Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Beth Harris The Associated Press
The Denver Broncos face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday in a crucial AFC West game where either team can claim their first division win or avoid a poor start to the season. The Broncos, currently 2-2 but struggling offensively under quarterback Bo Nix, have slumped to 27th in scoring and total yards per game. Meanwhile, the winless Chargers (0-4) are dealing with penalties, turnovers, and injuries; their running back rotation has become a strategic challenge as defenses must prepare for three different tackling plans. The game will feature the Broncos' defense against the struggling Chargers offense, with key players like Patrick Surtain II for Denver and injured linemen Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater for Los Angeles potentially out.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers are set to face off on Sunday, with both teams looking to improve their struggling starts to the season. The Broncos, who stand at 2-2, are seeking their first AFC West win but have struggled recently under quarterback Bo Nix, ranking 27th in scoring and total yards per game. Coach Sean Payton has taken back play-calling duties from Davis Webb, whose stint lasted just four games.
The Chargers, one of the league’s five winless teams, are desperate to avoid an 0-5 start for the first time since 2003. They have been hit hard by injuries and penalties, leading to a three-man rotation at running back over their last two games. Coach Jim Harbaugh faces pressure on his offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose strategy has resulted in the Chargers averaging only 16.8 points per game, placing them 29th in the league.
The matchup is crucial for both teams’ morale and playoff aspirations as they look to turn their seasons around at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Written for “NFL Week 5 Preview” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Something’s got to give when the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers meet on Sunday.
asserted
Broncos → get → Sunday
Either the Broncos will earn their first AFC West win or the Chargers will extricate themselves from a crowded NFL basement.
asserted
Chargers → earn → basement
Led by quarterback Bo Nix, the Broncos (2-2) have slumped offensively, ranking both 27th in scoring and in total yards per game.
asserted
Broncos → lead → game
“Certainly this isn’t championship football,” said Denver coach Sean Payton, who decided this week to take back offensive play-calling duties.
asserted
who → say → duties
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh could say the same about his team, which has been plagued by penalties and turnovers.
uncertain
which → say → penalties
One of the league’s five winless teams, the Chargers are looking to avoid an 0-5 start for the first time since 2003.
asserted
Chargers → look → 2003
Meanwhile, the Broncos are seeking their first win at SoFi Stadium since 2023.
asserted
Broncos → seek → 2023
Davis Webb’s stint calling plays for the Broncos lasted just four games.
asserted
stint → call → games
Mike McDaniel’s tenure has gotten off to a rocky start, with the Los Angeles offense averaging 16.8 points, which is 29th in the league.
asserted
which → get → league
The Chargers have used a three-man rotation at running back for the last two games.
asserted
Chargers → use → games
“It’s an advantage to the Chargers with defenses having to prepare three different tackling plans for backs with various skill sets,” McDaniel said.
asserted
McDaniel → ’ → sets
“If you don’t disperse the carries, it’s very rare in this day and age that guys are available every week.”
asserted
guys → disperse → day
Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is dealing with a the same foot injury that limited him in practice last week and also in Sunday’s game at Seattle.
asserted
that → deal → Seattle
McDaniel and Payton meet again
asserted
McDaniel → meet → ?
McDaniel was Miami’s coach when the Dolphins routed Payton’s Broncos 70-20 in Week 3 of the 2023 season.
asserted
Dolphins → rout → season
It was the most points scored by an NFL team in a game since 1966.
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It → score → 1966
The Dolphins racked up 726 yards of offense (350 rushing, 376 passing).
asserted
Dolphins → rack → offense
McDaniel chose to take a knee rather than kick a late field goal that could have broken the single-game scoring record.
uncertain
that → choose → record
Payton joked that he was a having a good day until it was brought up this week.
asserted
it → joke → day
“It’s a different offense a little bit,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
“That’s one of those games where we turned it over offensively, but you get burned a few times and you don’t touch the stove again.
asserted
you → ’ → stove
Last week: 49ers beat Broncos 24-14; Seahawks beat Chargers 30-23.
asserted
Seahawks → beat → Chargers
Last meeting: Broncos beat Chargers 19-3 on Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver.
asserted
Broncos → beat → Denver
Series record: Broncos lead 73-58-1.
asserted
Broncos → lead → ?
LA is dealing with major injuries up front and had four rookie linemen, along with veteran Cole Strange, protecting QB Justin Herbert to finish out last week’s loss at Seattle.
asserted
linemen → deal → Seattle
Pro Bowl tackles Joe Alt (neck) and Rashawn Slater (ankle) are doubtful to play.
asserted
Alt → play → ?
Trevor Penning is in concussion protocol and Kayode Awosika is still not practicing.
asserted
Awosika → practice → protocol
Reinforcements could come in the form of Branson Taylor and Scott Matlock, both of whom started the season on injured reserve and returned to practice this week.
uncertain
both → come → practice
Stats and stuff
— The teams are 5-5 in their last 10 meetings, with Denver losing three of the last four.
asserted
Denver → lose → four
— Nix has thrown for just 204.8 yards per game and rushed for a total of 25 yards.
asserted
Nix → throw → yards
— Chargers OLB Khalil Mack has a sack in three consecutive games.
asserted
Mack → have → games
— Herbert has at least one interception in every game, including two last week against Seattle.
asserted
Herbert → have → Seattle
He was sacked four times last week, too.
asserted
He → sack → ?
— Nix played at Oregon for two seasons after transferring from Auburn.
asserted
Nix → play → Auburn
Herbert played in Eugene for four seasons, highlighted by a 2020 Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin in his final college game.
asserted
Herbert → play → game
— The Chargers had 16 penalties for 130 yards last week against Seattle.
asserted
Chargers → have → Seattle
_
AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver contributed to this report.
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asserted
Stapleton → contribute → report
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