The Denver Broncos travel to SoFi Stadium on Sunday looking for their first AFC West win of the season, while the Los Angeles Chargers try to avoid an 0-5 start for the first time since 2003. Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS, with Denver carrying a 2-2 record into a matchup against a Chargers team still searching for its first victory at 0-4.
The Broncos vs Chargers matchup carries plenty of weight for both sidelines. Denver sits second in the AFC West at .500, while Los Angeles is one of five winless teams left in the league. A loss Sunday would put the Chargers at a level they haven’t reached in more than two decades, while a Broncos win would give Denver its first divisional victory of the year.
Denver Broncos Vs Chargers Game Information
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 11
- Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
- Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
- TV: CBS
- Series: Broncos lead the all-time series 73-58-1
By The Numbers
- Points per game: Broncos 18.5, Chargers 16.8
- Passing yards per game: Broncos 204.8, Chargers 204.0
- Rushing yards per game: Broncos 81.3, Chargers 121.5
- Total yards per game: Broncos 286.0, Chargers 325.5
- Third-down conversion rate: Broncos 39.62%, Chargers 34.62%
- Red zone scoring rate: Broncos 81.82%, Chargers 91.67%
- Turnover differential: Broncos -1, Chargers -3
- Sacks allowed per game: Broncos 1.3, Chargers 3.0
According to FOX Sports, the Broncos rank 27th in the league in both scoring and total yards per game, while the Chargers offense ranks 29th at 16.8 points per game.
Denver Broncos Outlook
Denver enters having lost two of its last three games, including a 24-14 setback at San Francisco last week. The Broncos have scored 74 points through four games and are averaging 18.5 points per contest, numbers that have put the offense under scrutiny. Head coach Sean Payton took over offensive play-calling duties this week, taking the responsibility away from Davis Webb, according to FOX Sports.
Quarterback Bo Nix has completed 81 of 135 passes for 819 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions, good for a 80.4 passer rating. J.K. Dobbins leads the rushing attack with 161 yards on 46 carries, while Jaylen Waddle, added to the offense this offseason according to Yahoo Sports, leads the team with 16 catches for 185 yards and a touchdown.
Denver’s defense has been stretched thin at cornerback. Patrick Surtain II is listed as doubtful with an ankle sprain, and Riley Moss is questionable with a rib injury, meaning the Broncos could be down both starting cornerbacks, per FOX Sports. Wide receiver Pat Bryant is doubtful with an ankle sprain, running back Jonah Coleman is on injured reserve with a target return date of Oct. 25, and linebacker Jonathon Cooper is out for personal reasons with an expected return of Oct. 15.
Los Angeles Chargers Outlook
Los Angeles has dropped five straight dating back to the preseason and was beaten 30-23 at Seattle last week. The Chargers have scored 67 points on the season, an average of 16.8 per game, the second-lowest mark in the league. Justin Herbert has completed 71 of 119 passes for 816 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions, a line that reflects an offense still finding its footing under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Rookie running back Omarion Hampton leads the ground game with 238 yards and three touchdowns on 59 carries, and the Chargers have used a three-man rotation at running back over their last two games. Tre’ Harris paces the receiving corps with 13 catches for 209 yards, while wide receiver Ladd McConkey is dealing with a foot injury, according to FOX Sports.
The offensive line is a major concern. Pro Bowl tackle Joe Alt is questionable with a neck injury, fellow tackle Rashawn Slater is doubtful with an ankle issue, guard Kayode Awosika has not practiced, and Trevor Penning remains in concussion protocol. Los Angeles started four rookie linemen and veteran Cole Strange in front of Herbert in last week’s loss at Seattle, per FOX Sports. Branson Taylor and Scott Matlock, both recently activated from injured reserve, are possible reinforcements.
Key Matchup
The Broncos defense against the Chargers offense is the matchup that could decide the game, according to FOX Sports. Denver’s defense has produced 21 passes defended and eight sacks through four games, led by outside linebacker production, while the Chargers have allowed three sacks per game and surrendered 12 sacks total this season. Los Angeles also committed 16 penalties for 130 yards against Seattle last week, and with a patchwork offensive line in front of Herbert, protection issues could compound the Chargers’ turnover problems.
Los Angeles has given away the ball 2.5 times per game on average compared to Denver’s 1.3, a gap that has shown up in the Chargers’ 0-4 start. For Denver, the challenge is generating pressure without its top two cornerbacks healthy. If Surtain and Moss are both sidelined or limited, the Broncos pass rush will need to get home quickly against a line already reshuffled by injury.
Players To Watch
Khalil Mack, OLB, Chargers
Mack has recorded a sack in three consecutive games and represents the Chargers’ most consistent source of pressure heading into Sunday.
Bo Nix, QB, Broncos
Nix has thrown for 819 yards and five touchdowns this season, and his performance will carry even more weight now that Payton has taken over play-calling duties.
Omarion Hampton, RB, Chargers
Hampton has rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns on 59 carries, the most productive piece of an otherwise struggling Chargers offense.
What To Watch
Denver was one win away from the Super Bowl last season, according to Yahoo Sports, and a win over a winless divisional opponent would mark a step toward stabilizing a season that has started unevenly. The Broncos received a slight bump in power rankings this week despite their loss to San Francisco, partly because AFC East rival Buffalo lost to New England, per Yahoo Sports. For the Chargers, the stakes are more urgent.
Los Angeles has lost three of the last four meetings with Denver and dropped the most recent matchup 19-3 in Denver on Jan. 4, 2026. The two teams have split their last ten meetings at 5-5, but the Chargers have not opened a season 0-5 since 2003, and a loss Sunday would match that mark.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
