OPEN THREAD: Chargers vs. Broncos

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Steve Johnson (11) and quarterback Philip Rivers (17) and tackle Joe Barksdale (72) and wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) await in the tunnel during player introductions before the game against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Steve Johnson (11) and quarterback Philip Rivers (17) and tackle Joe Barksdale (72) and wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) await in the tunnel during player introductions before the game against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers (1-4) host Von Miller and the Denver Broncos (4-1) on Thursday Night Football. Here is the open thread.

The Chargers face another divisional opponent in back-to-back games as they take on the Broncos. The Broncos have won 15 straight divisional road games. They are favored to win this game by 3.5 (3 in some). It’s fair to note that the Broncos will be without head coach Gary Kubiak, who is taking a week off after being hospitalized following last Sunday’s game.

The Chargers are in last place in the AFC West and killing themselves by losing every winnable game. According to Pro-FootballReference.com, the Bolts had second-half win probabilities of 99.9 percent (Chiefs), 84.7 percent (Colts), 99.9 percent (Saints) and 77.9 percent (Raiders)–they lost all four.

Another late meltdown–or any type of loss for that matter–would likely guarantee the end of head coach Mike McCoy.

Majority of fans want McCoy gone. He’s been the problem. But we can’t count the Chargers out just yet this early into the season, especially with a somewhat weak AFC. If they do lose on Thursday, it might be too deep of a hole to dig out of.

That said, here are the inactives for Thursday:

Our #DENvsSD Inactives for #TNF

DE D. PhilonCB B. FlowersS J. AddaeCB P. DesirC M. TuerkT T. BurwellTE A. Cleveland

— #DENvsSD (@Chargers) October 13, 2016

Two starers on the offensive line were questionable going into this game, but thankfully RT Joseph Barksdale and LG Orlando Franklin will play. The O-line and running game will be the key to success in this one. With Damion Square back from suspension and Joey Bosa getting more comfortable, Darius Philon is the odd man out. Without Brandon Flowers (third staight game missed) and Jason Verrett (out for year), the Chargers are again thin at corner. But at least the Bolts get ILB Denzel Perryman back. Perryman and Jatavis Brown form an exciting combo.

Now, let’s see who is out for the Broncos:

A few interesting inactives for the Broncos. Heuerman a surprise, and Sambrailo started at RT last week pic.twitter.com/wNETEuVMdP

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 13, 2016

QB Trevor Siemian will start for the Broncos after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury. Melvin Ingram, Joey Bosa and Corey Liuget need to continue to put pressure on the quarterback. More importantly, they need to stop C.J. Anderson and the running game.

Watching Bosa, who recorded two sacks in his NFL debut last Sunday, surely adds excitement to what has been a down season thus far. Oh, and Philip Rivers is on the verge of doing more great things.

Philip Rivers is 125 yards from eclipsing Dan Fouts (43,040) for most all-time by Charger, 13th most in NFL history, as @ChargersPRguy noted

— Michael Gehlken (@sdutGehlken) October 13, 2016

Plus, the ‘Color Rush’ uniforms look #dope.

https://twitter.com/Chargers/status/786031385794506752

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