Broncos vs. Chargers: Postgame Grades, Notes and Quotes for San Diego

Sunday might as well have been a home game for the Denver Broncos, as a sea of orange cheered them on at Qualcomm Stadium. Meanwhile, San Diego Chargers fans have nothing to cheer about after a 17-3 loss.

The Broncos' only offensive touchdown came on the opening drive of the game, as Brock Osweiler connected with Demaryius Thomas for a three-yard score. Nothing more would have been needed, as Denver's defense held the Chargers to a 51-yard field goal as their only means of scoring.

Philip Rivers was sacked four times and threw his fifth pick-six on the season for San Diego (3-9), which has lost five straight games at home. The Chargers were also held to three points by a division rival for the second time in three weeks, as Kansas City accomplished that same feat in Week 11.

The Broncos' Danny Trevathan returned Rivers' pick-six 25 yards for a score, and Brandon McManus kicked a 23-yard field goal to conclude the scoring for Denver (10-2). The Broncos won by way of defense, harassing Rivers and forcing three turnovers.

It's another loss, Chargers fans, and officially the first losing season since 2012. Let's get into these grades, notes and quotes.

Position Grades for Chargers

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Quarterback: F

Philip Rivers was no match for the league's top-ranked pass defense, which held him to 18 completions, 202 yards and no touchdowns, unless you count the pick-six he threw to Broncos LB Danny Trevathan. Of Rivers' nine interceptions this season, five have been returned for touchdowns.

Running Back: F

Melvin Gordon finished with 55 yards on the ground and a 21-yard run but fumbled twice and lost one. Perhaps the only positive to report was a 31-yard reception by Donald Brown. Where's he been all season? The Broncos' second-ranked run defense controlled the line of scrimmage.

Wide Receiver: F

Due to injuries, the Chargers had only two receivers finish the game, and one of them is playing with a torn labrum. Malcom Floyd's only catch went for 15 yards, and Javontee Herndon had two for 30 yards. An easy day at the office for Denver CBs Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib.

Tight End: D

When Rivers wasn't getting sacked, he connected with Antonio Gates the most. They combined for six completions and 50 yards but more was needed. Despite not having Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward, Denver's defensive backs were physical with San Diego's pass-catchers, knocking the ball out to force incompletions on multiple occasions.

Offensive Line: F

If the grading scale were to include Gs, here's where you'd need one. The offensive line never stood a chance against the Broncos' pass rush, not even with All-Pro DeMarcus Ware sitting out due to a back injury. Von Miller collected two sacks, Shaquil Barrett had one and Ware's replacement, Shane Ray, also had one as Denver's linebackers combined for four sacks on Rivers.

Defensive Line: F

Another game, another less than impressive performance from the defensive line. Corey Liuget and Kendall Reyes are out there giving effort, trying to rush the passer and stop the run, but the opposing team has success doing both every game. The 3-4 just isn't working out in San Diego.

Linebacker: D+

Denzel Perryman led the Chargers in tackling for a second straight game with a career-high 10 tackles. At this point, why bother with Donald Butler when Perryman and Manti Te'o are gelling so well at inside linebacker? San Diego's bookends got to Brock Osweiler twice, technically, but only one sack will show up in the box score. Melvin Ingram was penalized on the first for hitting Denver's 6'8" quarterback up high (really), but he made good on the second, which came two plays later.

Defensive Back: B+

Osweiler only managed 16 completions and 166 yards through the air against San Diego, which lost starting corner Brandon Flowers to injury in the first quarter. Emmanuel Sanders, who was shaded mostly by Jason Verrett, had just three catches for 19 yards, and Verrett blocked him out for an interception in the end zone—his second this season. Meanwhile, Demaryius Thomas finished with six catches for 61 yards, and an easy three-yard touchdown he caught on the opening drive when Flowers was still in on him.

