The Denver Broncos (1-0) face a divisional team for the second consecutive week when they host the two-time defending AFC West champion San Diego Chargers (0- 1) on Sunday in their home opener. Kickoff at INVESCO Field at Mile High is set for 2:15 p.m. MDT, and the game will be televised by CBS with Dick Enberg and Randy Cross calling the action.Denver began its 2008 season with a 41-14 win in Oakland on Monday Night Football, scoring its second-most points in a divisional road game in franchise history. Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal registered the sixth-most receiving yards (146) by a player in his NFL debut since 1960 while quarterback Jay Cutler posted a Week 1 AFC-best 299 passing yards, two touchdown passes and a 137.3 passer rating.Looking to snap their four-game losing streak to the Chargers, Denver faces a San Diego squad that lost its season opener at home to Carolina by a 26-24 margin. The Panthers scored the game-winning touchdown on a 14-yard, fourth-down pass as time expired.Since 1984, the Broncos are 21-3 (.875) in home openers for the league’s best record during that time. Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.) has guided the Broncos to a 12-1 (.923) mark in home openers and is 14-1 (.933) in those games for his NFL coaching career. The Broncos enter Sunday’s game against San Diego having won their last eight home openers dating back to the 2000 season.Through the opening week of the 2008 campaign, Royal leads all NFL players in receiving yards (146) while ranking third in the league in combined yards (185) and yards from scrimmage (155). The Broncos’ offense averaged 7.5 yards per play and registered 441 yards against Oakland on Monday with those totals both placing fourth in the NFL for Kickoff Weekend.Defensively, the Broncos opened the year by holding Oakland to 2-of-12 (16.7%) success on third downs, forcing the Raiders to an average third down attempt of 7.2 yards.TELEVISION AND RADIO INFORMATION vs. SAN DIEGOTELEVISION: CBS (KCNC-TV 4): Dick Enberg (play-by-play) and Randy Cross (color commentary) will call the game.NATIONAL RADIO: Westwood One: Mark Champion (play-by-play) and Mark Malone (color commentary) will call the game while Tommy Tighe hosts the pregame and postgame shows.LOCAL RADIO: KOA Radio (850 AM): Dave Logan (play-by-play) and David Diaz-Infante (color commentary) will call the game while Andy Lindahl reports from the sidelines.LOCAL SPANISH RADIO: KBNO Radio (1280 AM): Fernando Sergio (play-by-play) and Yuri Vasquez (color commentary) will call the game.BRONCOS VS. CHARGERS — POINTS OF INTERESTThe Broncos own a 52-43-1 all-time record against the Chargers, including a 34-13-1 mark at home... In the 96 all-time meetings between the clubs, just four points separate the two (Denver: 2,014, San Diego: 2,010)... Denver has won its last eight home openers and is 21-3 in home openers since 1984 for an .875 winning percentage that is the best in the NFL—Mike Shanahan is 12-1 (.923) with Denver (1995-Pres.) in home openers and is 14-1 (.933) for his career in those games... The Broncos’ last two home openers have gone into overtime (both wins)... Denver is an NFL-best 21-4 (.840) at home in the month of September since 1995 and has won 10 of its last 11 such games... The Broncos begin the year with two divisional games for the first time in 11 years and sixth time overall... Shanahan aims for his 20th career win against the Chargers on Sunday (19-10 overall)... The Broncos are tied for the NFL’s best home divisional record at INVESCO Field at Mile High (18-4 / .818 since 2001)... Denver’s opening game roster was its youngest (26.77 avg. age) and featured its most rookies (10) in the Shanahan era (since 1995)... Denver’s 10 rookies on its opening game roster tied for the fifth-most in the NFL and were its most since 1989 (10)... Three college free agents (P Brett Kern, T Tyler Polumbus and LB Wesley Woodyard) made the Broncos’ opening game roster as rookies for the first time that has occurred under Shanahan... Broncos rookie WR Eddie Royal, a second-round pick from Virginia Tech, registered the sixth-most receiving yards (146) by an NFL player in his debut since 1960 in Denver’s win at Oakland last week... Royal’s nine catches, including 1 TD, were the most by a Bronco in his pro debut in club history... Through Week 1, Royal leads the NFL in receiving yards (146) while placing third in combined yards (185) and yards from scrimmage (155)... Denver QB Jay Cutler registered the second-best passer rating (137.3) in the league for the opening week, throwing for 299 yards (most in AFC, 4th in NFL) on 16-of-24 passing with two TDs and no INTs... Cutler’s 137.3 passer rating was the second highest of his career for a single game... Denver’s first-string offensive line, which did not give up a sack in the preseason and features two first-year starters at tackle (Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris), held the Raiders sackless for the entire game last week... Denver TE Tony Scheffler hauled in a 72-yard pass from Cutler at Oakland