Broncos–Chargers rivalry

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Broncos–Chargers
Denver Broncos wordmark (c. 1997).png
Denver Broncos
1795 san diego chargers-wordmark-2007.png
San Diego Chargers
First meeting October 16, 1960
Los Angeles Chargers 23, Denver Broncos 19
Latest meeting January 3, 2016
Broncos 27, Chargers 20
Next meeting October 13, 2016
Statistics
Meetings total 113 (including the playoffs)
All-time series The Broncos lead 63–49–1 (including the playoffs)
Postseason results The Broncos lead 1–0
  • January 12, 2014: Broncos 24, Chargers 17
Largest victory Broncos: 38–3 (1997);
Chargers: 58–20 (1963), 41–3 (2007)
Longest win streak Broncos: 7 (1975–78);
Chargers: 6 (1963–66)
Current win streak Broncos: 5 wins (2013–present)[lower-alpha 1]
Playoff and Championship success
AFL Championships (1960–1969)
Super Bowl Championships (3)
AFL Western Division Championships (5)
(1960–1969)
AFC West Divisional Championships (25) (1970–present)
AFC Wild Card Berths (10) (1970–present)
Super Bowl Appearances (9)

The Broncos–Chargers rivalry is a rivalry between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League's AFC West division. Since the American Football League was established in 1960, the Broncos and the Chargers have shared the same division, first being the AFL Western Conference, and since the AFL–NFL merger, the AFC West.

Notable moments

1985–2006

  • November 17, 1985: Broncos' safety Dennis Smith blocked two straight field goal attempts in overtime, after the Chargers had advanced the football to the Broncos' 23-yard line in the first overtime possession. On 4th and 4 from the Broncos' 23, Smith blocked Bob Thomas' initial field goal attempt, only to have it negated due to a timeout being called by teammate Mike Harden prior to the kick. Following the timeout, Thomas attempted a second kick, and this was also blocked by Smith and returned by Louis Wright for a 60-yard touchdown for a 30–24 Broncos' overtime win at Mile High Stadium.[1][2]
  • September 4, 1994: The Broncos jumped out to a 24–6 lead at Mile High Stadium on the Chargers in the second quarter, however, the Chargers responded, and took a 27–24 lead at haltime, after safety Stanley Richard returned a John Elway interception 99 yards for a touchdown just before halftime. The Chargers later sealed the victory after linebacker Junior Seau recovered a fumble by Elway in the game's closing seconds.[3]
  • September 14, 2003: The Broncos routed the Chargers 37–13 at Qualcomm Stadium. However, the game is notable for a uniform mix-up, in which the Broncos came to the stadium in their road white jerseys, when the host Chargers were planning to wear white, and were supposed to be the team that declared their uniform color. The Broncos were fined $25,000 as a result, and when the two teams met at INVESCO Field at Mile High later that season in Week 11 (November 16), the NFL allowed the Chargers to choose their uniform color in advance, and they chose navy blue, forcing the Broncos to wear their white jerseys at home for the first time since 1983.[4]
  • December 10, 2006: The Chargers routed the Broncos 48–20 at Qualcomm Stadium, in which Chargers' running back LaDainian Tomlinson set a new NFL record for touchdowns in a single season, with 28.[5]

