In a game where first place went to the winner, the Broncos had the NFL’s best scoring defense, home field, a sellout, a national TV audience, a seemingly unstoppable zone blocking system and a huge second-half lead.
The San Diego Chargers had LaDainian Tomlinson.
There he goes, Denver. L.T. with the AFC West lead.
Tomlinson scored four touchdowns to push the Chargers past the Broncos 35-27 on a chilled Sunday night at Invesco Field at Mile High.
The Chargers are tops in the division mostly because Tomlinson is at the head of NFL history.
“We’re watching one of the greatest to ever play the game,” said Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, who could never find his passing rhythm while completing 13-of-28 attempts for 183 yards and a late interception. “It stinks that he played like that today.”
Until Tomlinson started his career six years ago, no NFL player had scored 100 touchdowns in fewer than 93 games. Tomlinson now has 102 touchdowns in 89 games.
Afterward, Tomlinson walked out late from the San Diego trainer’s room. Most of the team already had showered, dressed and climbed aboard the bus.
After gaining 105 yards on 20 carries and 74 yards on three receptions, was Tomlinson left battered, bruised, sore, or fatigued by the Denver defense?
“I didn’t have that many carries,” Tomlinson said.
He wasn’t even walking gingerly. Asked to explain the key to scoring more touchdowns than any other at a comparable time, Tomlinson shared his unique approach while buttoning his shirt.
“I always think I’m never going to get another chance to get down there again,” Tomlinson said. “Every time I get down, I think it’s going to be my last one.”
He’s had 102 last ones. The Broncos? They not only blew a 24-7, third-quarter lead, their 7-3 record dropped them into the AFC wild-card standings with games at Kansas City, here against Seattle and at San Diego next on their schedule.
“You’ve got to find a way to close those out and we didn’t do it tonight, and I’m disappointed in ourselves for that,” said Broncos safety John Lynch. “But as much as it hurts, we have to put it behind us because Thursday we have another division game in a tough place to play in Kansas City and we have to have it.”
They do because the Chargers are not only 8-2, they moved within one game of 9-1 Indianapolis for the No. 1 playoff seed.
Entering Sunday, there was reason to believe this game would be put in the hands of the quarterbacks. The Chargers may have Tomlinson, but the Broncos had almost always contained him in Denver. The Broncos, meanwhile, began with a huge question mark at tailback.
Starter Tatum Bell was not activated for a second time in three weeks, leaving Mike Bell, who was not active last week at Oakland, and Damien Nash, who had 14 yards and a goal-to-go fumble in his only other Broncos game.
Apparently, the respective defensive coordinators – the Chargers’ Wade Phillips, a former Denver head coach, and the Broncos’ Larry Coyer – must have had the same thought. Each planned to stop the respective quarterbacks.
“That’s a heck of a defense that likes to be the ones in control,” said San Diego’s Philip Rivers, who finished with 222 yards passing, two touchdowns and two interceptions. “We’re doing the blitzes, we’re keeping you off balance. And they were, but then we became in control and you could sense that they were trying to find answers.”
The ineffective passing attacks created a methodical, rush-heavy first half. The Chargers scored first on a 99-yard march that took up 6:19 of game clock and culminated with a short touchdown run by Tomlinson.
Having barely touched the ball in the first quarter, the Broncos unleashed Nash in the second quarter. Generously listed at 5-feet-10, but every bit the compact 220 pounds, Nash moved the chains with 55 yards rushing on just five carries, and picked up another 24 yards on two receptions.
Nash would alternate with Bell on drives of 88 and 86 yards, until the ball got inside the Chargers’ 5-yard line. This is fast becoming Mike Bell territory, and he rumbled in from 3 yards out to complete each drive.
It was Bell’s sixth touchdown in his past four games. Good, maybe even great. But a long way from all-time great.
Before Tomlinson made history, the Broncos extended their 14-7 halftime lead to 24-7 early in the third quarter, thanks to a Jason Elam field goal and 31-yard touchdown interception return by cornerback Darrent Williams.
But as it turned out, the Chargers had the Broncos exactly where they wanted them. San Diego was down 21-0 last week to Cincinnati and scored 42 points in the second half to win 49-41.
Quickly shaking off his interception, Rivers passed through the Broncos’ secondary until he moved the ball to the Broncos’ 3-yard line. From there, Tomlinson easily made it in for TD No. 100.
