The Denver Broncos are still waiting for that complete game to come together, and they’re running out of time. With the 2-0 Los Angeles Chargers coming to town, the Broncos need to step up their game if they want to take the win. The Chargers are no joke, especially with Jim Harbaugh at the helm – he’s undefeated against the Broncos since taking over as head coach. You can bet that’s got to be eating away at Sean Payton.
If the Broncos can pull off a win, they’ll not only be 2-1, but they’ll also take the top spot in the AFC West thanks to that head-to-head tiebreaker. On the other hand, if the Chargers come out on top, they’ll start to create some serious distance between themselves and the rest of the division. It’s early in the season, but this game is basically a must-win for the Broncos.
As we head into Week 3, several Broncos players are on the verge of making some serious history. Payton is just one win away from tying Bill Parcells for the 16th-most regular-season wins in NFL history. That’s a big deal, especially given their coaching connection. Bo Nix needs just two more passing touchdowns to become the 12th quarterback in NFL history to reach 35 passing scores within his first 20 starts. He’s already shown he’s got what it takes, especially in the red zone.
Nik Bonitto is another player to watch, as he needs just 1.0 sack to become the fifth Bronco in team history to reach 25.0 career sacks in his first four seasons. However, he’s got a tough matchup against the Chargers’ left tackle, Joe Alt. Jonathon Cooper is also closing in on a milestone, needing just 1.0 sack to become the sixth seventh-round pick in NFL history to record at least 2.0 sacks in each of his first five seasons. He’s been a steal for the Broncos, especially considering he was drafted in the seventh round due to concerns over a heart condition.
Cornerback Patrick Surtain II is on the verge of tying Bradley Roby for the most pass breakups by a Bronco in his first 69 career games. That’s some impressive company, given Roby’s contributions to the ‘No Fly Zone’ defense. And finally, wide receiver Courtland Sutton needs just 43 receiving yards to tie Haven Moses for the ninth-most receiving yards in team history. After a disappointing week last week, Payton is definitely looking to get his No. 1 receiver more involved in Week 3.
This Week 3 matchup against the Chargers is shaping up to be a huge game for the Broncos, both in terms of the division standings and individual player milestones. The Broncos need to bring their A-game if they want to take the win and start to make some noise in the AFC West.
