Which Former Oregon Quarterback Will Prevail on Thursday Night Football?
This week’s Thursday Night Football matchup is a crucial test for both the Chargers and the Broncos on whether or not they are playoff-ready. With both of these teams looking to lock up a wild card spot in the AFC, both teams could use a win tonight to get them closer to earning a playoff berth. The Chargers come into this game losing three of their past four games, so they need to get their feet back under them prior to heading into the playoffs. The Broncos, on the other hand, have won four straight games and their offense has been explosive in each of those games scoring nearly 35 points a game in those contests. So what are the keys to each team emerging from this primetime matchup with a win?
Chargers: Get the Running Game Going!
Ever since the loss of J.K. Dobbins to this offense, this running game has been a shadow of what it used to be. The Chargers with Dobbins were averaging around five yards a carry, but with Gus Edwards now leading the running back room they are averaging only about three yards a carry. With this running game’s effectiveness being severely reduced, Justin Herbert has seen a slide in his play as well. In this game against the Broncos, the Chargers will have to do more than just play outstanding defense. They will be facing a stout Broncos defense, so they need to find ways to create early success. If the running game can’t get going, then Justin Herbert will have to play outstandingly for them to keep pace with this Broncos offense.
Broncos: Bo Nix Needs to Limit the Turnovers
Bo Nix has done a great job of leading this Broncos offense this season. However, as of recently, he has become a little turnover-prone. In the past two games, he has thrown five interceptions. Although the Broncos were able to come out ahead in those matchups, this Chargers defense will certainly try to force Bo Nix into throwing more interceptions this week. This Broncos offense can certainly turn it up at times behind Bo Nix’s strong arm, and they should be able to have some success this week, as long as Nix doesn’t become like Jameis Winston against the Chargers.
