sunday — even in a limited capacity — that should only make Ingram more dangerous. But should Ingram have to go it alone, he'll still need to be on Case Keenum's radar on every play. Keenum's only been sacked 24 times — which is tied for 16th in the league — but he's been susceptible at times to strip sacks. The Broncos have been fortunate to recover the majority of those lost footballs, but if the Broncos want to pull a road upset, they can't allow Ingram to make a game-changing play.

Worried about Philip Rivers and Keenan Allen? They may not even be the Chargers' best options. That could be running back Melvin Gordon, who ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing yards. He's on pace to set career marks in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and several Broncos consider him the player that makes the offense tick.

"They're running the football, they're taking ownership," Chris Harris Jr. said Wednesday. "Giving Gordon the ball and riding him."

And that's without considering his impact out of the backfield as a pass catcher. From that spot, Gordon's scored another four touchdowns and is averaging 10.0 yards per catch. In the Chargers' Week 10 game against the Raiders, Gordon caught a short pass and took it 66 yards for a touchdown that essentially iced the game. Running back Royce Freeman offered his own perspective on what makes the Wisconsin product so good.

"He's talented in different areas," Freeman said Wednesday. "He can catch the ball in the backfield, he can make you miss and he runs with power as well. He's definitely a talented running back. I've watched him over the past years. He just somebody that I can watch on film, and when he puts it on, it's somebody that you can see do different things out there."

If the Broncos are going to beat the Chargers, they'll likely need to slow Gordon and the rushing attack to force Rivers to beat them through the air. Linebacker Todd Davis could play a large role in that effort, as he leads the team in tackles by a wide margin. His 67 combined tackles are 17 more than the next closest player.