LA Chargers: Staff predictions vs. Denver Broncos

Two 2-4 AFC West teams square off in Week 8 as the LA Chargers take on the Denver Broncos.

The LA Chargers are looking for their first winning streak of the season as they take on the Denver Broncos in Week 8 on the road.

This game will be tough for the Chargers as they could have an offensive line filled with third and fourth options. Ryan Groy and Trey Pipkins both were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and we don’t yet know if Bryan Bulaga or Storm Norton will be available.

While Justin Herbert is incredible and the Chargers have more all-around talent than Denver, they are also being tasked with playing in elevation, which could be tricky for a rookie quarterback.

Regardless, here is how the Bolt Beat staff sees this game going down. The total for this game has been set at 44.5 points, courtesy of The Action Network.

Bolt Beat’s LA Chargers-Denver Broncos predictions:

Alexander Insdorf (6-4-0): LA Chargers 23, Denver Broncos 20

“This game feels like a lower scoring game than people think. Denver is always a tough place to play and Justin Herbert hasn’t experienced playing at Mile High.

The Chargers running game could give the bolts an edge, but I don’t see them going off with the current state of the offensive line. Chargers grind out a win that’s less of a shootout than their previous games.”

Brandon Viera (5-7-0): LA Chargers 24, Denver Broncos 13

“The Chargers come into this game with a much better offense led by Justin Herbert. They can consider themselves lucky that they avoided a COVID-19 breakout with minimal complications. They’ll get their second win in a row and make next week’s battle against the Raiders the most important of the season to date.”

Devon Auriemma (9-3-0): LA Chargers 27, Denver Broncos 24

“While both teams have been battling injuries to key players, the Chargers offense has been able to produce while the Broncos have struggled.

Both defenses are solid and should be able to generate a ton of pressure on the opposing quarterback, but the Chargers offense gives them the edge in this matchup. The Chargers pick up their third win of the season and move one game closer to .500.”

Ryan Daley (7-1-0): LA Chargers 27, Denver Broncos 21

“This might be an ugly game with the Chargers heavily beat-up offensive line facing a very underrated pass-rushing duo of Malik Reed and Bradley Chubb. Though at the end of the day, I can still see Herbert and the Chargers succeeding against a Broncos offense that isn’t good at all.”

Steven Haglund (10-2-0): LA Chargers 23, Denver Broncos 20

“The Chargers are the better team. They have the better quarterback. The better pass rush. But I don’t feel confident in this game at all. This will be a dog fight, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it turns into a 17-14 slugfest. Let’s see how QB1 responds.”

Tyler Gallagher (8-4-0): LA Chargers 19, Denver Broncos 14

“The Chargers are in a tough place this week with injuries and infections along the offensive line. Fortunately, that unit gets to go against a similarly battered defensive line. It won’t be pretty, but the Chargers offense does just enough to get the win.”

Jason Reed (8-4-0): LA Chargers 33, Denver Broncos 21

This is the score that I predicted in my latest bold predictions piece so it has to be the score that I predict here. As written previously, I think the Chargers will be up 26-21 with four or so minutes in the game and will get the ball back deep in their own territory after a punt.

This will be when Justin Herbert proves if he can overcome a banged-up offensive line and the elevation in Denver. Spoiler alert: he will prove that he can overcome those hurdles.

Herbert leads the Chargers on an 80+ yard drive and caps it off with a touchdown to give us our final score: 33-21. Denver will get the ball back with little time remaining but won’t come up with even a first score.