2007–present

  • December 24, 2007: In the fourth quarter of a Monday night game at Qualcomm Stadium, Broncos' quarterback Jay Cutler was involved in a verbal scuffle with Chargers' quarterback Philip Rivers and linebacker Matt Wilhelm, with Rivers taunting Cutler and Wilhelm mocking a "waving" gesture. Broncos' cornerback Champ Bailey took exception to Rivers' taunting of Cutler.[6]
  • September 14, 2008: With 52 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Chargers were leading 38–31 in Denver. The Broncos hiked the ball on 2nd-and-goal from the Chargers' 1-yard line. Jay Cutler rolled out to the right and fumbled the football before he brought his arm forward, which was recovered by Chargers' linebacker Tim Dobbins. However, referee Ed Hochuli called the play dead as he believed it to be an incomplete pass, so the ball was returned to the Broncos at the 10-yard line (the spot where the ball hit the ground). Two plays later, on 4th-and-goal from the 4, Cutler threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Eddie Royal to make the score 38–37. Instead of kicking an extra point to tie the game and send it to overtime, Broncos' head coach Mike Shanahan opted for a 2-point conversion. Cutler completed the conversion with another pass to Royal, giving the Broncos a controversial 39–38 victory.[7]
  • December 28, 2008: The Broncos and Chargers met in the 2008 regular-season finale in San Diego, with the winner clinching the AFC West title. Three weeks earlier, the Broncos were 8–5 and the Chargers were 5–8, with the Broncos losing their next two games and the Chargers winning their next two to pull to within one game of the Broncos for the division lead. Three and a half months after the aforementioned controversial Broncos' win in Denver, the Chargers exacted revenge, with an emphatic 52–21 win that not only completed a monumental Broncos' season-ending collapse, but also denied the Broncos a playoff berth. The two teams finished the 2008 season tied for first-place in the AFC West, each with an 8–8 record, however, the Chargers won the division based on a better record against AFC West divisional opponents (5–1 to the Broncos' 3–3).[8] This was also Mike Shanahan's last game as the Broncos' head coach, as he was fired two days later after 14 seasons.[9]
  • November 27, 2011: Quarterback Tim Tebow led the Broncos to a 16–13 win at Qualcomm Stadium in overtime, with kicker Matt Prater nailing a 37-yard field goal with 29 seconds left. Earlier in overtime, the Broncos blocked a 53-yard attempt by Chargers' kicker Nick Novak, however, Broncos' head coach John Fox called a timeout prior to the kick. Novak subsequently missed the second attempt.[10]
  • October 15, 2012: Trailing 24–0 at halftime after back-to-back special teams turnovers and an interception returned for a touchdown, quarterback Peyton Manning led the Broncos to a stunning 35–24 comeback win in San Diego. Three second-half interceptions and two lost fumbles by Chargers' quarterback Philip Rivers swung the momentum toward the Broncos' favor, as Manning and the Broncos capitalized on each Chargers' mistake. Manning went 13/14 for 167 yards and three touchdowns in the second half, hitting Demaryius Thomas on a 29-yard score with 10:56 left in the third quarter to get the Broncos on the scoreboard. Following a 65-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery by cornerback Tony Carter, the Broncos suddenly found themselves down only 10 as the Chargers watched their comfortable halftime lead dwindle. Manning added two more touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, finding Eric Decker on a 7-yard score and then connecting with Brandon Stokley on a 21-yard pitch and catch to give the Broncos a 28–24 lead with 9:03 left. Cornerback Chris Harris sealed the comeback with a 46-yard interception return to put the Broncos up 35–24 with 2:06 left. The defense added one final takeaway as Rivers fumbled in the game's final minute to end what was certainly an instant Monday Night Football classic.[11]

Game results

Broncos' victory Chargers' victory Tie Postseason meeting

Note: All game dates occur on Sunday unless indicated otherwise.
Source: Pro-Football-Reference.[12]

1960s (Chargers 15–5)

Year Date Winner Result Loser Location
1960[lower-alpha 2] October 16 Los Angeles Chargers 23–19 Denver Broncos Denver
December 10 (Sat.) Los Angeles Chargers 41–33 Denver Broncos Los Angeles
1961 October 29 San Diego Chargers 37–0 Denver Broncos San Diego
November 12 San Diego Chargers 19–16 Denver Broncos Denver
1962 September 7 (Fri.) Denver Broncos 30–21 San Diego Chargers Denver
November 4 Denver Broncos 23–20 San Diego Chargers San Diego
1963 October 6 Denver Broncos 50–34 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 22 San Diego Chargers 58–20 Denver Broncos San Diego
1964 October 18 San Diego Chargers 42–14 Denver Broncos San Diego
November 8 San Diego Chargers 31–20 Denver Broncos Denver
1965 September 11 (Sat.) San Diego Chargers 34–31 Denver Broncos San Diego
November 7 San Diego Chargers 35–21 Denver Broncos Denver
1966 October 30 San Diego Chargers 24–17 Denver Broncos San Diego
November 27 Denver Broncos 20–17 San Diego Chargers Denver
1967 October 22 San Diego Chargers 38–21 Denver Broncos Denver
November 23 (Thur.) San Diego Chargers 24–20 Denver Broncos San Diego
1968 October 20 San Diego Chargers 55–24 Denver Broncos San Diego
December 1 San Diego Chargers 47–23 Denver Broncos Denver
1969 November 2 Denver Broncos 13–0 San Diego Chargers Denver
November 23 San Diego Chargers 45–24 Denver Broncos San Diego

1970s (Broncos 13–6–1)

Year Date Winner Result Loser Location
1970 November 18 San Diego Chargers 24–21 Denver Broncos San Diego
December 13 17–17 Denver
1971 October 17 Denver Broncos 20–16 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 12 San Diego Chargers 45–17 Denver Broncos San Diego
1972 September 24 San Diego Chargers 37–14 Denver Broncos San Diego
December 10 Denver Broncos 38–13 San Diego Chargers Denver
1973 November 11 Denver Broncos 30–19 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 9 Denver Broncos 42–28 San Diego Chargers San Diego
1974 October 20 Denver Broncos 27–7 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 15 San Diego Chargers 17–0 Denver Broncos San Diego
1975 November 16 Denver Broncos 27–17 San Diego Chargers San Diego
November 30 Denver Broncos 13–10 (OT) San Diego Chargers Denver
1976 October 3 Denver Broncos 26–0 San Diego Chargers Denver
November 14 Denver Broncos 17–0 San Diego Chargers San Diego
1977 November 13 Denver Broncos 17–14 San Diego Chargers San Diego
December 11 Denver Broncos 17–9 San Diego Chargers Denver
1978 September 17 Denver Broncos 27–14 San Diego Chargers Denver
October 8 San Diego Chargers 23–0 Denver Broncos San Diego
1979 October 7 Denver Broncos 7–0 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 17 (Mon.) San Diego Chargers 17–7 Denver Broncos San Diego

