Dissecting Broncos' Most Crucial Matchups in Week 8 Contest with Chargers

The Denver Broncos (5-1) won't have long to celebrate Peyton Manning breaking the career record for touchdown passes or their 42-17 Week 7 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Instead, they have to turn their attention to a Thursday night meeting with AFC West foe San Diego (5-2).

The Chargers are a team that proved tough for Denver last season, beating them once and playing them very tough in the divisional round of the playoffs. They'll be hungry as well, coming off a loss to Kansas City in Week 7.

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#Broncos broke a bunch of records vs. #Titans a year ago, then lost to the #Chargers at home on Thursday night four days later.

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) October 20, 2014"

With all of the talent they have on their roster, the Broncos can create matchup problems for just about any team in the league.

Looking at things from Denver's perspective, here are three critical matchups for the Broncos. If they get the best of these, there's a good chance they'll add another win to their 2014 total.

Denver Wide Receivers vs. San Diego Cornerback Richard Marshall

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

The Denver passing game is extremely difficult to stop. It's even harder when you're not healthy in the secondary.

San Diego cornerback Brandon Flowers left Week 7's game early after a collision in the end zone with Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles. It was later announced that Flowers had suffered a concussion and would not return.

In addition to that, rookie defensive back Jason Verrett missed the game with a shoulder injury.

According to a tweet from Doug Farrar, Flowers passed the league's concussion protocol. However, the team may choose to rest him with the quick turnaround, having to play on Thursday night. Because of the short week, Verrett may also not be ready for action yet.

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Brandon Flowers passed the NFL's concussion protocol, answering "Horsie" when asked how many fingers the team doctor was holding up.

— SI_DougFarrar (@SI_DougFarrar) October 19, 2014"

If that is the case, Richard Marshall would be forced into a starting role and he would have an immediate target on his chest. Peyton Manning would be more than ready for him.

Whether Marshall was matched up against Demaryius Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders on the outside, Manning would take several shots down the field and find a high success rate.

San Diego has to get healthy in the secondary if it wants to have a chance of slowing down Denver's passing attack.

The Chargers are currently ranked No. 3 in the league against the pass, giving up just 209.6 yards per game. But they have yet to face an offense like the one they'll see on Thursday night.

Von Miller vs. D.J. Fluker

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Von Miller has been an absolute menace for opposing teams to deal with this season.

Miller has compiled eight sacks through five games, which leads the NFL. But in addition to rushing the passer, Miller has been very disruptive in defending against the run.

Opponents have had a hard time trying to slow Miller down, and San Diego will have its hands full with him on Thursday night.

While King Dunlap will be forced to deal with DeMarcus Ware, it's the younger offensive tackle, D.J. Fluker, that will be tasked with fending off Miller when he tries to rush the passer.

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5th straight game with a sack for Von Miller. NFL’s longest current streak and represents the 3rd five-game sack streak of his career.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) October 20, 2014"

In six career games against the Chargers, Miller has tallied seven sacks. He has failed to register a sack against them just one time.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers isn't the most mobile quarterback in the league, and if Miller gets past Fluker, he could change the game with one play.

Denver Coaching Staff vs. Mike McCoy

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Because of his familiarity with the Denver Broncos as the team's former offensive coordinator, San Diego head coach Mike McCoy knows what it takes to be successful against the Broncos.

Denver lost only three times during the regular season in 2013. One of those losses came to the Chargers—at Sports Authority Field.

In that game, the Chargers played ball control, possessing the ball for nearly 39 minutes. They ran the ball 44 times and Rivers only completed 12 passes. In addition, they converted 6-of-12 third downs.

Those are numbers that would spell defeat for just about any team. San Diego used the same strategy to hand the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks their first loss this season.

There is little doubt that San Diego will come into Thursday night's game looking to do the same thing. Denver needs to be ready from a defensive perspective.

Strange as it may seem with a proficient passer like Rivers, Denver needs to make him beat them with the pass. The Broncos have a very good secondary, one which should be able to keep the San Diego receivers in check.

If they stuff the run and force the Chargers into long third downs, they will be able to get off the field. 

Rivers was able to find his receivers, notably Keenan Allen, across the middle to convert several third downs in the Week 15 meeting last year. Still, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio shouldn't be afraid to call an aggressive game for his defense, dialing up more blitzes.

Last year, it felt as though McCoy outsmarted the Denver coaches. John Fox and his staff need to reverse that on Thursday night.