Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers: Full Report Card Grades for Denver
The Denver Broncos are once again champions of the AFC West following a 22-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Week 15. The win was Denver's seventh in the last eight meetings with the Chargers.
The Broncos ran for over 100 yards and played solid team defense, forcing two turnovers en route to victory.
The Broncos can't get lackadaisical with the remainder of the schedule, however, as they are looking to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs and still have a shot at getting home-field advantage.
Up next for the Broncos will be a game on Monday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"“(Div. title) guarantees you a spot in the playoffs. That’s all it does.” - #Manning WATCH: http://t.co/MrdYe3jRmg pic.twitter.com/fyJ45ycGPq
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 15, 2014"
Taking a look at Week 15's game, we will grade each positional unit based on their performance and their role in the team's success on Sunday.
Click forward for further analysis.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Though he had flu-like symptoms on Sunday, as reported by Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post, Peyton Manning took the field anyway and did what he could to help his team win their division.
But just before halftime, he decided to throw a block to help usher C.J. Anderson into the end zone and ended up with a bruised thigh.
Manning went to the locker room directly following the play, but didn't realize that the play would need to be reviewed. Replays showed that Anderson's knee was down before he crossed the goal line.
Instead of going for it on fourth down from inside the 1-yard line, the Broncos chose to kick a field goal.
With that being taken into consideration, Manning had a very efficient game. He only threw the ball 20 times, but he passed for 233 yards and one touchdown while posting a 125.6 quarterback rating.
He looked good throwing the ball too, fitting it into tight spaces and hitting his receivers in stride.
However, with Manning in the locker room, Brock Osweiler came in for a series and things looked out of sort. Osweiler went 0-for-2 and took an intentional-grounding penalty where he wasn't even close to being outside the pocket.
While Osweiler's play wasn't very good in the short time he was in the game, the play-calling was even worse.
Grade: B-
Running Back
2 of 10
Once again, the Broncos used their running game to set up the passing game and it was a success.
Though C.J. Anderson averaged just 2.9 yards per carry on his 29 rush attempts, it was the way he ran the ball at the San Diego defense that impressed. It was the constant pressure Anderson put on the front seven of San Diego that allowed Manning to find his targets down the field.
Juwan Thompson and Jeremy Stewart came off the bench to rush for a combined 30 yards, and the Broncos gained 111 yards on the ground as a team.
It's been strange to see the Broncos go through this offensive transformation, but it's the biggest reason for their current four-game winning streak.
It was a bit concerning to see Anderson leave the game after taking a stiff shot from San Diego safety Jahleel Addae, but he returned. The Broncos really need to get Ronnie Hillman back on the field, as they are starting to get a little thin in the backfield.
Aside from that, the rushing attack looked very good.
Grade: A
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
It's a good thing the Broncos have Demaryius Thomas, because outside of him, no one stood out in the receiving department on Sunday.
Thomas had six receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown in the game. He posted his eighth 100-yard game of the season, tying a record held by Rod Smith.
"Demaryius Thomas is playmaker. Deserves top dollar. Not a product of a system. He enhances any system. #Broncos lead 16-3.
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) December 14, 2014"
But Manning wasn't able to get the ball to his other receivers all that often, as they combined for just eight catches. Julius Thomas had a great catch for 30 yards, but it came on a perfect throw from Manning. He didn't do anything outside of that.
Emmanuel Sanders had a relatively quiet day as well, but he did catch all three of his targets for 53 yards.
But how about Virgil Green? His play has been essential to the running game's success in recent weeks. He deserves as much credit as just about anyone for its resurgence.
Grade: B-
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
Aside from allowing San Diego linebacker Melvin Ingram to get in close on Manning a couple of times, the Denver offensive line played a good game.
In the first quarter, Ingram beat Ryan Clady badly and knocked the ball away from Manning. Denver recovered the fumble, but there was a holding penalty against the Chargers on the play.
Later in the game, Ingram got within inches of causing another fumble. Still, the offensive line provided a good push in the running game and gave Manning a good pocket to throw from.
Clady had to leave the game in the first half and never returned. He was replaced by Chris Clark. Clady was said to have a strained quad which isn't believed to be too serious, per The Denver Post's Troy Renck:
"Ryan Clady said it was strained quad. They didn't want him to make it worse. Believes will be OK going forward #Broncos
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) December 15, 2014"
The Broncos also used Ben Garland in this game, and he is beginning to show his versatility. Along with Virgil Green, the Broncos have created an offensive attack that centers around this offensive line.
This is the team Denver should have been all along. After their loss in the Super Bowl last season, the Broncos saw what they needed to become. It took them well into the season to do it, but they're putting it together nicely.
Grade: A-
Defensive Line
5 of 10
The Broncos didn't get a sack on Sunday. They didn't even get a hit on the quarterback. Where has the pass rush gone in Denver?
Though the Broncos were unable to get much pressure on Philip Rivers, members of the defensive line contributed in other areas.
Malik Jackson is starting to turn in good performances and knocked down two passes at the line of scrimmage in this game. Derek Wolfe was able to get his hands on a field-goal attempt by Nick Novak just before halftime that forced the kick to come up short.
These were key plays in this game.
