Defensive-minded Broncos, Chargers square up for slugfest

Back in Denver days after breaking the long-running hex of the rival Raiders, the Broncos attempt to catch lightning in a bottle once more when another division foe rolls into town Sunday afternoon.

The Broncos (3-2) catapulted into second place in the AFC West with a 34-18 win over the visiting Raiders last week and push for a fourth consecutive win over the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2).

Los Angeles managed 16 total points in a pair of defeats against Denver last season, part of the reason the Chargers are under new management in 2024. New boss Jim Harbaugh steers a rested bunch into Week 6 following a bye week wary of a battle plan from the Broncos that looks eerily familiar.

“Not where we want to be. We want to be 4-0,” Harbaugh said. “We’re 2-2.”

Denver enjoyed home cooking last week, when they snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Raiders that included every game since the franchise moved to Las Vegas. The Broncos put up 34 points, their highest output in a game since beating the Lions 38-10 on Dec. 12, 2021 with a backfield of Teddy Bridgewater and Melvin Gordon.

Defense is the common denominator in this AFC West contest. The Broncos have allowed 11.8 points per game since a Week 1 loss at Seattle and are tied for second in the NFL in scoring defense behind the Chargers’ NFL-leading 12.5 opponent points per game.

“In my experience, defense comes along a little quicker,” Harbaugh said. “Offense is that frustrated, patient discipline.”

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert welcomed the early bye week.

He played through a high ankle sprain in consecutive losses before the Week 5 break as the Chargers reset in the midst of a stretch with two touchdowns in the past 10 quarters. The Steelers and Chiefs took away the running game that put up 395 yards to carry the offense during a 2-0 start. Production declined to 116 total yards in the defeats to Pittsburgh and Kansas City.

Harbaugh said “nobody does more” for the Chargers than Herbert, who is practicing with his right ankle wrapped and was a limited practice participant on Wednesday. He’s also a key component in the Chargers making the type of improvement Harbaugh said he’s chasing.

“For us it’s getting crisper, sharper on offense,” Harbaugh said, pointing to penalties as missed assignments as areas of focus. “And in all areas. But that’s particularly what we’re attacking.”

Finding a ground game has helped Nix settle in; he threw four interceptions in his first two starts. He enters Week 6 with 78 consecutive passes without a pick over the past three starts with Denver’s team rushing yardage over 100 in each of those wins.

‘He’s getting experience, and we’re seeing it,” Payton said of Nix impressing him with “processing” skills pre-snap.

A run-first identity is Payton’s preference, but he knows the Broncos have to find a way to take more consistent shots downfield to open running lanes and extend drives. Denver’s 14.8 first downs per game is tied for 30th in the NFL with the New England Patriots — behind the likes of the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns — but ahead of the 32nd-ranked Chargers (13.5).

One of the consequences is a miniscule margin for error for both defenses. Nix had 60 passing yards in a Week 3 win over the Jets. Herbert is averaging 144.5 passing yards per game.

But both teams are staying afloat by coming up with takeaways and getting to the quarterback. Only five teams have more takeaways than the Broncos’ eight and the Chargers are tied for third in the league with a plus-five turnover differential.

Nix averages 168.3 passing yards per game, 30th in the NFL. But Payton insists he’ll measure success of his team and quarterback by one statistic — victories. Nix is the first Denver rookie quarterback to win three consecutive starts and posted his first game with multiple TD passes last week, when the Broncos also delivered a 100-yard interception return courtesy of cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Surtain was NFL defensive player of the week and is being mentioned as a potential NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

“He’s playing lights out,” Payton said of Surtain. “I can’t stand talking about those type of awards in the early part of October. But man, the play he made the other day was huge. He’s obviously one of, if not the top corner in the league. He practices his tail off. He’s a great teammate.”

Surtain said “it is a little early” for end-of-season awards and he’s looking to build each week.

“I’m just going to keep on working and keep on honing my craft,” Surtain said.

