5 Bad Stats: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers

Sixth Consecutive Loss
Six losses in a row is a lot, especially for a team like the San Diego Chargers that has been one of the better teams in the league over the last 5-6 seasons. Six is the most consecutive losses for the Chargers since 2001, when the team lost nine straight in the midst of giving up on Head Coach Mike Riley. With five games left this season, this streak could top even that one.

95.4 QB Rating
I know every time I bring up the QB Rating people in the comments talk about what a fruitless stat it is. I contend that, while it may not be perfect, it does a good job of telling you if the QB had a good day passing the football and staying clear of mistakes. It does not factor in 67 rushing yards Tim Tebow had against the Chargers, and yet the Broncos' QB still finished with a QB Rating almost 20 points higher than Philip Rivers. Why? Because he was throwing longer passes (7.9 yards per attempt vs 5.2 for Rivers), completing almost as many as El Capitan (50% vs 52.8%), getting sacked less (1 vs. 3) and throwing just as many TDs while not throwing any interceptions.

This seems strange to say, but Tim Tebow was the better QB and statistically the better passer on Sunday. Much of that had to do with the differing talent of the two defenses, though.

208 Rushing Yards Allowed
The Broncos came into this game averaging 208 rushing yards per game since Tim Tebow took over as starter, and they lived up to that number exactly. Each of their RBs averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry, and Willis McGahee finished with 117 yards on 23 carries (5.1 YPC). Despite the fact that the RBs were often kept from hitting the second level of defenders, the LBs that were tackling were being pushed back on nearly every play.

3 points in 45 minutes
I brought this up in the initial postgame article. This team is not supposed to win games with its defense. Rather, the Chargers are supposed to be one of the best offensive teams in the league when all of their weapons are healthy (and, outside of Malcom Floyd and the offensive line, they are). In the last 45 minutes of the game, the second half and all of overtime, San Diego managed to get a field goal and nothing more. They put the game in the hands of their defense far too many times, and it's not a good enough defense to do that with.

The Chargers' only TD was scored with 7:58 remaining in the first half. After that point, they were outscored 16-3.

2 catches, 25 rec yards
Vincent Jackson continues his up-and-down season that is proving that he can be shutdown by an elite CB. His 100+ yard games this season have come against the Patriots, Dolphins, Packers and Bears. Not exactly the best pass defenses in the league. I like that Norv was moving Jackson into the slot to try and get Champ Bailey off of him, but the fact that he had to do that shows that he is not worthy of the Andre Johnson/Larry Fitzgerald-type contract that he's still looking for.