So many questions, so few answers.
How will the Chargers respond Thursday night against the Denver Broncos after their blowout loss Sunday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
How effective will quarterback Justin Herbert be after his mobility was limited by a sprained left ankle, a left thigh contusion and a sore left knee?
How will the Chargers’ defense hold up against quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos after they failed to contain Baker Mayfield and the Bucs?
Anyone who claims to know the answers is either a liar or a fool. Or maybe both.
So much is at stake that the NFL flexed this game from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night in the hope of capturing a greater audience. The Chargers (8-6) need at least one more victory and more likely two wins in order to clinch an AFC wild-card berth. The Broncos (9-5) probably need just one victory.
The Chargers end the regular season with road games against the New England Patriots (3-11) and the Las Vegas Raiders (2-12). The Broncos conclude their regular season with a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) and a home date with the Kansas City Chiefs (13-1).
The Chargers defeated the Broncos in the first game between the teams Oct. 13 in Denver, so a victory Thursday would give them the tiebreaker in case they were to finish with identical records. Defeating the Broncos again would give the Chargers better odds to secure a higher seeding.
If the playoffs were to begin today, the No. 7-seeded Chargers would play the No. 2-seeded Buffalo Bills and the No. 6-seeded Broncos would play the No. 3-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers. A great deal could change in the final weeks if the Chargers were to win and possibly win their final two games, too.
“You want to be playing games in December and January, you know, those games that really mean something to you because it’s much easier waking up and getting excited for them,” Herbert said. “I think the guys have been very excited for these opportunities, knowing the importance of them.”
Herbert said he would continue wearing a brace on his left ankle to keep it secure and help him feel safe on the field during contact or while planting his left foot on the SoFi Stadium artificial turf. This brace differs from the one he wore on his sprained right ankle earlier in the season.
This one wraps around the outside of his shoe and provides additional support.
“I wouldn’t say I tested it too much this week,” he said of his ankle.
In fact, it might be easier for Herbert to rebound from the Chargers’ lackluster offensive showing during a 40-17 loss to Tampa Bay, a game in which they were shut out in the second half and limited to a meager 207 net yards of offense, than it will be to recover from a nagging ankle injury.
“We didn’t play the way we needed to and to be able to go out and play and fix those (things) right away, so to have that short week, it’s like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get going,” Herbert said. “It’s a great opportunity that’s coming up quickly. But at the same time, we’d love to (have time to) game plan.”
As poorly as the Chargers’ offense performed Sunday, their defense was even worse. Not only did they give up the most points they had surrendered this season, topping the previous high of 30, but they also allowed Mayfield to throw for 288 yards and four touchdowns, part of the 505 net yards the Bucs gained.
Plus, the Chargers had been improved when it came to limiting big gains this season, but they reverted to their 2023 form. Tampa Bay had three plays of 35 yards or more and four others of 20 yards or more. Mayfield torched the Chargers with touchdown passes of 57, 35, 26 and 11 yards.
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Additionally, the Buccaneers converted 9 of 15 third downs (60%) and were 1 for 1 on their only fourth-down conversion. Mayfield’s 57-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans in the third quarter seemed to be a back-breaking play despite the fact that it only gave the Buccaneers a 20-17 lead.
“Everything,” Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said when asked what went haywire Sunday, especially in the second half, when the Chargers gave up a season-high 27 points for a half. “The things we talk about to play good defense: explosive plays, stopping the run, third and fourth downs. The great thing is that it’s a short week. We can flush it down and go on to the next one.”
Denver at Chargers
When: 5:15 p.m. Thursday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV: Prime