All or Nothing in Sunday Night's AFC West Battle

NFL 2008: Philip Rivers and Chargers are hot this December heading into AFC west championship game against the Broncos

It's an all or nothing proposition for the longtime AFC West rivals Broncos and Chargers.

What a way to end the NFL 2008 Regular Season. It literally comes down to the final game in Week 17.

The winner captures the AFC West and prepares for the AFC playoffs. The loser goes home, ends their NFL 2008 season and plans for next year.

There is no in-between.

"If you told us at the beginning of the year that it was a one-game series with us down in San Diego to go to the playoffs, we probably would have taken it," admits Broncos Pro Bowl Quarterback JAY CUTLER. "We've got to keep our heads up."

A Chargers win gives San Diego the AFC West by virtue of their AFC West division record as the two teams would have identical 8-8 records and would have split their season series. At 4-1, the Chargers own the best division record in the AFC West in 2008.

Denver Broncos (8-7) at San Diego Chargers (7-8)

Denver faces a hot Chargers team.

The Chargers have won three in a row after traveling cross-country last week to hand Tampa Bay its first home loss, 41-24.

Meanwhile the Broncos have lost their last two games including the Broncos loss at home last week to the Buffalo Bills, 30-23.

If it comes down to passing game on Sunday night, both QBs can hold their own.

Cutler ranks third in the league in yards (4,210) and San Diego's PHILIP RIVERS (the top-rated passer in the league, 104.6) sits fifth with 3,802 yards.

Philip Rivers after the Chargers lost to Denver 39-38 in Week 2: "We'll get another shot at them later in the year. Hopefully, it'll be for all the marbles."

Series: Broncos - Chargers

The Denver Broncos hold a 53-43-1 series lead over the Chargers.

However, the Chargers have won four of the last five overall and three of the last four in San Diego. The Chargers have outscored the Broncos by a combined 71-23 in their last two wins in San Diego. All-time, the Chargers are 29-18 in series games against the Broncos played at home.

Last time (9/14/2008) these two teams met the Broncos defeated the Chargers in Denver, 39-38.

In the game Denver QB Jay Cutler passed for 350 yards & 4 touchdowns, including 18 passes for 166 yards & 1 TD to WR Brandon Marshall.

The Broncos took advantage of a questionable interception and outscored the Chargers 7-3 in the first quarter. The Broncos scored on a one-yard touchdown leap by Michael Pittman and the Chargers responded with a 34-yard field goal by Nate Kaeding.

The Broncos outscored the Chargers 24-14 in the second quarter to lead 31-17 at halftime. The Chargers responded with 10 points in the 3rd quarter to cut the Broncos lead to 31-27 heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Chargers scored on a 66-yard catch-and-run by Darren Sproles with 4:22 left in the game and added a two-point conversion to take a 38-31 lead. That drive was made possible by an interception in the end zone on a third-and-goal play by rookie Antoine Cason.

The Broncos answered with a four-yard touchdown pass from Cutler to Eddie Royal with 24 seconds left. Instead of kicking a game-tieing extra point and head for overtime, the Broncos are successful with their two point conversion to win the game, 39-38.

Last Game in San Diego: 12/24/2007

The Chargers defeated the Broncos, 23-3. The San Diego defense registered 4 sacks & forced 3 turnovers. Chargers K Nate Kaeding kicked 3 FGs (40, 23, 29).

NFL 2008 Week 16: Buffalo Bills 30, Denver Broncos 23

The Bills, losing to the Jets last week on late-game fumble, were ready to roll over for the Broncos in Denver.

It appeared the Broncos were on their way to clinching the AFC West title last week after they took a 13-0 lead against the Bills in the second quarter, but Buffalo rallied to earn a 30-23 victory.

Denver controlled most phases of the game, registering 532 yards of offense (7.3 per play) and limiting the Bills to just 275 yards and 26:49 of possession. But the Broncos had two turnovers and struggled in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on only two of their six trips inside the 20-yard line.

Halfway thru the second quarter and on, the Bills played like they did in the first half of the NFL season when they started 5-1. The Bills managed to outscore the Broncos 30-10 even though the Broncos outgained the Bills 532 to 275 yards. Jay Cutler threw for 359 yards on 25-of-45 with 1 interception. Cutler's interception came with 6 minutes left in the game at the goal line.

NFL 2008 Week 16: San Diego Chargers 41, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24

Riding a career-high four-touchdown performance from Philip Rivers, the Chargers overcame a fourth quarter deficit for the second-straight week and rallied for a 41-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Chargers scored early and often, taking a 20-10 lead at the half, including a team-record and career-long 57-yard field goal by Nate Kaeding on the final play before the half.

