Broncos 17, Chargers 3
SAN DIEGO – Brock Osweiler improved to 3-0 and the Denver Broncos breezed past the San Diego Chargers, 17-3, on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium.
With the win, the 10-2 Broncos tightened their grip on first place in the AFC West and kept pace with the leaders in the conference in the race for home-field advantage in the postseason.
Osweiler won his third straight game in place of the injured Peyton Manning, completing 16 of 26 passes for a touchdown and 166 yards. He was intercepted once.
The Broncos raced to a 17-0 second-quarter lead and coasted in for the win.
For the dreadful Chargers (3-9), Sunday's loss was their fifth straight home defeat and fifth in a row against the AFC West.
Quarterback Philip Rivers was 18 of 35 for 202 yards. He had an interception returned for a touchdown and San Diego turned it over three times.
In addition to Rivers' interception, running back Melvin Gordon and wide receiver Malcom Floyd fumbled in the team's first two second-half possessions. Gordon, a rookie, was benched after his miscue, the latest in a frustrating season for the first-round pick.
Rivers was sacked four times and the Chargers failed to score a touchdown for the second game in a row.
Late in the first half, Josh Lambo's 51-yard field goal sliced the Chargers' deficit to 17-3. Lambo was wide right on a 48-yard attempt earlier in the second quarter.
Denver's Brandon McManus was true on his 23-yard attempt, stretching the Broncos' advantage to 17-0
The Broncos increased their lead to 14-0 in the first-quarter's waning seconds.
Rivers, under duress, delivered his pass early and linebacker Danny Trevathan broke to the ball. He brought it back 25 yards for a touchdown, the fifth pick-6 Rivers has thrown this season and the fifth defensive touchdown on the season for Denver.
Osweiler's 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas capped a 76-yard opening drive.
Thomas finished with a game-high 61 yards on six receptions.
NOTES: Chargers LT King Dunlap (ankle) and RG D.J. Fluker (concussion) didn't start. ... WR Dontrelle Inman was carted off the field in the first quarter after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet hit from S David Bruton Jr. ... CB Brandon Flower exited with a first-quarter knee injury. ... GM Tom Telesco signed a contract extension. ... Broncos OLB DeMarcus Ware (back) and S T.J. Ward (ankle) were inactive. ... Broncos ILB Danny Trevathan left the game with a concussion.