By Tom Krasovic

Friday, November 16, 2012

Last gasp?: With a defeat, the Chargers would trail the Broncos by three
games with six to go and Denver would own the head-to-head tiebreaker
over them. The Broncos have the easier remaining schedule, which
includes two games with the 1-8 Chiefs. For the Chargers, any realistic
chance of winning the AFC West starts with beating the Broncos.

Veteran inspiration: Antonio Gates says it's a shame that well-traveled
teammates Takeo Spikes and Randy McMichael – who’ve each been in the NFL
at least 11 years -- have never gone to the playoffs. The two ought to
give their teammates a pregame pep talk.

Remember him?: Ryan Mathews is having a disappointing stretch dating to
July. He crashed his BMW in training camp, and injuries suffered on the
field (collarbone, ankle, neck) sidelined or slowed him for much of the
season’s first half. It’s not certain that he will play. If he does, the
Chargers may need another big performance at Denver, where he rushed for
120 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie (4.6 yards per carry) and 125
yards (5.2) last year.

Upset incentive: An upset victory would leave the Chargers at 4-1 in the
division and a game behind the Broncos. Four of the Chargers’ final six
games are at home. The final six opponents have a combined 24-29 record.
One of those teams, the Steelers, lost quarterback Ben Roethlistberger
to an injury that may sideline him against the Chargers.

Aztec pride: Broncos coach John Fox is a San Diego State alum who said
he makes regular donations to the school. A year ago his first Broncos
team was 1-5 after the Chargers won at Denver. Fox switched to Tim Tebow
as his starting quarterback, jerry-rigged with his coaches a
ground-based option offense and directed the Broncos to the playoffs and
a wild-card victory over the Steelers. A win would all but clinch for
Fox a second AFC West title in two tries.