Game Recap

1st Quarter:
No Score
Denver received the opening kickoff and managed two 1st downs and 22 yds but punted away their opening possession from the 45. San Diego's opening drive went 27 yds with the help of a 35 yd reception by WR Vincent Jackson, but they too punted away at the 45.
7 - 0 Chargers lead
Denver went 3 and out and on San Diego's next possession, Chargers TE Antonio Gates put up the 1st points on the board with a 12 yd TD reception. Key Plays: RB LaDainian Tomlinson 17 yd run, TE Antonio Gates 13 yd reception.
14 - 0 Chargers lead
Denver again went 3 and out and San Diego tacked on another 7 points with a 4 yd TD run by Chargers FB Lorenzo Neal. Key Plays: TE Antonio Gates 26 and 11 yd receptions.

2nd Quarter:
14 - 3 Chargers lead
To open the 2nd quarter, Denver drove 59 yds in 5 plays but were stopped at the 16 yd line with 4th and 2. Broncos K Jason Elam put Denver on the board with a 34 yd FG. Key Play: RB Tatum Bell 51 yd run.
21 - 3 Chargers lead
San Diego answered with a 1 yd TD run by RB LaDainian Tomlinson to cap a 5 play 53 yd drive. Key Plays: TE Brandon Manumaleuna 14 yd reception, WR Eric Parker 34 yd reception.
Denver managed two 1st downs and 32 yds but were unable to score and punted to the end zone from the 47.
28 - 3 Chargers lead
San Diego widened the score 7 more with a 7 yd TD reception by TE Antonio Gates to cap a 13 play, 80 yd drive. Key Plays: FB Andrew Pinnock 15 yd run, TE Brandon Manumaleuna 19 yd reception.

3rd Quarter:
28 - 10 Chargers lead
Broncos rookie TE Tony Scheffler scored Denver's 1st TD with a 28 yd reception to cap a 7 play 71 yd drive. Key Plays: WR Javon Walker 13 yd reception, rookie WR Brandon Marshall 13 yd reception.
Denver kicked off 68 yds to the San Diego 2 yd line. Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie returned the ball to the 25 where he was hit by Broncos S Hamza Abdullah who forced a fumble. The ball was recovered by Broncos LB Louis Green at the 27.
28 - 17 Chargers lead
Three plays later, Broncos rookie QB Jay Cutler hit rookie TE Tony Scheffler for an 11 yd TD reception. Key Play: TE Stephen Alexander 16 yd reception.
San Diego managed one 1st down on their ensuing possession. On 2nd and 3 Broncos CB Darrent Williams sacked Chargers QB Phillip Rivers for a loss of 4. Rivers then threw incomplete, effectively stalling the drive.
28 - 20 Chargers lead
Broncos K Jason Elam narrowed the score to 8 with a 33 yd FG to cap a 10 play, 78 yd drive. Key Plays: WR Javon Walker 17 yd reception, TE Tony Scheffler 27 yd reception, and a 15 yd defensive pass interference call that set up 1st and 10 at the 13. Broncos QB Jay Cutler was then sacked for a loss of 8 and ended up with 4th and 12 at the 15.

4th Quarter:
31 - 20 Chargers lead
Chargers K Nate Kaeding added 3 with a 34 yd FG 3 minutes into the 4th quarter. Key Plays: TE Antonio Gates 16 yd reception, WR Vincent Jackson 55 yd reception.
Broncos RB Tatum Bell ran for 20 yds but QB Jay Cutler went 1 for 3 on Denver's next possession. They went for it on 4th and 2 at the Denver 46 yd line but Cutler's pass fell incomplete and the Chargers got the ball on the Denver 46 yd line.
34 - 20 Chargers lead
Chargers K Nate Kaeding kicked another FG, this time from 35 yds out with 8:19 left in the game. Key Play: TE Antonio Gates 19 yd reception.
41 - 20 Chargers lead
Denver got the ball back on their 20 yd line and drove 8 yds. On 4th and 2, they opted to go for it and Cutler was sacked for a loss of 8 to set up San Diego with 1st and 10 in the Denver red zone. Five plays later, Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson found the end zone with a 6 yd TD run.
48 - 20 Chargers win
On Denver's ensuing possession, the Broncos were set up with 2nd and 7 at their own 13 yd line. Broncos QB Jay Cutler was sacked for a loss of 6 yds by Chargers LB Shawne Merriman, who forced a fumble and then recovered it at the 7. Denver challenged the call but it was upheld and on the next play, Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson ran in his 3rd TD of the game. The Broncos got the ball back with 3:06 to play but managed only to get to the 43 yd line before the end of the game.

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