Chargers vs Broncos: Keys to victory Week 5 against AFC West rival

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CARSON, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Brandon McManus #8 of the Denver Broncos celebrates his game winning field goal with Colby Wadman #3 in front of Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers for a 23-22 victory at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Chargers key to victory No. 1: Finish the game this time

The Chargers have not won back-to-back games against the Broncos since 2011. That’s back when Ryan Mathews was the running back, Marcus McNeill was still on the team, and Corey Liuget was just a rookie.

Last year, the Chargers lost the game, AFC West, and a first-round bye in the span of about 30 minutes. Holding a respectable 19-7 lead near the end of the third quarter, the Chargers watched as terrible decisions on offense and a defense on its heels blew the game that forced them to eventually head to Foxborough in the 2018 Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Fortunately, the Chargers would get their revenge a month later, winning 23-9 in Denver and even putting backups in during the game.

The Chargers have to finish the game, something they have already failed to do twice this season.

Next. Chargers bright spots so far in 2019

That’s it for the keys to victory this week. While I fully expect a Chargers win here, anything is possible, and the Broncos are starving for a win. Starting 0-5 will kill Denver’s chances of anything happening this season, though it’s been a slow and painful death for them thus far.