The Buccaneers rallied in the third quarter, outscoring the Chargers, 14-0 to take a 24-20 lead, but the Chargers withstood the rally and responded with 21 points in the fourth quarter that included a game-clinching 59-yard interception return for a touchdown by rookie Antoine Cason.

Several milestones were set in the game as Antonio Gates caught a season-high two touchdown passes, the 50th and 51st of his career, to become the fastest tight end in NFL history with 50 touchdown catches, while also surpassing 5,000 career receiving yards in the game.

Meanwhile running back LaDainian Tomlinson (90 yards) and wide receiver Vincent Jackson (111 yards) both went over 1,000 yards for the season.

The Chargers win, combined with Denver's loss to Buffalo set up the season-ending AFC West title game in San Diego on Sunday night.

Denver Broncos (8-7)

  • - QB JAY CUTLER (24) needs 3 touchdowns to tie JAKE PLUMMER (27 in 2004) & JOHN ELWAY (27 in 1997) for most touchdowns in season in Broncos history. Cutler has franchise record 4,210 passing yards in 2008. The Broncos are 10-0 when Cutler has 100+ passer rating. Cutler tied career-high with 4 touchdowns in last meeting vs. the Chargers
  • - Since 2004, RB TATUM BELL ranks 2nd in NFL with 4.8 avg. yards per carry (min. 550 att)
  • - WR BRANDON MARSHALL (98) needs 2 receptions to become 9th player in NFL history with 100 or more receptions in consecutive seasons (102 in 2007).
  • - Rookie WR EDDIE ROYAL (2nd round, No. 42) leads NFL rookies with 80 receptions this season.
  • - Marshall (98 rec.; 1,210 yards) & Royal (80 rec., 904 yards) can become 1st Broncos WR duo to each have 1,000 receiving yards since ROD SMITH (1,144) & ASHLEY LELIE (1,084) in 2004
  • - CBs CHAMP BAILEY (43) & DRE' BLY (40) rank 1st & 2nd among CBs for most interceptions since 1999

San Diego Chargers (7-8)

  • - A win over the Broncos would allow the Chargers to even their record at 8-8 and become the first-ever team in NFL history to go to the playoffs after starting 4-8. The last 8-8 team to go to the playoffs was the New York Giants in 2006.
  • - Chargers aim for 14th consecutive December win.
  • - The Chargers have won 3 of past 4 at home vs. the Broncos
  • - QB PHILIP RIVERS (32) needs 2 TD passes to eclipse DAN FOUTS (33 in 1981) for most touchdowns in Chargers franchise history in season. Rivers (3,802) needs 281 yards to surpass Fouts (4,082 in 1979) for 3rd-most yards in season in the Chargers history.
  • - RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON (123) needs 1 rush TD to surpass MARCUS ALLEN for 2nd-most in NFL history. Tomlinson averages 112.3 rush yards per game vs. Broncos at home (786 total in 7 games)
  • - TE ANTONIO GATES ranks 2nd among NFL tight ends with 8 touchdowns (TONY GONZALEZ, 9) in 2008
  • - WR VINCENT JACKSON is averaging 116 rec. yards per game in past 3 (348 total). Jackson averages 18.4 yards per catch (57 receptions; 1,051 yards) in 2008
  • - LB STEPHEN COOPER has 4 interceptions in past 3 games & aims for 4th consecutive game with INT
  • - Rookie CB ANTOINE CASON posted 1st career INT-TD return last week.

PREDICTION: San Diego Chargers 31, Denver Broncos 21

The Chargers have won three in a row, including last two on the road and have won 13 December games in a row, including 7 in a row at home.

In five career starts against Denver, Philip Rivers is 4-1 and has thrown 10 touchdown passes, while completing 75 of 125 (.600) for 1,337 yards with just three interceptions. In his two starts in San Diego, Rivers is 2-0 and has completed 32 of 48 (.667) for 468 yards with three TDs and no INTs. In the first meeting this season, Rivers had the first of his career-high five 300-yard games this season, completing 21 of 33 for 377 yards with three TDs and one pick.

In addition, Rivers is having a sensational December in leading the Chargers to three straight wins. For the month, Rivers has completed 65 of 101 (.644) for 847 yards with nine touchdowns and just one interception. His passer rating for Decmeber is 116.2.

The Chargers are a team known for their offense, but their defense has been impressive since Ron Rivera was given control as the Chargers defensive coordinator 7 games ago. The Chargers have become very stingy since then, especially in the second half. Only two of the Chargers last seven opponents have scored more than seven points in the second half against their defense (Colts and Bucs).

Under Rivera, the Chargers are allowing just 18.1 points per game and 317.1 yards, down from the 24.8 ppg and 371.6 ypg prior to his taking over.

All or Nothing in Sunday Night's AFC West Battle - NFL 2008 Week 17