with the grab marking the longest by a Broncos TE since 2002 (Shannon Sharpe, 82t) and third longest since 1995... Broncos K Matt Prater is tied for second in the NFL in scoring among kickers (11 pts. / 2 FGs, 5 PATs) through Week 1 and has made his last eight field goal attempts dating back to the preseason... Prater averaged 69.4 yards on eight kickoffs (555 yds.) at Oakland last week for the fourth-best average in the league... The Broncos are third in the league in yards per play (7.5) and yards per game (441.0)... Defensively, the Broncos held Oakland to 2-of-12 (16.7%) success on third downs last week—The Raiders’ average third-down attempt was 7.2 yards.BRONCOS IN HOME OPENERSThe Broncos are 21-3 in home openers since 1984 for a .875 winning percentage that is the best in the NFL. Denver, which has not lost a home opener at INVESCO Field at Mile High (7-0, since 2001), enters Sunday’s game against San Diego having won its last eight home openers (since 2000) for the longest such streak in club history. The Broncos’ last two home openers (both wins) have gone into overtime.Under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.), Denver is 12-1 (.923) in home openers. Including his two seasons with the Raiders from 1988-89, Shanahan is 14-1 (.933) for his coaching career in home openers.All-time, Denver is 35-12-1 (.740) in home openers, a mark that includes a 12-6 record in home openers that are not its first overall game of the season.TWO DIVISIONAL GAMES TO BEGIN YEARFor the first time in 11 years and for the sixth time in club history, the Broncos in 2008 open their season with two divisional games. Denver visited Oakland to open the year, winning 41-14, and hosts the Chargers on Sunday. Denver last opened its season with two AFC West contests in 1997, posting wins at home against Kansas City and on the road against Seattle.SHANAHAN LOOKS FOR 20TH WIN VS. SAN DIEGOWith a 19-10 career record against the Chargers, Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan on Sunday will look for his 20th win against the club. Shanahan’s 19 wins against San Diego are his second most against any other team—He owns 21 wins (21-6 record) against the Oakland Raiders.NOTES FROM DENVER’S LAST FIVE GAMES WITH SAN DIEGO (1-4)at SAN DIEGO 23, Denver 3 (Dec. 24, 2007)
Broncos K Jason Elam appears in his 235th career regular-season game, passing John Elway into sole possession of the most games played in club history... Denver extends its scoring streak to 244 consecutive games, a streak that is the fourth-longest in NFL history and the league’s longest active streak... Denver makes its 57th all-time appearance on Monday Night Football, a total that ties for the fifth-most in NFL history… Denver holds San Diego to 187 passing yards, marking the fifth consecutive game in which the Broncos do not allow their opponent to record more than 200 passing yards... The Broncos’ loss to San Diego snaps their three-game winning streak on Christmas Eve as well as their three-game winning streak in regular-season road finales.SAN DIEGO 41, at DENVER 3 (Oct. 7, 2007)
The Broncos’ loss to the Chargers ends their five-year streak of beginning a season with a 2-0 record in AFC West play... K Jason Elam accounts for Denver’s lone points with a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter, extending Denver’s scoring streak to 234 consecutive games... The Chargers take a 20-3 lead into halftime before scoring the game’s final 21 points... San Diego takes advantage of three Broncos turnovers that lead to 17 points, including a touchdown scored on a fumbled kickoff return in the first quarter... Broncos QB Jay Cutler completes at least 60 percent of his passes for the fourth consecutive game with a 63.9 percent mark (23-of-36) along with 232 passing yards... TE Tony Scheffler records the first blocked punt for Denver since the 2003 season (LB Jashon Sykes at Indianapolis)... The Broncos hold Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson to a 3.2-yard rushing average (21 carries for 67 yards)... Denver WR Glenn Martinez, who entered the game with one career catch, posts six grabs for 70 yards while WR Brandon Marshall adds seven catches for 72 yards.at SAN DIEGO 48, DENVER 20 (Dec. 10, 2006)
The Broncos score 17 unanswered points in the third quarter after falling behind 28-3 at halftime but are unable to earn a win in San Diego... With their victory, the Chargers sweep their season series with Denver for the first time since 1982... Broncos QB Jay Cutler throws two touchdown passes to TE Tony Scheffler within aspan of 48 seconds in the third quarter to tie for the quickest in NFL history that two rookies produced a pair of touchdown passes... Broncos RB Tatum Bell (17-116) posts a 100-yard rushing outing for the second consecutive game, snapping San Diego’s 20-game streak without allowing an individual 100-yard rusher at home... San Diego scores touchdowns on 6-of-8 trips inside the red zone... Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson sets an NFL single season record for touchdowns with his 29th in the fourth quarter.SAN DIEGO 35, at DENVER 27 (Nov. 19, 2006)