1980s (Broncos 12–8)

Year Date Winner Result Loser Location
1980 September 21 San Diego Chargers 30–13 Denver Broncos Denver
November 9 Denver Broncos 20–13 San Diego Chargers San Diego
1981 September 27 Denver Broncos 42–24 San Diego Chargers Denver
November 29 San Diego Chargers 34–17 Denver Broncos San Diego
1982 September 12 San Diego Chargers 23–3 Denver Broncos Denver
November 28 San Diego Chargers 30–20 Denver Broncos San Diego
1983 October 3 Denver Broncos 14–6 San Diego Chargers Denver
November 27 San Diego Chargers 31–7 Denver Broncos San Diego
1984 November 11 Denver Broncos 16–13 San Diego Chargers San Diego
December 9 Denver Broncos 16–13 San Diego Chargers Denver
1985 November 3 San Diego Chargers 30–10 Denver Broncos San Diego
November 17 Denver Broncos 30–24 (OT) San Diego Chargers Denver
1986 October 12 Denver Broncos 31–14 San Diego Chargers San Diego
November 9 San Diego Chargers 9–3 Denver Broncos Denver
1987 November 29 Denver Broncos 31–17 San Diego Chargers San Diego
December 27 Denver Broncos 24–0 San Diego Chargers Denver
1988 September 11 Denver Broncos 34–3 San Diego Chargers Denver
October 2 Denver Broncos 12–0 San Diego Chargers San Diego
1989 October 8 Denver Broncos 16–10 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 24 San Diego Chargers 19–16 Denver Broncos San Diego

1990s (Broncos 13–7)

Year Date Winner Result Loser Location
1990 November 11 San Diego Chargers 19–7 Denver Broncos San Diego
December 16 Denver Broncos 20–10 San Diego Chargers Denver
1991 September 22 Denver Broncos 27–19 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 22 Denver Broncos 17–14 San Diego Chargers San Diego
1992 September 13 Denver Broncos 21–13 San Diego Chargers Denver
October 25 San Diego Chargers 24–21 Denver Broncos San Diego
1993 September 12 Denver Broncos 34–17 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 5 San Diego Chargers 13–10 Denver Broncos San Diego
1994 September 4 San Diego Chargers 37–34 Denver Broncos Denver
October 23 Denver Broncos 20–15 San Diego Chargers San Diego
1995 September 24 San Diego Chargers 17–6 Denver Broncos San Diego
November 19 Denver Broncos 30–27 San Diego Chargers Denver
1996 October 6 San Diego Chargers 28–17 Denver Broncos Denver
December 22 Denver Broncos 16–10 San Diego Chargers San Diego
1997 November 30 Denver Broncos 38–28 San Diego Chargers San Diego
December 21 Denver Broncos 38–3 San Diego Chargers Denver
1998 November 8 Denver Broncos 27–10 San Diego Chargers Denver
November 29 Denver Broncos 31–16 San Diego Chargers San Diego
1999 November 7 Denver Broncos 33–17 San Diego Chargers San Diego
January 2, 2000 San Diego Chargers 12–6 Denver Broncos Denver

2000s (Broncos 11–9)

Year Date Winner Result Loser Location
2000 October 8 Denver Broncos 21–7 San Diego Chargers San Diego
November 19 Denver Broncos 38–37 San Diego Chargers Denver
2001 October 21 San Diego Chargers 27–10 Denver Broncos San Diego
November 11 Denver Broncos 26–16 San Diego Chargers Denver
2002 October 6 Denver Broncos 26–9 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 1 San Diego Chargers 30–27 (OT) Denver Broncos San Diego
2003 September 14 Denver Broncos 37–13 San Diego Chargers San Diego
November 16 Denver Broncos 37–8 San Diego Chargers Denver
2004 September 26 Denver Broncos 23–13 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 5 San Diego Chargers 20–17 Denver Broncos San Diego
2005 September 18 Denver Broncos 20–17 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 31 (Sat.) Denver Broncos 23–7 San Diego Chargers San Diego
2006 November 19 San Diego Chargers 35–27 Denver Broncos Denver
December 10 San Diego Chargers 48–20 Denver Broncos San Diego
2007 October 7 San Diego Chargers 41–3 Denver Broncos Denver
December 24 (Mon.) San Diego Chargers 23–3 Denver Broncos San Diego
2008 September 14 Denver Broncos 39–38 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 28 San Diego Chargers 52–21 Denver Broncos San Diego
2009 October 19 (Mon.) Denver Broncos 34–23 San Diego Chargers San Diego
November 22 San Diego Chargers 32–3 Denver Broncos Denver

