Conference Semi: DEN @ SD

1. New York Giants (13-3)

2. Green Bay Packers (11-5)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3) Lost to Green Bay 31-21

4. Washington Redskins (12-4)

5. San Francisco 49ers (8-8) Lost to Washington 31-16

 

1. San Diego Chargers (14-2)

2. Atlanta Falcons (9-7) Lost to Oakland 34-16

3. Oakland Raiders (12-4)

4. Denver Broncos (11-5)

5. Houston Oilers (10-6) Lost to Denver 31-20

 

Denver (12-5) +8 at San Diego (14-2)

 

The Chargers have a significant lead in overall matchups posting a 10-3 record over Denver since 2007, when John Conners took over the Broncos, including two playoff games and both games this season. However, the Broncos came into their own last year, sweeping the San Diego in the regular season and then defeating them in the AFC Championship game ultimately losing to Green Bay in the Super Bowl.

 

DEN Offense vs SD Defense

The Broncos have a powerful ground game with the #2 RB in the league Chris Johnson (1,542 yds, 11 tds, 4.8 avg) which sets up an efficient passing attack led by the two headed dragon of  QB Jon Kitna (2,567 yds, 66% completion, 21 tds, 5 ints, 104.7 rating) and Jason Campbell (2,191 yds, 63.7%, 18 tds, 7 ints, 97.4 rating). By QB rating, these are the #3 and #7 QBs in the league. WR Reggie Wayne is the primary passing target (98 catches, 15 tds, 15.3 yds/catch). TE Vernon Davis is a distance second on the reception chart with 58 which makes rotates a lot of attention onto Wayne. They are only #8 in scoring. That's not bad but it isn't good enough against the top defense in land.

 

San Diego only allows 14.6 points a game. They are similiar to the Washington Redskins - a powerful offense puts pressure on the opposition to go to the air and the defense grounds it. 34 sacks, 14 picks led by DE Dwight Freeney (11 sacks) and CB Eric Weddle (4 interceptions). After squeaking by Denver in week 3, 35-31, they shut them out in week 12, 23-zip, allowing only 100 yards offense.

 

SD Offense vs DEN Defense

And if a crushing defense wasn't impossible enough to deal with, Denver has to face one of the top passing offenses in the league featuring QB Philip Rivers (4,171 yds, 37 tds, 8 ints) and WRs Larry Fitzgerald (68 catches, 6 tds) and Jennings (58 receptions, 11 tds). Thousand yard rusher Arian Foster (1,070 yds, 6 tds, 4.1 avg) provides plenty of distraction to keep defenses honest on the ground. In spite of not having a great run defense (#14, allowing 110 yds a game), the Bronco defense was able to contain Foster in both games...but not Rivers. Denver looks very bad against the pass, with only a few pass defense categories barely ranked #10 with most, like pass yards allowed, yards per completion, pass interception and sack percentages, #18 or higher. Of course, if your division has Tom Brady and Philip Rivers, your pass defense statistics are bound to not look too hot.

 

The Broncos may put up a good game but will eventually succomb to the eventual Super Bowl champ, the mighty San Diego Chargers.