Broncos QB Peyton Manning tries to clinch the AFC West division title again with a win over the San Diego Chargers.
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Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos go on the road to play Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers with playoff berths on the line.
The Broncos are not the same offensive juggernaut that set countless NFL records in 2013, but they still have the 2nd best record in the NFL and will clinch a first-round bye if they win their remaining games. QB Peyton Manning has not played his best football lately but it hasn’t had much of an impact on their record thanks to the emergence of RB C.J. Anderson, who has played some of the best football in the league over the past few weeks. And it’s a good thing the running game has become so formidable because come postseason time it will be vital for the Broncos to make it back to the Superbowl.
The Chargers currently control their playoff destiny, holding the No. 6 overall seed, but need a bunch of things to happen for them to claim the AFC West title. QB Philip Rivers is playing excellent football but the running game has struggled lately and the team has a point differential of zero over the last four games. With a loss today the Chargers would likely lose control of their playoff destiny and would need even more help to get back in, and the AFC West title would go to the Broncos.
Prediction: Broncos – Ultimately even if Peyton Manning plays just an average Manning-game as opposed to returning to his 2013 form immediately, the Broncos defense and running game will keep the Chargers on ice long enough for the Broncos to win the war of attrition and do just enough to eke out the win. It will take an incredible game by Rivers to overcome the Broncos and he probably doesn’t have it in him.
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