Chargers Capture Their Third Win Over Rival Broncos

The Chargers grabbed a 21-0 win over the Broncos on a very hot Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles. Besides the victory, the highlight of the afternoon belonged to breast cancer survivors who were were honored before the game by the NFL.

In the final quarter, Philip Rivers found a speedy Travis Benjamin crossing the middle, and ran for a 42-yard touchdown that sealed the victory in front of 25,388 people at Stub Hub Center.

Rivers completed 15 of 26 passes and passed for two touchdowns on the day, and picked up his 100th career win.

The Chargers exhaled a bit and see clearly after their first home win since November 2016. Sunday's win snapped a seven game home losing streak for the Chargers. Los Angeles started 0-4 on the year, and have grinded halfway throughout the tough AFC West division, with a 3-4 record.

The most important focus for the Chargers was to stop the run against their opponents, mainly CJ Anderson and Jamaal Charles for the Broncos. Both Anderson and Charles combined for 49 total rushing yards in the loss to Los Angeles.

The Chargers have allowed 152.5 rushing yards per game, the worst in the NFL. In the season opener against the Broncos, the Bolts allowed 140 yards rushing.

The Bolts have only allowed touchdowns in the red zone approximately 40 percent of the time.

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Broncos have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season, as they successfully stopped running back Melvin Gordon from scoring on four straight attempts on the opening quarter drive. The Bolts defense forced Denver to punt after a quick three and out, and Travis Benjamin returned a 65 yard kickoff for a touchdown.

Benjamin's punt return was the first since December 12, 2012, when Michael Spurlock returned a punt for 63 yards against the New York Jets.

Quality passes from quarterback Philip Rivers to Antonio Gates and Keenan Allen that set up the 1-yard touchdown reception to Austin Eckler, for the 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter. It was the Bolts largest lead of the season, along with being Eckler's second career touchdown. Los Angeles has given up 915 rushing yards which is the most in the NFL. Fortunately the defense only allowed 31 yards to the Broncos in the first half.

Los Angeles focused on putting pressure on quarterback Trevor Siemian all afternoon, including two huge second half sacks by Joey Bosa that shut down any momentum any Denver drives alive to score.

With the season still full of optimism for the Chargers, the AFC West is truly up for grabs moving forward.

Both defenses battled it out like an extreme chess match in the movie searching for Bobby Fisher, neither team gave up a major move in the third quarter. The Chargers defense emerged triumphantly, as they stopped the final Broncos drive late in the fourth quarter, keeping the shutout in tact.

The last time the Broncos were shutout in Los Angeles was November 22, 1992, when Tommy Maddox threw two interceptions in a 24-0 loss to the Raiders.

Trevor Siemian completed 22 of 32 passes and threw one interception in the loss.

The Chargers will prepare for the Patriots next Sunday at Foxboro Stadium.

At the end of the first quarter, Las Vegas shooting survivor Johnathan Smith was acknowledged by the Chargers on the jumbotron.

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