The Chargers erase a 24-7 Broncos third-quarter lead, marking the largest comeback to win a game by a team in Denver since Seattle overcame a 20-0 deficit to defeat the Broncos 31-27 on Dec. 10, 1995... CB Darrent Williams’ 31-yard interception return for a touchdown puts Denver ahead 24-7 with 9:25 left in the third quarter before the Chargers outscore the Broncos 28-3 for the remainder of the game... San Diego scores touchdowns on all four red zone possessions... Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson records his first career 100-yard rushing game in Denver (105 yds.) and scores four touchdowns (3 rush, 1 rec.).DENVER 23, at SAN DIEGO 7 (Dec. 31, 2005)
The Broncos, despite resting several starters against San Diego with the AFC’s No. 2 playoff seed clinched, win their third regular season finale in the last four years... Denver S John Lynch forces two fumbles on two sacks that directly lead to nine Broncos points (TD, FG)... Second-year Broncos RB Tatum Bell makes the first start of his career and scores three rushing touchdowns... Broncos QB Jake Plummer is replaced by QB Bradlee Van Pelt to start the second half, and Van Pelt finishes with 41 rushing yards in the contest... Denver holds San Diego to 2-for-14 (14.3%) success on third downs.BRONCOS/CHARGERS CONNECTIONSFORMER SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Broncos S Marlon McCree played with the Chargers from 2006-07.FROM DENVER AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
Chargers Linebackers Coach John Pagano was an assistant coach at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo., from 1992-93... San Diego Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Vernon Stephens served as the assistant speed, strength and conditioning coach at the University of Colorado from 2003-06... Chargers WR Vincent Jackson played at the University of Northern Colorado... Chargers LB Marques Harris played at the University of Colorado from 2000-01.FROM SAN DIEGO AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
Broncos S Hamza Abdullah is from Pomona, Calif., and attended Pomona High School... Denver CB Karl Paymah attended Culver City High School in Culver City, Calif.… Broncos RB Michael Pittman attended Mira Mesa High School in San Diego.CROSSING PATHS (CScott O'BrienOLLEGE)
In 1993, Broncos Defensive Line Coach Bill Johnson was the defensive line coach at Texas A&M with Chargers Tight Ends Coach Clancy Barone, who was an assistant offensive line coach for the Aggies… From 1983-85, Broncos Special Teams Coordinator Scott O'Brien coached special teams and linebackers at UNLV with Chargers Defensive Line Coach Wayne Nunnely, who coached the running backs... Broncos FB Spencer Larsen was teammates with Chargers CB Antoine Cason at the University of Arizona from 2005- 07… Broncos T Ryan Clady was at Boise State with Chargers WR Legedu Naanee from 2004-06… Broncos C Kory Lichtensteiger was at Bowling Green State with Chargers G Scott Mruczkowski from 2003-04, including lining up side-by-side in 2004… Chargers LB Brandon Siler was at Florida with Broncos DT Marcus Thomasand DE Jarvis Moss from 2004-06… Broncos C Casey Wiegmann played alongside Chargers G Mike Goff on the offensive line at Iowa from 1994-95… Broncos DT Kenny Peterson played with Chargers LB Matt Wilhelm at Ohio State from 1999-2002, including as contributors to the Buckeyes’ 2002 national championship squad… Broncos LB Niko Koutouvides played at Purdue with Chargers LB Shaun Phillips from 2000-03 and C Nick Hardwick from 2001-03… While at Colorado, Denver TE Daniel Graham and San Diego LB Marques Harris were teammates from 2000-01.CROSSING PATHS (PRO)
Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner was head coach for Washington while Denver CB Champ Bailey (1999-2003) played there... Broncos Defensive Line Coach Bill Johnson worked with Chargers Tight Ends Coach Clancy Barone in Atlanta from 2004-06... Broncos Special Teams Coordinator Scott O’Brien and Chargers Special Teams Coordinator Steve Crosby coached together for the Cleveland Browns from 1991-95... Denver Offensive Assistant Joe Baker (2000-04) and San Diego Offensive Line Coach John Henry (2000-05) crossed paths in New Orleans… Chargers QB Billy Volek (2000-05) played for the Titans alongside Broncos LS Mike Leach (2000-01)… Broncos CB Champ Bailey (1999-2003) was a member of the Washington Redskins with San Diego LB Derek Smith (1997-00)… Smith (2001-07) and teammate C Jeremy Newberry (1998-06) suited up as a San Francisco 49er with Denver LB Jamie Winborn (2001-05) and DE John Engelberger (2000-04)… Broncos S Marquand Manuel (2002-03) competed in a Cincinnati Bengals uniform with Chargers G Mike Goff (1998-03)… San Diego TE Brandon Manumaleuna (2001-05) shared the field with Denver CB Dre' Bly (1999-02) as St. Louis Rams… Broncos C Casey Wiegmann (2001-07) was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs with Chargers TE Kris Wilson (2004-07).[LOVEMYFLASH]
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