Chargers vs. Broncos: Week 8 Staff Predictions

Aaron Woolley: I think the Chargers stay on their hot streak. I don't think the Broncos have a good enough quarterback to make up for the loss of CJ Anderson for the year. The Chargers have a solid secondary, and can play mainly nickel defense this game, and have another guy in the secondary, especially with the emergence of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram as legitimate pass rushing threats. If the Broncos manage to get a lead, they don't have the capability of grinding down the Chargers defense for a win, so I fully expect the Chargers to win this one. My prediction: Chargers win, 23-13. Bold prediction is that Casey Hayward gets a pick 6 this game.

Ryan Doyle: The Chargers are going to sweep the season series against the defending Super Bowl champion Broncos. The Chargers defense is going to be led by Joey Bosa as he will pressure Siemian again and again. The Chargers offense is going to be faced with a tough task of trying to break this vaunted Denver defense. I think Melvin Gordon will struggle to break off big runs but he will still find the end zone with a few goal line carries. Rivers will also hook up with Antonio Gates for old times sake.

The Chargers are going to take this one, 24-21.

Jamie Sewell: Hey... hey... THE CHARGERS ARE ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE! Dial up three in a row for the Bolts, as the Chargers defense outscores the Broncos offense, with Trevor Siemian getting absolutely nothing going all day in the passing game, and Devontae Booker really struggling in his first career start against a resurgent Chargers front seven. The Chargers rushing attack is anemic and the OL does a pretty poor job of protecting Philip Rivers, but the Chargers eventually come out with the win, 20-13.

Richard Wade: I’m almost ready to believe in this team, but I still think the Broncos are just too talented and their home field advantage is too large for the Chargers to overcome this weekend. Denver doesn’t really have a quarterback, but their advantages at other positions are enormous. I hope I’m wrong, but Denver 27 - 17 San Diego is my prediction.

Matthew Stanley: I have yet to witness a Charger victory in person here in Denver. That's going to change this year. The Chargers are appearing to be becoming more of a complete team over the last 2 weeks, even with all of the injuries. Joey Bosa is paying massive dividends already, Jatavis Brown has been unleashed and is making plays. Meanwhile, the offense just keeps trucking no matter who they lose. The lowest point total for San Diego this season is 21 points, against these Broncos 2 weeks ago, and I think they improve on that this time. 27 - 17 Chargers win.

Louis Gorini: I hate to be the Debbie Downer of the bunch but I think asking this Chargers team to go into Denver to sweep the Broncos is a little too much. Denver looked at San Diego's record and underestimated them during the first game. They won't make the same mistake twice. Kubiak is back at the helm for the Broncos and will devise a game plan to ensure Booker will succeed. Philip Rivers and the offense will be stifled by the Broncos defense. Broncos 23 Chargers 13

Nathan Graber-Lipperman: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don't think the Chargers can sweep a Broncos team with this great of a defense. The balls have been bouncing their way the last two weeks; this week sees a Chargers team run out of luck, and go to 3-5. 19-13, Broncos.

Ruben J. Gonzalez: Because the Chargers dug themselves in a hole early in the season, they sorta find themselves in playoff mode. This game, against this team, is so critical for them if they really are gonna make a playoff run. Some may say the win two weeks ago was a fluke, but if the Chargers pull off a win Sunday, that should shut down all the skeptics. And barring some horrendous catastrophe to a key player, i see the Chargers able to outscore a mediocre offense. They say defense wins championships. The Broncos aren't the only team on the field Sunday that has one. Chargers 30 Broncos 20.

Daniel Stebbins: The Chargers, riding high from two fantastic victories against a couple of very good teams, enter hostile territory in what is a revenge game for the Broncos. They have their coach/play caller back on the sideline, but the same QB under center. I look for more defensive domination from SD and for their offense to again come out strong. The only team SD hasn't hung 30 on was the Broncos, look for that to happen again. I feel like SD comes out on top in a close one, 27-24.

Jeff Siniard: DEN is coming off a short week and banged up. Having Bosa and Brown on the field has significantly improved the front 7 for the Chargers, which makes it harder for the Broncos to lean on their run game and the play action shots it creates. On offense, the Chargers have enough skill players and creativity to find gaps in the Broncos defense to exploit. Both teams need the win in a huge way - the Broncos getting a divisional split, and the Chargers getting back one of the opportunities they blew at KC and at OAK. The Chargers definitely have a chance, but I think the Broncos win late. DEN 23-20.

Daniel Farias: How a week changes things! This is a season changing game for the Chargers and I believe 17 will respond to the challenge. The Chargers are playing their best football and are finally getting healthy. The Broncos are lost offensively and losing CJ Anderson doesn't help. I expect their defense to play similar to the last time these two teams met, give up a lot of yards but buckle down in the red zone. This game comes down to the turnover battle and I believe the Chargers will protect the ball better than the Broncos. Chargers 20-10