NFL Betting XBOX 360 Simulation Broncos vs Chargers

Weather: Mostly clear with lows in the mid 40’s.

The evening slate of Week 17’s sports betting action finds us in sunny San Diego, CA at Qualcomm Stadium for a crucial sports betting affair between the Denver Broncos (8-7, 4-10-1 ATS) and San Diego Chargers (7-8, 6-8-1 ATS); kick-off is slated for 8:15 ET and can be seen nationally on NBC. This is a do or die game for both teams as Denver holds a one-game lead over the Chargers heading into what’s certain to be an intense match-up.

Denver had all its ducks lined up in a row last Sunday afternoon at Invesco Field at Mile High, and their fans packed the stadium knowing a playoff bid was theirs for the taking if the Broncos could win their final home game against the visiting Buffalo Bills. The game was set up as a perfect opportunity for head coach Mike Shanahan’s club, but they failed to make the most of it. Denver got off to a 13-0 lead in the 2nd quarter but their playoff ship sprung leaks the rest of the way, and the Broncos fell to the Bills by a 30-23 final count as six-point home favorites. The Broncos dominated the stat sheet offensively outgaining the Bills 532-275, but costly turnovers and a 2/6 effort in the red zone severely cost the Broncos. They lost the turnover battle 2:0, and six penalties to the tune of 60+ yards allowed the inept Bills offense to match the Broncos score for score. The Broncos dropped their fourth home game of the season, and now have to win tonight’s game to keep their SB XLIII hopes alive.

After pulling off an improbable win at Kansas City two weeks ago, the Chargers went into Raymond James Stadium last week and handed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers their first home loss of the season. SD dominated the first half of play and accumulated a 20-10 halftime lead for their efforts. That lead was quickly wiped away in the 3rd quarter after Tampa scored a pair of unanswered touchdowns, but the Chargers didn’t collapse and scored the next 21-points of the game to pull out the impressive 41-24 road win and cover as 3.5-point underdogs. The victory was the defending AFC West champs third in a row, and now they have a shot of pulling off quite a feat. They were three games back with four to go at the beginning of December, but can now slip past the Broncos in the standings with a win on Sunday night.

San Diego had owned the Broncos up until their Week 2 meeting earlier this season when Denver was the beneficiary of a blown call that helped them preserve the 39-38 home victory. Before that game, the Chargers had taken four straight from the Broncos and covered all four games. Offshore oddsmakers have done a fine job setting the line on this AFC West rivalry with 4 of the L/10 games landing exactly on the closing betting line. Most recently, Denver pushed as a one-point favorite in the aforementioned Week 2 match-up. This series has been of the higher scoring variety recently with 4 of the L/5 meetings combining to go over the ‘total’ per the closing NFL betting line.

1st Quarter:

The Broncos opened up the Sunday night festivities with the first possession of the game, but did nothing with it and punted after a three and out. SD took over on its own 30 and exploded out of the gates after QB Phillip Rivers connected with WR Chris Chambers for a 21-yard reception. After LT picked up six yards on 1st down, he rumbled for 28-yards on a screen before being brought down at Denver’s 16-yard line. The Broncos “D” stiffened in the red zone and limited the Chargers to three points after K Nick Kaeding was true from 25-yards out.

Neither team did anything on their next two possessions, but Denver’s offense cost the team some points on their fourth possession of the game when RB Tatum Bell was stuffed in the endzone for a safety after P Mike Scifres pinned Denver at its own 2-yard line.

DENVER 0 SAN DIEGO 5

2nd QUARTER

San Diego retained possession at the 50-yard line to start the 2nd quarter. QB Rivers slung one into TE Brandon Manumaleuna for 13-yards on 1st down, but then Denver’s defense came up with its first turnover of the game when Rivers was blindsided and fumbled the ball at Denver’s 36-yard line.

QB Jay Cutler and the offense looked to do something with the solid field position, but they were limited once again by the pumped up Chargers defense and was forced to punt once again.

