This isn't quite the epic (for mid-season) matchup it would have been had the Chargers not run out of steam the past couple of weeks, having to come from behind to defeat the dog mess Oakland Raiders and blowing a lead to the mediocre Kansas City Chiefs at home. It actually makes me wonder where this San Diego team was in Week 2 when the Champs could have used them. Instead, it's the AFC titleholders that reap the benefits of momentum and timing.
And let's not leave anything the slightest bit unclear: While the Dallas Cowboys are the best team in the NFC, the Denver Broncos are the best team in the NFL. The addition of defensive end DeMarcus Ware and the return of Von Miller from last season's six-game suspension and ACL tear have given the Broncos a bona fide pass rush, and the signing of cornerback Aqib Talib has upgraded their secondary dramatically. The reason Denver got destroyed in Super Bowl XLVIII is the same reason Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins - their predecessors as a record-setting offense - took a 38-16 pasting in Super Bowl XIX: offensive wins games, but defense wins championships. And the San Francisco 49ers then, and Seattle Seahawks last February, had superior defenses. Now the Broncos have the #4 defense in football to go with that record-setting offense.
San Diego isn't going to overcome that tonight, and no other team is the rest of the way to the Glendale Toaster next February 1st.
San Diego
Denver* (-7)
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