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By Chad Jensen
CARSON, Calif. (247 SPORTS) – The Denver Broncos apparently had a miasmic cloud that followed them everywhere, hanging over their heads. This team had some bad ju-jews but the spell was finally broken.
South Carolina Chargers # 16 wide receiver Tyrell Williams falls victim to solid safety Darian Stewart, No. 26 Denver Broncos, for a first-quarter stint at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, CA. California. (Photo of Harry How / Getty Images)
The Broncos entered LA as a seven-point underdog and defeated the Chargers 23-22. This is Denver's first win on the AFC West road since the 13th week of 2015, and of course Vance Joseph's first victory as head coach.
This team played football for free and that paid off. The Broncos move to 4-6 this season, while the Chargers drop to 7-3.
Such victories can be a stepping stone for the team and set a season. By the time the 11th week was over, the Broncos had not been mathematically eliminated from the playoff race, but with a 5% chance in the playoffs, the margin of error was non-existent.
This margin does not change despite the thwarted victory, but could this victory be pivotal to the resumption of the Broncos season? Only time will tell.
Denver's win in Week 11 was rich in lessons. What were the takeaways?
Online O line at Broncos goes up a gear
The Broncos have lost three starters on the offensive line this season. With three new players among the five starters, the 11th week did not bode well, especially if Joey Bosa was back in the game.
Defensive tackle Corey Liuget, No. 94 of the Los Angeles Chargers, lobbied Kensington Keenum's quarterback Keenum, number 4, as he tried to go into the first quarter at the StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson. , in California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
But the big ugly Broncos held up better, keeping Case Keenum's jersey clean and opening the way to 108 yards on the ground. Keenum was not fired once.
Hat to Connor McGovern in particular – the first unnamed player Matt Paradis to be in the center for Denver since 2014. Billy Turner and Elijah Wilkinson also played an inspired ball at the guard posts.
And Garett Bolles did not have a crucial penalty in critical time, while keeping the likes of Bosa and Melvin Ingram on the back of Keenum. The Broncos needed a phenomenal collective performance of their O-line on the road this week, and they got it.
Keenum leads Denver to victory
There was 1:51 remaining in the clock and the ball was on the 8-yard line of the Broncos. Denver trailed by two points and had no dead time.
All quarters enjoy – and even dream – of such opportunities. Case Keenum was not disappointed.
Keenum led the Broncos 76 yards out of seven games to put Brandon McManus in a position to resume his 9th week sack and connect this time to 34 yards at the end of the clock.
Keenum finished day 19 of 32 on a total of 205 yards. No touchdowns. No interception.
It was just the second time of the year that Keenum did not return the ball and the first game in which the Broncos had no breakaway or interception lost. Faced with the best teams, like the Chargers, the margin of error is zero and Keenum has crossed the line of the razor.
Keenum deserved this victory. Although Philip Rivers surpassed him in terms of numbers, the quarterbacks are judged in terms of wins and losses and, in that sense, Keenum was the top player on Sunday. It was Keenum's signature as Bronco.
Lindsay a legitimate candidate for ORoY
Phillip Lindsay, where did you spend all our life? Denver's untrained rookie phenomenon was again extinguished at the 11th week.
He produced 79 rushing yards in just 11 runs (7.1 on average) and two touchdowns, including his 41-yard strike in the second quarter. Lindsay also scored four receptions for 27 yards, placing him more than 100 yards from the scrum.
Lindsay has a real chance of winning the offensive rookie of the year award, though the NFL blames the NFL for awarding it to a non-invented player compared to Saquon Barkley, No. 2 overall.
Royce Freeman also helped his return to the game after an injury to his ankle that cost him two games. Freeman carried the ball seven times for 23 yards and also scored a touchdown.
All in one, this beginner duo has a total of 1,217 yards in scrimmage and 10 touchdowns in nine games. The Broncos are about to have a dynamic field for at least the next four years.
Joseph trains quickly for his work
The Broncos have just won their fourth game of the season. I had the impression that it was raining on the parade of Vance Joseph. But he almost cost that win to his team.
There were two crucial points in this game where Joseph was probably wrong as a decision maker. One was in the second quarter when the Broncos had the opportunity to advance four points in the fourth run on the Chargers' 16-yard line. Instead of trotting the kicker for the decisive goal, Joseph chose to try and Phillip Lindsay was stopped.
Philip Rivers wasted no time in capitalizing on the momentum gained and allowed the Chargers to lose 84 yards on nine games. L.A. took over 13-7 advantage.
I liked where Joseph's head was. He was training aggressively, but it was a situation in which the Broncos should have taken the points.
PHOTO GALLERY: Broncos 23, Chargers 20
Joseph's second skyscraper arrived in the fourth quarter after the Broncos took over the 20-19 advantage. Joseph chose the two – point conversion, which would have given Denver three points in the last period.
It was the right decision, because a two-point lead would not have served Denver better than a point they had at the moment. Having nothing to lose, the call ended in a nil quarter and Case Keenum beautifully shot the ball to break the plane before his knees touched the ground – but the Officials sentenced him. Not good.
Carson, CA – November 18: Wide receiver Courtland Sutton, No. 14 Broncos of Denver, hangs in front of cornerback Casey Hayward, No. 26 Los Angeles Chargers, in the second quarter at StubHub Center on November 18, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
It was up to Joseph to challenge the game (that was tight), but he finally chose to keep the red flag. Philip Rivers dropped and scored another goal on the board, putting Denver at 22-20.
The decision not to dispute the two-point conversion could have cost the game to the Broncos, but fortunately the defense was able to recover the ball and Keenum led the offensive down for the winning shot.
In the end, Joseph did not want to risk losing a timeout, which at least proved very useful for the Broncos later in the last possession of LA Despite everything, Joseph tried the second run twice , converting one on a fake balloon and showed an aggressive style that undoubtedly helped to pave the way for a win. This shows how bad the margin of error really is in the NFL.
Batman & Robin in history
Von Miller and Bradley Chubb were on a tear and that did not change when leaving the farewell. Both Miller and Chubb were able to sack Rivers, giving the top 10 to the season and the last nine.
Miller now has five consecutive double-digit bag seasons and seven such campaigns during his eight years in the NFL. The only season he did not beat 10 bags or more is 2013 – he lost half of the season with a six-game suspension and a torn ACL. Miller also chose Rivers, giving him more than 40 yards to put Denver in business.
Meanwhile, Chubb said he – and not Derwin James, a member of LA Safety – was the defensive rookie favorite of the year. The DRoY and ORoY awards could both end up in Denver this year, which would be a feat and a blow for Executive Director John Elway.
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