2010s (Broncos 9–4)

Year Date Winner Result Loser Location
2010 November 22 (Mon.) San Diego Chargers 35–14 Denver Broncos San Diego
January 2, 2011 San Diego Chargers 33–28 Denver Broncos Denver
2011 October 9 San Diego Chargers 29–24 Denver Broncos Denver
November 27 Denver Broncos 16–13 (OT) San Diego Chargers San Diego
2012 October 15 (Mon.) Denver Broncos 35–24 San Diego Chargers San Diego
November 18 Denver Broncos 30–23 San Diego Chargers Denver
2013 November 10 Denver Broncos 28–20 San Diego Chargers San Diego
December 12 (Thur.) San Diego Chargers 27–20 Denver Broncos Denver
January 12, 2014 Denver Broncos 24–17 San Diego Chargers Denver
2014 October 23 (Thur.) Denver Broncos 35–21 San Diego Chargers Denver
December 14 Denver Broncos 22–10 San Diego Chargers San Diego
2015 December 6 Denver Broncos 17–3 San Diego Chargers San Diego
January 3, 2016 Denver Broncos 27–20 San Diego Chargers Denver
2016 October 13 (Thur.) San Diego
January 1, 2017 Denver

Connections between the teams

Coaches

Name Years with Broncos Years with Chargers
Craig Aukerman Defensive assistant, 2010 Assistant Special Teams coach, 2013–present
Clancy Barone Tight ends coach, 2009, 2011–14
Offensive line coach, 2010, 2015–present
Tight ends coach, 2007–08
Tim Brewster Tight ends coach, 2005–06 Tight ends coach, 2002–04
Assistant head coach, 2004
John Fox Head coach, 2011–14 Secondary coach, 1992–93
Alex Gibbs Offensive line coach, 1984–87
Assistant head coach/Offensive line coach, 1995–2003
Offensive line consultant, 2013
Offensive line coach, 1990–91
Mike McCoy Offensive coordinator, 2009–12 Head coach, 2013–present
Ron Milus Secondary coach, 2000–02 and 2011–12 Secondary coach, 2013–present
Mike Nolan Special teams coach, 1987–88
Linebackers coach, 1989–92
Defensive coordinator, 2009
Linebackers coach, 2015–present
Wayne Nunnely Defensive line coach, 2009–11 Defensive line coach, 1997–2008
Dwain Painter Offensive assistant, 1997 Quarterbacks coach, 1994–96
Wade Phillips Defensive coordinator, 1989–92, 2015–present
Head coach, 1993–94
Defensive coordinator, 2004–06

Players

Name Position(s) Years with Broncos Years with Chargers
Stephen Alexander Tight end 2005–07 2002–03
David Binn Long snapper 2011 (one game) 1994–2010
Marco Coleman Defensive end 2004–05 1996–98
David Diaz-Infante Center/Guard 1996–98 1987
Dedrick Dodge Safety 1997 1998
Orlando Franklin Guard 2011–14 2015–present
Jacob Hester Fullback 2012 2008–11
Quentin Jammer Cornerback/Safety 2013 2002–12
Marlon McCree Safety 2008 2006–07
Anthony Miller Wide receiver 1994–96 1988–93
Shaun Phillips Defensive end 2013 2004–12
Adrian Robinson Linebacker 2013 (six games) 2013 (three games)
Dante Rosario Tight end 2011 2012
Eddie Royal Wide receiver/Return specialist 2008–11 2012–14
Neil Smith Defensive end 1997–99 2000
Jimmy Spencer Cornerback 2000–03[lower-alpha 3] 1998–99
Harry Swayne Offensive tackle 1997–98 1991–96
Maa Tanuvasa Defensive tackle 1995–2000 2001
Mitch Unrein Defensive tackle 2011–14 2015
Louis Vasquez Guard 2013–15 2009–12
J. D. Walton Center 2010–13 2015–present
Wes Welker Wide receiver/Return specialist 2013–14 2004 (one game)
Jamal Williams Nose tackle 2010 1998–2009

Notes

  1. This includes the Broncos' 24–17 win over the Chargers during the 2013–14 NFL playoffs.
  2. The Chargers were known as the Los Angeles Chargers in 1960, and played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during that season.
  3. Jimmy Spencer also worked as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Broncos in addition to playing during the 2003 season.

References

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External links