Broncos Accidentally Reveal Game Plan vs. Chargers (and LA Still Can’t Stop It)

The LA Chargers were exposed defensively in Week 15 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came to town and scored 40 points with over 500 yards of offense. With major playoff implications in Week 16, the Denver Broncos certainly used this attack as inspiration for Thursday’s game against the Bolts.

Denver picked up right where the Bucs left off, scoring a touchdown on each of the team’s first two drives against the Chargers. These weren’t game-changing touchdown drives either, where the Broncos had to earn every yard. They moved up the field relatively easily.

Despite being a below-average rushing team, the Broncos used the ground game early to move downfield. Worst of all, the Broncos revealed their game plan on national television and it did no good to the Chargers, who had little to no ability to stop the run.

The Chargers can’t stop the Broncos’ game plan, even though they’ve seen it on national television

Granted, Jim Harbaugh doesn’t have a television on the sideline to watch Payton’s playsheet. He is also unable to read the game sheet from across the field. But there are cameras and eyes everywhere, and someone on the Chargers staff should see this and relay the information.

It probably wouldn’t matter much. The Broncos averaged 6.6 yards per carry on the first two drives of the game. Denver ran the ball right down Los Angeles’ throat and did so with a smile.

This raises larger concerns about the evolution of the Chargers defense. As great as the defensive numbers have looked at times this season, the fact is that the Chargers have been exposed in recent weeks.

The end of the first quarter marked the sixth straight quarter in which the Chargers failed to force a punt. The last punt the Chargers forced before the second quarter of Thursday’s game was in their Week 14 third-quarter loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. This is bad.

Things are so bad for the Chargers that the team couldn’t even stop a third-and-11 checkdown pass in the second quarter. This defense is beginning to crumble and crumble before everyone’s eyes.

Therefore, it probably won’t matter much if Payton broadcasts what his team will do on offense. The Chargers will still allow them to score points.