THE STORY: Is it Tebow time? That’s the big question – aside from who will be the next coach – for fans of the Denver Broncos. The rookie quarterback, a much-maligned first-round pick, will get a chance to show if he is indeed The Future in a matchup against AFC West rival San Diego. The Chargers’ late playoff push ended with a thud last week, halting their string of three straight division titles.
TV: 4:15 p.m. EST, CBS
OPENING LINE: Chargers -3 1/2, O/U 47.5
WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the mid-30s.
ABOUT THE BRONCOS (4-11): The record says it all. A four-game losing streak in October started their slide and led to the dismissal of coach Josh McDaniels in early December in the midst of a five-game skid. Denver has allowed an NFL-high 438 points and has staggered to a 6-19 record since opening the 2009 season with six consecutive victories. The Broncos did show signs of a pulse last week, rallying from a 17-0 deficit to beat the Houston Texans 24-23.
ABOUT THE CHARGERS (8-7): Woulda, shoulda, coulda … didn’t. It’s a familiar refrain in regards to the Chargers, who dug themselves a 2-3 hole to open the season before roaring back with six victories in seven games to get back into playoff contention. Then they laid an egg in last week’s 34-20 loss at woeful Cincinnati that eliminated them from the postseason picture. It’s anyone’s guess as to which San Diego team will show up: the one that has a maddening tendency to play to the level of its opponent – or the one that leaves observers gushing: They could’ve been a contender.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Broncos wideout Brandon Lloyd continued his spectacular season with five catches for 111 yards in last week’s win over Houston. Lloyd has 72 receptions for 1,375 yards and 10 touchdowns, numbers that earned him a selection to the Pro Bowl earlier in the week.
San Diego’s top-ranked defense was gashed by Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, who was playing without his top two wide receivers in Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco. Palmer threw for four touchdowns on 16-of-21 passing and finished with a career-high passer rating of 157.2 to snuff out the Chargers’ playoff hopes.
QUARTERBACKS: In a season of disappointment, Philip Rivers has been the one constant for San Diego. Despite playing without his top three receivers for much of the season, and losing Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates, Rivers has thrown for 4,397 yards with 30 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. Had the Chargers made the playoffs, he would on the short list for the league’s MVP.
Tebow will make his third straight start as the Broncos try to figure out if he is the long-term answer at quarterback. After putting up pedestrian numbers in a loss at Oakland in his first start, he threw for 308 yards and a touchdown in the comeback win over Houston. Tebow threw a 23-yard scoring pass early in the fourth quarter before running in from 6 yards out for the winning TD with 3:02 to play,
RECENT HISTORY: The Chargers have won seven of the last nine meetings, including a 35-14 drubbing in San Diego on Nov. 22. Rivers threw four touchdowns passes as the Chargers reeled off 35 straight points after spotting Denver an early 7-0 lead.
KEY INJURIES: Chargers: Out – TE Antonio Gates (foot); Questionable – RB Mike Tolbert (neck), WR Patrick Crayton (wrist), DE Travis Johnson (shoulder); Broncos: Doubtful – CB Champ Bailey (ankle), QB Kyle Orton (ribs); Questionable: WR Demaryius Thomas (ankle).
LAST WORD: “I love his will to win. As long as he has that, we’ve got a chance. Everything else we can work on.” - Denver wide receiver Jabar Gaffney on rookie QB Tebow following last week's come-from-behind win over Houston.