After Week 6, three of the next four games are on the road for the Broncos. Payton returns to New Orleans next week for a primetime matchup with the Saints on Thursday night. Denver hosts the Panthers in Week 8 before going to Baltimore and Kansas City to start November.

The Chargers are also in primetime next week with a Monday night trip to play the Arizona Cardinals.

The Chargers placed running back Gus Edwards (ankle) and cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. on injured reserve on Saturday. Samuel, who started the first four games, is sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Los Angeles star outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) was limited in his return to practice Friday and is questionable for Sunday. Bosa has not played since Week 3.

Four others are also questionable for Los Angeles: cornerbacks Deane Leonard (hamstring) and Kristian Fulton (knee), linebacker Nick Niemann (hamstring) and offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (pectoral). However, Niemann was taken off injured reserve Saturday and is expected to play.

The Broncos have ruled out receiver Josh Reynolds (hand), center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) and offensive tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle). Running back Audric Estime (ankle) and cornerback Damarri Mathis (ankle) are questionable.

–Field Level Media

Underachieving Bengals can’t afford slip vs. banged-up Giants

Two teams with hopes of salvaging their season meet Sunday night when the New York Giants face the Cincinnati Bengals in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Giants (2-3) not only have the advantage of playing in their home stadium, but they are also coming off a 29-20 road win over the Seattle Seahawks and now return with a chance to get to .500 on the season.

The Bengals (1-4) hope to get past their most recent disappointment in a season full of them, as they lost 41-38 in overtime to the visiting Baltimore Ravens last week.

The Giants are dealing with injuries to key performers on both sides of the ball.

Coach Brian Daboll said outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux is week-to-week after undergoing surgery to address a wrist injury, while rookie star wide receiver Malik Nabers will miss a second game in a row due to a concussion.

New York linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) also was ruled out, while wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (shoulder) and punter Jamie Gillan (hamstring) were considered questionable as of Friday.

Giants running back Devin Singletary (groin) was a limited practice participant all week and was listed as questionable. He is “trending in the right direction” toward a return Sunday night, according to Daboll.

In their win at Seattle, the Giants recorded a season-best 420 total yards. They held the Seahawks to their lowest point total of the season, and New York is allowing just 20.8 points per game.

Dexter Lawrence has fought through double and triple teams to record six sacks, the highest total by a New York player through five games since 2011, when Jason Pierre-Paul had 6.5.

“It’s not an easy thing,” Daboll said. “There were times last week where there were three guys on him. So, again, he understands that. When he gets his opportunities, he’s got to make them go. Very thankful that he’s on our football team.”

The Bengals have little to be thankful for lately.

Against the Ravens, they built three different 10-point leads in the second half thanks to an impressive performance from quarterback Joe Burrow. However, the defense failed to protect the advantages, Burrow threw a late interception in regulation and the special teams failed in overtime when holder Ryan Rehkow bobbled the snap on a potential 53-yard game-winning field goal.

Burrow, who threw a career-high five touchdown passes, completed 30 of 39 attempts for 392 yards and a 137.0 passer rating. Burrow’s top receivers — Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — each had a pair of touchdown grabs.

Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor preached the importance of not looking beyond this week’s matchup against the Giants.

“We’re five games into the season,” Taylor said. “I know what the noise is. We’re 1-4, and so we’re accountable for all of that. It’s not good enough. We have too much talent on this team to be in the position we’ve found ourselves in right now.

“But all we can do focusing forward is (to ask ourselves), how do we beat the New York Giants? How do we have a great week, how do we get back on the winning track? You look around the AFC and there’s plenty of opportunity there moving forward, and we just need to take advantage of it.”

The Bengals have scored 30-plus points in each of their past three games. They enter Week 6 tied for fourth in the NFL in scoring (28 points per game), ninth in total offense (359 yards per game) and fifth in passing offense (263 yards per game).