After Denver’s defense forced another three and out, their offense got a shot in the arm when rookie sensation WR Eddie Royal returned the punt 22-yards to SD’s 44 yard line. Cutler completed his next four passes for a grand total of 21 yards, but the drive stalled at the Chargers 17 yard line where HC Shanahan called upon K Matt Prater to get the Broncos on the board. He did just that to cut the Chargers lead to two. Neither team did any scoring in the remaining five minutes of the half, and San Diego, by virtue of the safety, held a two-point lead at the break.

DENVER 3 SAN DIEGO 5

3rd Quarter

San Diego took possession of the pigskin to start the 3rd quarter, and proceeded to go on a 13 play drive that culminated with a 46-yard FG off the leg of K Kaeding to increase the Chargers lead back to five.

Denver did absolutely nothing on its three plays from scrimmage, but Denver held SD to the same result on its next possession forcing them to punt from their own 41-yard line. Then lightning struck at Qualcomm when WR/KR Eddie Royal returned P Scifres offering 90 yards the other way to give the Broncos their first lead of the game. For some reason, Denver decided to go for two but failed. If not for Royal’s heroics in the punt return game, Denver would have no points on the board. The 3rd quarter came to a close with San Diego driving and staring at a 1st and 10 on Denver’s 30-yard line.

DENVER 9 SAN DIEGO 8

4TH QUARTER

After Rivers hit TE Antonio Gates for an 11-yard pass and catch and another 1st down, RB Darren Sproles rattled off a 7-yard gain to get down to Denver’s 15-yard line. That’s when Rivers tossed his first Td pass of the game after connecting with WR Chambers from 15-yards out to go back in front. Their two-point try was also unsuccessful….

Denver drove right back down the field on its next possession. Cutler hit WR Brandon Marshall for 12, and then found WR Brandon Stokley over the middle for 17 more yards. After a pass interference call on the Chargers, RB Bell got plowed into from his blindside and fumbled allowing NT Jamal Williams to pounce on the ball to retain possession for the SD offense.

With just three minutes left in the game, the Chargers offense looked to milk the clock as much as possible. The drive stalled after getting the ball out to midfield, and P Scifres pinned the Broncos back on their own one-yard line after a beautifully executed coffin corner kick.

Not phased by the field position, Cutler zinged one into WR Eddie Royal who picked up nine yards after he was tackled. He then connected with WR Brandon Marshall for a 15-yard gain to get them out to their own 25-yard line. The drive then took a turn for the worse for Denver fans. All four of Cutler’s passes fell incomplete and the Chargers took over possession of the ball. Phillip Rivers took a knee and the Chargers pulled off the unthinkable to win their second AFC West Championship in as many years.

FINAL SCORE: DENVER 9 SAN DIEGO 14

This game simulation calls for a Denver cover and for the combined score to go under the ‘total’. You can get Denver (+8) -110 and the under 50.5 –110 at BetOnline.com right now!!!

  1 2 3 4 FINAL DENVER 0 3 6 0 9 SAN DIEGO 5 0 3 6 14

QB Jay Cutler: 15/25 125 yards 0 TD 0 INT

QB Phillip Rivers: 30/40 284 yards 1 TD 0 INT

RB Tatum Bell: 17 carries for 34 yards 0 TD Long of 7

RB LaDainian Tomlinson: 27 carries for 71 yards 0 TD Long of 8

WR Brandon Marshall: 5 receptions for 53 yards 0 TD Long of 22

WR Chris Chambers: 7 receptions for 82 yards 1 TD Long of 21

  DEN SD TOTAL OFFENSE 171 382 RUSHING YARDS 46 98 PASSING YARDS 125 284 1ST DOWNS 7 21 TOTAL YARDS 358 459 TURNOVERS 1 1 3RD DOWN CONV 1/11 9% 7/17 41% PENALTIES 3-35 4-50 TIME OF POSSESSION 21:31 38:57