A handwritten message was on the chalkboard inside the San Diego Chargers’ locker room Sunday. It read: “Beat Denver. Make it a fistfight. We start it, and we finish it.”
What unfolded at Invesco Field at Mile High was better than a 15-round heavyweight prize fight. Big hits. Comebacks from both sides — including seemingly knockout blows. And tons of emotion and a fantastic finish.
The problem for the Chargers, however, is the fantastic finish went against them for the second consecutive week, with San Diego losing 39-38 to the Broncos to fall to 0-2 by a total of three points.
Once again, it was the Chargers who got knocked out in a controversial, high-anxiety game that resembled their 26-24 Week 1 loss at home to Carolina.
“It was rough. Very rough. Everybody (is) mad,” said Chargers running back and kick returner Darren Sproles, who accounted for a whopping 317 yards, including a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown just after Denver had taken a 21-3 lead. “We stepped up at times, but it wasn’t enough today.”
Despite trailing 21-3 early in the second quarter and 31-17 at halftime, San Diego’s offense wasn’t to blame, because the Broncos controlled the ball for 18:03.
In the second half, the Chargers produced two touchdowns and two field goals to take a 38-31 lead with 4:22 to play. Sproles accounted for the latter touchdown on a 66-yard reception from quarterback Philip Rivers.
San Diego’s defense, which was without injured Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman, appeared to come up big in the final minute to preserve a wild, comeback win, recovering an apparent fumble by quarterback Jay Cutler. But the play was called an incomplete pass on the field, giving the Broncos another chance.
“We feel like we’re a superior ball-club,” Chargers linebacker Matt Wilhelm said. “It’s tough, to feel like you had one taken from you. We did everything we could in the second half to put ourselves back in position to win the ballgame. We were obviously very, very close for the second time in a row.”
San Diego coach Norv Turner said the explanation he received on the negated Denver turnover on the Broncos’ winning drive was “not acceptable,” but he later said that being 0-2 is not such a big concern.
“This group of guys is as strong and committed (a) group as I have ever been around,” Turner said. “We have a lot of things to build on, and we are going to win a lot of football games.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
