BESTS
Precious few highlights
Spy: In the first quarter, Broncos cornerback Dré Bly was hovering near the Chargers’ huddle, trying to figure out the plan.
First catch: Broncos second-year tight end Tony Scheffler made his first catch of the season, a 19-yarder in the first quarter. Scheffler had injury problems in training camp and has been slow to contribute.
Start: On the Chargers’ first play from scrimmage, Broncos safety Nick Ferguson blitzed and hammered running back LaDainian Tomlinson for a 4-yard loss. It went downhill from there for the Broncos’ defense.
WORSTS
Setbacks start even before kickoff
Omen: When he was leaving the field after pregame warm-ups, Broncos running back Travis Henry slipped. It was a bad omen.
Fumble: Down 14-0 in the first quarter, the Broncos were driving to get back in the game, but receiver Brandon Marshall fumbled at the San Diego 9 after a 26-yard reception.
Statistics: Late in the first half, the Broncos were down 17-0 but had the same amount of yardage as the Chargers: 157.
TURNING POINT
Return of futility
San Diego took a 7-0 lead with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, the Broncos’ Brian Clark – on his first return as a replacement for Domenik Hixon – fumbled the ball. It popped into the air, then into the arms of San Diego’s Brandon Siler at the Denver 23. Siler rambled into the end zone to give the Chargers an early 14-0 lead, demoralizing the home team and the home crowd.
CRAZY PLAY OF THE GAME
Run for daylight
Happy to be heading to the locker room with a 17-3 lead at the half, the Chargers were content to run out the clock in the final minute. Backup tailback Michael Turner, above, then broke down the sideline 49 yards to the Broncos’ 17-yard line with 13 seconds to go. That set up a field goal, and the opportunistic Chargers took a 20-3 lead.
HIT OF THE GAME
Welcome to big time
In the second quarter, Broncos rookie running back Selvin Young caught a short pass and gained 9 yards before San Diego linebacker Shaun Phillips grabbed him and threw him down like a rag doll. Young had no chance.
REPORT CARD
OFFENSE
F The offense was sloppy and couldn’t find a rhythm. Quarterback Jay Cutler was decent, but Brandon Marshall’s fumble in the first quarter set the tone for a lousy day by the Denver offense.
DEFENSE
F The Broncos’ run defense was its usual porous self, allowing 214 yards. But the Denver pass defense, ranked No. 1 in the league going into the game, also was a sieve. San Diego gained 270 yards in the air. The Denver defense allowed San Diego to convert 6-of-10 third-down opportunities.
SPECIAL TEAMS
F There actually were some good things on special teams, starting with a blocked punt. But Brian Clark’s fumbled kickoff in the first quarter was converted into a San Diego touchdown for a 14-0 lead that doomed Denver. The special teams once again set the tone for a loss.
COACHING
F Every aspect of the game was awful, including the coaching. It simply was a bad day, and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan pinned the blame on himself.
OVERALL
F Could it get worse? The team has lost three in a row, two straight at home, and star running back Travis Henry is facing a potential year-long suspension. Things are horrible in Denver as the team hits its bye week in the wake of the worst home loss in 41 years.
