A missed San Diego Chargers field goal is the difference at halftime in yet another game where the Denver Broncos offense struggled to put points on the board. The Denver Broncos lead the Chargers 10-7 in Denver thanks to a Bradley Roby pick-six in the second quarter.
After kicking a field goal on the opening possession, a nine-play 65-yard drive, the Broncos offense failed to score another point and posted just 90 total yards on the next six possessions – including a very questionable call to throw from midfield on fourth down with 19 seconds remaining in the half.
The defense buckled down and forced a batted pass and a sack to keep San Diego out of field goal range to end the half. On the previous possession Chargers kicker Josh Lambo missed a potential game-tying 45-yard attempt.
For as anemic as the Denver offense was in the first half – averaging just 4.84 yards per play – the defense did its part after again allowing an opening-drive touchdown.
San Diego produced seven points on seven plays, then produced just 68 yards of total offense to follow.
Denver’s biggest play of the half came on a deep pass to Emmanuel Sanders, a 37-yard diving grab to get Denver inside San Diego territory. Denver would get as far as the San Diego 7-yard line before Trevor Siemian was sacked and fumbled, eventually leading to the missed Lambo field goal.
Bradley Roby’s tipped interception and 51-yard return for a touchdown was one of the few highlights for Denver in a half that saw them lose defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in a sideline collision.
Here’s what the team at Mile High Sports and our favorite follows around the Denver media had to say about how things unfolded in the first half…
Offense struggles again…
Siemian is dependent on the system. The system is dependent on the running game. Therefore, the #Broncos are dependent on the running game.
— Jake Marsing (@JakeDMarsing) October 30, 2016
4 carries for 7 yards. I'm sorry but you can't win football games this way. #Broncos
— Chad Brown (@chadbrown94) October 30, 2016
On the Broncos' last four third downs, they've needed 11, 8, 13 and 14 yards. Offense is just going nowhere right now.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/792833774186663936
The Broncos averaged 12.4 yards on their first five plays from scrimmage … and have averaged 1.5 yards on their last 15 snaps.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 30, 2016
Beautiful.
Just beautiful, @ESanders_10. 😯 #SDvsDEN https://t.co/CVKXFal6Ml
— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2016
Casey Hayward should have had that ball and, probably, a 96-yard interception return for a TD. Mercy. Dropped a sure pick-six.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 30, 2016
The lone offensive highlight…
WOW! I'm a little biased but that @ESanders_10 full extension catch was probably the best I've seen so far this year.
— Nick Griffith (@NickGriffithTV) October 30, 2016
Defense allows another opening drive TD…
Wow … Rivers steps out of pressure and finds Derek Watt with a zip code to himself … 53 yards, Chargers at the DEN 9.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 30, 2016
Attack an aggressive defense with your running backs. The theme continues.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) October 30, 2016
#Broncos defense sans Talib and B. Marshall struggling… #Chargers knocking on the door. 2nd and goal from the six yard line
— Nick Griffith (@NickGriffithTV) October 30, 2016
Painful reminder #Broncos have allowed 47 1Q points this season. Only Browns, Chiefs worse entering today… #SDvsDEN
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) October 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/Raj_Sharan/status/792823798319812612
So that's now five touchdowns and 38 total points allowed by the Broncos defense on eight first possessions this season.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 30, 2016
Typical #Broncos defense allowing points on opponents opening drive. They should tighten up now.
— Sean Walsh (@seanwalshsports) October 30, 2016
Bradley Roby makes the game-changing play…
https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/792843215862845440
