For the Denver Broncos, a win this weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers would help them avoid the franchises first 0-5 start ever. That feels important in so many ways.
Faith in the team is waning, however, as our Mile High Report staff has turned sour on the Broncos with these weekly score predictions. Collectively, we see a Chargers 27-24 win over the Broncos this week.
Not all of us have soured, so here are our individual Broncos-Chargers score predictions for Week 5.
Broncos 27, Chargers 26
I will just keep predicting a Broncos win until the Broncos win. That’s just how its going to be for me. For all of the struggles on the field, I honestly believe the Broncos would be sitting at 2-2 right now if not for two bullshit roughing the passer calls. That’s something worth clinging to at this point. Broncos win dammit. - Tim Lynch
Chargers 17, Broncos 13
The Broncos are in a franchise-wide funk, and have been for far too long. Unfortunately, even though they have played well, and look like a team that could steal a win in LA, I don’t see that happening. As I mentioned on the MHR Radio Podcast, the defense has been okay, but not great. The offense has shown flashes, but can’t put a whole game together. That equation equals the first 0-5 start in franchise history. - Adam Malnati
Broncos 34, Chargers 31
Von Miller is a huge mismatch for L.A.’s tackles, so the Chargers go into a run first attack to try and shred the Broncos run defense. Emmanuel Sanders, Courtland Sutton and the offense do their part and the Broncos steal one 34-31.
Also gonna predict some stereotypical Chargers shit which helps the Broncos. Maybe It’s a missed 20 yard kick, a missed screen pass when they’re trying to ice the game or Rivers throwing a pick to Trey Marshall. - Joe Rowles
Broncos 29, Chargers 28
It’s hard to have faith in a team that’s spent the entire first quarter of the season getting in it’s own way. But hope springs eternal in football fandom, and this Broncos team WILL win a game at some point. With more offensive competence in display lately than we’ve seen in years, and exploitable flaws in both teams’ defenses, I think the Broncos can squeak out a win. Divisional matchups are almost always tough, competitive games anyway, and that may be just what the team needs. - Taylor Kothe
Chargers 31, Broncos 13
When the Broncos usually travel to southern California, it’s their ninth home game. Not sure how much of advantage that is this season, but what will help is the run defense to step up and stop somebody. If Denver doesn’t, it’s going to be a long day. It’s going to be a long day. Coupled with a Chargers defensive and special teams touchdown sends the Broncos to 0-5. - Ian St. Clair
Chargers 27, Broncos 20
Rich Scangarello has to prove that he can stick to his game plan and what is practiced throughout the week - running the ball. He’s completely panicked and abandoned the run mid game. He has the creativity to call plays, must must execute principles before implementing funky plays. Broncos go 0-5 for the first time ever, sinking them to a new rock bottom. - Luke Patterson