So many questions, so few answers.
How will the Chargers respond Thursday night against the Denver Broncos after their blowout loss Sunday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
How effective will quarterback Justin Herbert be after his mobility was limited by a sprained left ankle, a left thigh contusion and a sore left knee?
How will the Chargers’ defense hold up against quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos after they failed to contain Baker Mayfield and the Bucs?
Anyone who claims to know the answers is either a liar or a fool. Or maybe both.
So much is at stake that the NFL flexed this game from Sunday afternoon to Thursday night in the hope of capturing a greater audience. The Chargers (8-6) need at least one more victory and more likely two wins in order to clinch an AFC wild-card berth. The Broncos (9-5) probably need just one victory.
The Chargers end the regular season with road games against the New England Patriots (3-11) and the Las Vegas Raiders (2-12). The Broncos conclude their regular season with a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) and a home date with the Kansas City Chiefs (13-1).
The Chargers defeated the Broncos in the first game between the teams Oct. 13 in Denver, so a victory Thursday would give them the tiebreaker in case they were to finish with identical records. Defeating the Broncos again would give the Chargers better odds to secure a higher seeding.
If the playoffs were to begin today, the No. 7-seeded Chargers would play the No. 2-seeded Buffalo Bills and the No. 6-seeded Broncos would play the No. 3-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers. A great deal could change in the final weeks if the Chargers were to win and possibly win their final two games, too.
“You want to be playing games in December and January, you know, those games that really mean something to you because it’s much easier waking up and getting excited for them,” Herbert said. “I think the guys have been very excited for these opportunities, knowing the importance of…
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