The Chargers secondary had six pass defenses in all, including three by Eric Weddle, who was flying around and laying the lumber on some guys. But as the story goes, it wasn't enough to prevent the Broncos from winning.

Special Teams: D

Denver's Omar Bolden had returns of 33 and 21 yards to give his team good field position, something Herndon has not been able to provide for San Diego. He returned one punt for four yards, and waved off returning another even when he had room to work with. The Chargers are lacking a confident returner.

Meanwhile, Josh Lambo made a 51-yard field goal but also missed one from 48 yards, his first miss in 13 attempts.

Coaching: D

It wasn't a blowout. The Chargers have suffered much worse losses to division rivals this season, but this one wasn't acceptable either. 

Chargers Extend GM Telesco in Secret

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Hours before Sunday's game versus the Broncos, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports first reported that GM Tom Telesco had received a three-year contract extension from the Chargers prior to the start of the 2015 season. So why didn't they announce it then?

A team source told Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune they chose not to announce it "in an effort to keep the news from becoming a distraction. Rather, it was the team's plan to do so after the regular season."

But if the Chargers had known they'd be sitting at 3-9 in December, would they still have extended Telesco? Many of the players he drafted or signed in free agency have not panned out, and the team itself has consistently gotten worse since a postseason appearance in 2013, Telesco's first year as GM.

Does Melvin Gordon Have a Fumbling Problem?

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

Gordon's chronic fumbling now has him tied for the league lead with five. He was fortunate enough to have only one of them recovered by the Broncos, and they were not able to capitalize with points, as Brandon McManus missed a 52-yard field goal on the other end.

After the game, head coach Mike McCoy told reporters he made the decision to pull Gordon from the game after he fumbled the second time, adding "You can't put the ball on the ground. You're not going to play if you put the ball on the ground."

Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown finished the game at running back for San Diego, and combined for 36 yards rushing, while Gordon sat on the bench with 55 yards on the day. Here's what Gordon had to say on the fumble that was recovered by the Broncos, per Annie Heilbrunn:

"

That's been a rough part for me this season. I've been focusing on it heavy too. I just lost focus on that one play, and I paid for it. Von [Miller] got me. He was trying to get me earlier in the game, but I had it high enough and tight enough to where he couldn't get it out. I got loose with it just a little bit, and he got his hand in there and I couldn't get it out. It's tough.

"

Rivers on Pick-Six to Trevathan

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Rivers has had the unfortunate luck of throwing touchdowns to the other team this season, as Trevathan corralled the fifth pick-six thrown by the Chargers quarterback. Denver's front collapsed the pocket and Rivers tried to hit Gates going across the middle before the pressure got there, but Trevathan read it and made a great play on the ball.

Here's what Rivers told reporters after the game about the pick-six, per Ricky Henne of Chargers.com:

"

It was not a great throw. Just a bad play all the way around. ... They had the play pretty well covered. It was kind of hit (Antonio) Gates or nobody. I was trying to get it out in front of Gates.  Maybe he gets there, maybe it’s nobody. (Danny) Trevathan fell off of Ladarius (Green).  Ladarius was trying to get a little bit of a pick for Gates. He fell off of Ladarius and picked it.  Obviously the throw was not good. In hindsight, you just take the sack and go to 2nd-and-15 or whatever it was. When I threw it, obviously I wouldn’t have thrown it. I didn’t think it was going to get intercepted. It was a good play by him.

"

Injuries

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

There were two key injuries to report from Sunday's game, both happened in the first quarter and only minutes apart. Receiver Dontrelle Inman was injured making a 15-yard catch, his only one of the day, after he took a hard hit to the back of the head from a Broncos safety. He was immobilized on a stretcher and carted off the field. Per Eric Williams of ESPN.com, McCoy said initial tests on Inman's neck were negative. He was able to move his extremities, and went home on his own.

Cornerback Brandon Flowers was injured a short while later when a tackle was made at his feet, injuring his left knee in the process. He, too, was carted off, but there's been no update on his status at the time of writing.