MVP

The Broncos once again showed grit and needed a total team effort, including both quarterbacks, to get the job done, but two players in particular were solid throughout the contest. Hillman and Anderson combined for 212 yards on 15 carries apiece for just over seven yards a touch while scoring two huge touchdowns.

“We are incredibly lucky to have both of them and just can’t say enough about them today, especially with their running. We feel really good about our team right now,” tackle Ryan Harris said of the two after the game.

Anderson did have the lone turnover of the second half and upset him due to his progress up to that point saying, “I was pissed. I was just mad. You might see a difference, but I was just mad. I thought that I ran hard all game, but when that happens – just like in Cincinnati last week – I was just pissed off and mad at myself.” Despite the fumble, Kubiak continued to use both dynamic backs and their consistent presence helped keep the Chargers off-balance. Even in the first half they had good numbers, rushing 12 times for 65 yards and an average of 5.4 per carry. The Broncos stuck with the run in the second half to help Manning, rushing an additional 18 times.

“When are run is blocked up right, that’s when we can get the long runs. We both had some nice runs today so luckily we were both in for those runs,” Hillman said afterwards. Still, he is not satisfied. “I think that we can still run the ball more and be more effective in that way but we ran the ball great today and C.J. [Anderson] came in and ran the ball well. I think we just had some great looks today.”

Honorable mention: Manning certainly added a spark to the team when he came in with just over eight minutes to play in the third quarter. The Broncos also stopped turning the ball over when he went in. Regardless, he led four scoring drives after the Broncos mustered just one previously. Thomas discussed the signal caller’s impact after the win saying, “He told us to go out and put some points on the board and that’s what we did. He told everyone to calm down. He came in and was the leader that he is. Everybody did their job, we didn’t turn the ball over, we didn’t get many penalties and the main thing was going down, calming down, going down and putting some points on the board. I think our first three drives we put 13 points on the board.”