But between Jackson, Wolfe, DeMarcus Ware, Terrance Knighton and Sylvester Williams, the defensive line made just six tackles in this game.
That is partly because the Chargers passed the ball 41 times compared to just 20 rushing plays. And against the run, the defensive line was solid. On those 20 carries, the Chargers gained just 56 yards.
The Broncos have been one of the best teams against the run all season, and that was the case on Sunday. However, they need to develop ways to get more pressure on the quarterback than they have in recent weeks.
Grade: B-
Linebacker
6 of 10
The problems for the Denver Broncos' linebacker unit continued on Sunday as the team suffered more injuries at the position.
Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan both left the game with injuries, though Trevathan was able to return. As reported by ESPN's Jeff Legwold, Marshall left in a walking boot:
"#Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall left the stadium with a walking boot on his left foot.
— Jeff Legwold (@Jeff_Legwold) December 15, 2014"
That isn't good news for a team that is already missing Nate Irving and was considered to be thin at the position at the beginning of the season.
Once again, no linebacker on the team could stick with the opponent's tight end, as Antonio Gates caught six passes for 54 yards and a touchdown to lead the Chargers in receiving.
It sounds like a broken record, but the Broncos are eventually going to need someone to step up at the linebacker position, whether it be Lamin Barrow, Todd Davis or someone else. Would T.J. Ward be better if he lined up at linebacker? That's a possibility the team may need to look into.
Grade: C-
Secondary
7 of 10
Though Rivers and the Chargers put the ball in the air 41 times on Sunday, the secondary forced many errant throws and caused Rivers to throw the ball away on several occasions.
Chris Harris did a good job covering Keenan Allen and Seyi Ajirotutu, staying in tight with them and forcing Rivers to make tough throws.
T.J. Ward had six tackles, one of which went for a loss of yardage, but he still seems to struggle in coverage. But when the Broncos needed plays to put the game out of reach, they got them from their secondary.
With the Chargers trailing 22-10 in the late stages of the fourth quarter and clinging to the faint hopes they may have had, Rivers was intercepted twice.
On the first, Aqib Talib stepped in front of a pass and came away with a clean interception. Talib played a very good game, coming up with three passes defensed.
"Welcome to Aqib Talib's coming out party as a Bronco. Finally that tight coverage we've been longing for
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) December 15, 2014"
The Chargers got the ball back and moved down the field, looking to get a score and set up an onside kick. But that score would never come.
After getting down to the Denver 7-yard line, Rivers tried to hit Gates in the end zone, but Rahim Moore read the play very well and picked it off to put a bow on the win.
Grade: A
Special Teams
8 of 10
The move to go out and sign Connor Barth as the team's placekicker is certainly paying off.
Barth kicked five field goals in this game, the second time he has done that since signing with the team. Most importantly, he's proving he can make the longer kicks, something Brandon McManus wasn't doing.
Barth kicked field goals of 49 and 44 yards in the fourth quarter alone.
The kick and punt return teams still leave something to be desired, as there doesn't seem to be a player on the team capable of making that game-changing return.
With Wes Welker being assigned to punt return duties, the coaching staff seems content to just safely field the ball.
They also allowed a 58-yard punt return by Eddie Royal in which Royal was just one tackle away from breaking it for a touchdown.
Barth looks to be the answer at kicker, at least for this season, but more attention needs to be paid on kick and punt return coverage. Plays like the one Royal made can change games.
Grade: C+
Coaching
9 of 10
This was yet another game in which the Broncos were able to pick up a victory despite some extremely questionable coaching.
Plain and simple, this team is just not aggressive enough. The difficulties scoring once inside the red zone should be the focus going into practice this week. NFL teams will usually make you pay for kicking that many field goals.
After C.J. Anderson's touchdown in the second quarter was reviewed and overturned, the coaching staff apparently didn't feel that the team could get half a yard.
Would they have made that same decision if Manning wasn't already in the locker room? Can Osweiler not come in and perform a simple handoff? The way San Diego's offense was playing, it was worth the risk to try to punch it in there.
Then the Broncos got the ball back after a quick series and were forced to go with Osweiler. Expecting the same safe calls that they used when they decided to kick a field goal, they decide to have Osweiler throw on two consecutive plays.
That should earn a spot on ESPN's "C'mon Man" segment on Monday Night Countdown.
John Fox and his coaching staff are just too conservative. The team lacks the toughness they need to reach the promised land because of it.
Grade: D
Overall Grade
10 of 10
Quarterback: B-
Running Back: A
Wide Receiver/Tight End: B-
Offensive Line: A-
Defensive Line: B-
Linebacker: C-
Secondary: A
Special Teams: C+
Coaching: D
Overall Grade: B-
This is another performance the Broncos should be proud of, but it's not one they can beat the elite teams in the NFL with.
Injuries have to be a growing concern as well as the team awaits word on Brandon Marshall, but they also had guys like Clady, Trevathan and Anderson all leave for part of the game on Sunday.
At this rate, the Broncos will go limping into the playoffs, which is making a first-round bye almost pertinent.
It would be nice to see the coaching staff develop a killer instinct and look to make a statement rather than being so conservative, but that is probably wishful thinking.
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