Broncos (8-7) @ Chargers (7-8) - December 28th, 2008

By WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

Sunday’s final game on the NFL schedule, Denver at San Diego, is the only one where both teams face a win-and-you’re-in or lose-and-you’re-out playoff scenario, and, frankly, we shouldn’t be at this point.

The winner gets the AFC West title and will host the Indianapolis Colts next weekend, while the loser is out. Yes, a .500 team could be in the playoffs (actually two of them could) while an 11-5 Patriots team might miss out, but that’s another story for another time.

The host Chargers are big 8-point favorites over Denver for Sunday’s game on WagerWeb.com.

There is really no other way to put this other than this: The Broncos have gagged their way into a make-or-break game. Just three weeks ago, Denver was 8-5 and San Diego 5-8, with the Broncos’ magic number to clinch the division at one.

OK, it was understandable for Denver to lose at Carolina in Week 15, but last Sunday’s home loss to a sinking Buffalo team was simply baffling and inexcusable. If Denver falls on Sunday night, it would become the second NFL team since the advent of division play – joining the 2003 Vikings - to lose a three-game lead in a season.



Blame the Bronco defense, as it has allowed 30 or more points in three of the past four games and eight times overall, the most since the 1968 season. Denver is allowing the fifth-most yards and fifth-most points in the NFL.

Give credit to San Diego for being here. The Chargers have underachieved all season, but they got hot when it mattered and have won four games in a row. The last two wins have been notable, as San Diego rallied from a huge hole in Kansas City and then pretty well dominated a Bucs team that had been unbeaten at home. In the past three games, San Diego has just five turnovers compared to a whopping 11 takeaways.

If San Diego wins Sunday, it will become either the first or second team since Cleveland in 1985 to win a division title with a record of 8-8 or worse (the Cardinals can do the same if they lose Sunday). The Chargers also would become the first NFL team ever to reach the playoffs after starting 4-8. They have won 13 consecutive December games.

The Broncos enter on about their seventh running back of the season, with Tatum Bell expected to get the workload this time. With all their running back injuries, Denver, a team that had 1,000-yard rushers in five of the past six seasons, has had only one 100-yard rusher this year. So look for Jay Cutler (franchise-record 4,210 yards passing) to throw plenty – and he torched the Chargers in Week 2. San Diego has the second-worst pass defense in the league.

Cutler was named to the Pro Bowl, while Chargers QB Philip Rivers was not despite leading the NFL in touchdowns (32) and passer rating (104.0). He has passed for 847 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception in the past three games.

San Diego has won five of the past eight meetings but lost in memorable fashion in Week 2 when Cutler’s fumble was incorrectly ruled by referee Ed Hochuli an incomplete pass (see photo) and Denver then scored the winning touchdown and 2-point conversion in a 39-38 victory. The teams combined for nearly 1,000 yards of offense that day.

The Chargers have outscored the Broncos 71-23 in winning the last two meetings in San Diego.

Bet on Broncos @ Chargers