Broncos Upset Chargers in LA, Get First Win of 2019

Finally, the Broncos won a football game. Going back to last season, the Broncos had lost eight games in a row, which was the longest streak in the NFL. Sunday they went into LA and defeated the Chargers 20-13 to notch their first win of the year and improve their record to 1-4. Denver jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, and they held on to get the win. Here are my thoughts and observations about the game....

1) The Broncos scored the first two drives of the game and it was like "Where was this offense all year?" Philip Lindsay capped the opening drive with a TD run and Courtland Sutton hauled in a Joe Flacco pass for a 70 yard TD to make it 14-0 early for the Broncos. What a start for this offense.

2) The Broncos got their first turnover of the year when Justin Simmons picked off Philip Rivers in the first quarter. I didn't expect it would get to Week 5 before Denver got its' first takeaway of the year.

3) Kareem Jackson made the defensive play of the first half when he dove and stopped Austin Ekeler at the goaline on 4th and Goal with no time left in the half to preserve the 17-0 halftime lead.

4) The Broncos got sloppy in the second half. A Joe Flacco interception was bailed out by an Al Johnson interception of Rivers in the endzone. The Broncos gave up a punt return for a TD in the 3rd quarter to cut the lead to 17-7. To be honest, there were at least two blocks in the back that were not called. The Chargers kept cutting into the lead and cut the score to 17-10 in the 4th quarter.

5) When the score was 17-10, Brandon McManus missed a 52 yarder to make it 20-10, and I thought to myself that the Broncos are going to blow another game late. But, give their defense credit because they forced a punt and got the ball back. The Broncos, behind Philip Lindsay, got some big first downs and iced the game on a field goal to make it 20-10.

6) Philip Lindsay was great on offense all game long, and the Broncos defense did a great job on Rivers and that LA offense. Kareem Jackson was all over the field, Chris Harris shut down Keenan Allen, and Al Johnson filled in for the injured Josey Jewell and was all over the field. He was the best player on the Broncos defense.

7) Congrats to Vic Fangio on getting his first win as a head coach. It should have happened earlier this year, but they got the win and now hopefully they can string some wins together. They host Tennessee next week in Denver with the hopes of getting to 2-4.