Cincinnati DJ Ivey, on injured reserve due to a knee ailment, returned to practice this week as a full participant and was listed as doubtful for Sunday. Cornerback Mike Hilton (knee) and halfback Chase Brown (quadriceps) were both listed as questionable.

The two teams are meeting for just the 12th time, with the Bengals leading the series 6-5. The Giants won the most recent meeting 19-17 in 2020 at Cincinnati, the only time the visiting team has prevailed in the past 11 encounters.

–Field Level Media

Falcons hope they won’t need late-game magic vs. Panthers

The Atlanta Falcons have figured out how to make the most of their talent so far amid a makeover.

The Carolina Panthers still are trying to sort things out ahead of the Falcons’ visit to Charlotte on Sunday.

The Falcons (3-2) own a one-point victory, a two-point triumph and an overtime win after trailing in the last minute of each of those games.

“The guys just don’t blink,” first-year coach Raheem Morris said. “All of our games have been locked and loaded as far as a (tight margin).”

Atlanta hasn’t played since winning 36-30 in overtime against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 3. The quest to show gains continues because the margins have been so tight.

“It’s a constant improvement all around,” Morris said. “Every week will be something different.”

The Panthers (1-4) have lost two games in a row, falling to 1-2 since Andy Dalton became the starting quarterback. Most recently, Carolina fell 36-10 to the Chicago Bears and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

“The players are ones who have to step up,” Dalton said. “Regardless of what the record is and how things have gone, there are a lot of positive things with this team.”

Other than winning on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 22 and producing some good stretches against the Cincinnati Bengals the next week, the Panthers haven’t held up well.

“We have to keep trying to take those steps,” first-year Carolina coach Dave Canales said. “We go into every game hopeful that this is the week. We’ve had some flashes the past couple of weeks, but can we be consistent and can we consistently execute our schemes.”

The Panthers will try to slow quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has given the Falcons stability at quarterback. Cousins threw for a franchise-record 509 yards in the win over the Buccaneers. Drake London has caught 32 passes from Cousins, with three going for touchdowns.

The Falcons have lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers by eight points and to the Kansas City Chiefs by five points. They won their only road outing, against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 16.

“If you’re a good football team, you put healthy pressure on everybody to perform,” Morris said. “I think that’s what we’ve got going on now, which is a lot of fun.”

Dalton’s veteran presence means the Falcons have to be prepared to adjust on defense.

“He has won a lot of games in this league,” Morris said. “Nothing you give him is going to shock him.”

Atlanta has been stingy on defense, and the Panthers have to be ready to deal with that. Dalton is familiar with the personnel on the other side.

“I was around (Falcons safety) Jessie Bates for a couple of years at Cincy, so I know what kind of player he is,” Dalton said.

Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo is 5-for-6 on field-goal attempts of 50 or more yards.

Carolina lost center Austin Corbett for the season because of a biceps tear last week, and the team also ruled out four other players on Friday: linebacker Josey Jewell (hamstring/groin), right tackle Taylor Moton (elbow), center Andrew Raym (concussion) and tight end Tommy Tremble (concussion). Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder) is listed as questionable.

The Panthers have been busy making moves to fill the gaps. Among the roster shifts was promoting defensive end DeShawn Williams from the practice squad while signing offensive lineman Cade Mays, who previously played for Carolina, off the New York Giants’ practice squad. Mays started seven games for the Panthers across the past two seasons.

Atlanta ruled out linebacker Troy Andersen (knee), who didn’t practice all week and will miss his second consecutive game. Linebacker Matthew Judon (hamstring) was a limited participant Wednesday and Friday. Linebacker Nate Landman (calf/quad) is listed as questionable for the game. His 21-day window to be activated was opened Wednesday, and he has been limited all week

The Falcons lead the series with Carolina by 36-22, including 15-14 on the road. The teams split last year, with Atlanta taking the season opener at home 24-10 before the Panthers responded with a 9-7 home victory in December.

–Field Level Media