On the next series the Broncos used a blitz, but got caught with Ebenezer Ekuban trying to cover Tomlinson. Rivers made the short completions and Tomlinson raced 51 yards untouched.
It was the Broncos 24, Tomlinson 21.
“That’s my fault,” Ekuban said of Tomlinson’s 51-yard touchdown reception. “I don’t care if I am a defensive lineman, I have to cover better.”
After Elam kicked his second field goal to put the Broncos up 27-21 early in the fourth quarter, Rivers threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson, a former Northern Colorado star who made a terrific reaching catch near the back of the end zone.
All that was left from there was another Tomlinson touchdown, a couple of unsportsmanlike penalties on both sides and the quiet departure of a stunned crowd.
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
Extra points
TURNING POINT: Going for it
After watching the Chargers put together consecutive touchdown drives of 60, 58 and 55 yards, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan elected to go for it on fourth-and-4 from the Denver 38-yard line with 3:10 left in the fourth quarter. San Diego was leading 28-27, when a pass by Jake Plummer was intercepted by Drayton Florence and San Diego drove for one more touchdown for the final margin.
CRAZY PLAY OF THE DAY: Failing to cash in
In the first quarter, Denver safety Nick Ferguson intercepted a pass by Philip Rivers at Denver’s 42 after the ball was deflected by defensive tackle Gerard Warren. Still, the Broncos didn’t capitalize on the turnover as their offense went three plays and out to end the opportunity.
HIT OF THE DAY: Engelberger unloads
On the first drive of the game, Denver backup defensive end John Engelberger, above left, pounded San Diego star running back LaDainian Tomlinson after a 1-yard gain to the Denver 42. Engelberger’s big hit ignited Denver’s defense and forced San Diego to punt after the Chargers got four first downs on the drive. It was another big play for Engelberger, who played well the past few weeks.
BESTS: Alumni are honored
Chill: It was a clear, but chilly night – 34 degrees with a wind-chill factor of 27 degrees at kickoff.
Pregame ceremony: Denver’s alumni were feted before the game. Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway received the loudest ovation. Former safety Steve Atwater went out with Denver’s captains for the coin flip.
Blitz: Denver blitzed more than it usual. In the first quarter, linebacker Ian Gold, healthy after a hamstring injury, smoked Philip Rivers, forcing him to throw an incomplete pass.
Drive: The Chargers marched 99 yards for the game’s first touchdown.
Home debut: On his first home carry as a Bronco, backup running back Nash went 26 yards after pinballing his way off several San Diego defenders.
History: Tomlinson’s touchdown run in the third quarter, his second of the game, was the 100th of his career. Tomlinson, in his sixth NFL season, reached the plateau faster than anyone in the NFL. He has played 89 games.
WORSTS: Wasted opportunity
Failure to take advantage: A great 53-yard punt by Paul Ernster, a great bounce and great position by special teams ace Curome Cox enabled Denver to down a punt at the Chargers’ 1. However, the Chargers turned the poor field position into a 99-yard touchdown drive.
Time of possession: Denver had the ball in the first quarter for only 2 minutes, 9 seconds.
– Bill Williamson
Report card
Offense
C: The running game came alive as Mike Bell and Damien Nash provided a strong 1-2 punch for the Broncos. The two combined for 142 of Denver’s 158 rushing yards, ending a two-week slump with poor performances at Oakland and Pittsburgh. But the offense couldn’t make the key plays and take advantage of a 17-point second-half lead. Sloppy play late hurt the team.
Defense
D: San Diego scored four second-half touchdowns. The Chargers scored on their final four possessions of the game after Denver took a 24-7 lead. Star San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson had his first big game in Denver in six tries as he ran for 105 yards, including three rushing touchdowns. Tomlinson also turned a short pass from Philip Rivers into a 51-yard touchdown play.
Special teams
F: Coach Mike Shanahan said he was disappointed in Denver’s special teams and that it needs to make immediate improvement. The Chargers averaged 33.8 yards on five kick returns.
Coaching
D: Shanahan said the Chargers played better and coached better. The Broncos just made too many mistakes on both sides of the ball in the second half.
Overall
F: This one stings. The gravity of the situation they are in and the implications weigh heavy indeed. The team’s already preparing for Thursday’s Chiefs game. The Broncos would put their playoff hopes in peril with a loss at K.C. After Sunday, Broncos are a game behind San Diego and travel there in three weeks. The Broncos’ chances of defending the AFC West took a big hit with the huge collapse.
– Bill Williamson
