WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Both Manning and Rivers have generally excelled on short weeks.
Manning will enter this matchup with a 9-2 record as a starter on Thursday, and is the all-time leader in passing yards (3,305) and touchdown passes (35) with less preparation time.
Conversely Rivers, who is currently ranked second in the AFC with 1,961 passing yards and third with 17 TD passes, has compiled a 4-1 record on Thursday, including a 27-20 victory over Denver last season.
Manning had been 3-0 against San Diego with the Broncos before that loss and has thrown at least one TD pass in all 11 career meetings he has had against the Chargers.
"We don't live in the past," Broncos head coach John Fox said of the loss last season. "I've mentioned many times, you spend too much time looking in the rear view mirror, you crash, not looking ahead."
Making things easier for Manning this time could be the potential absence of San Diego cornerback Brandon Flowers, who will likely sit out after suffering a concussion against hid old team, the Chiefs. Meanwhile, rookie corner Jason Verrett was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday after missing the loss against Kansas City with a shoulder injury.
"We're playing a great team in the Chargers, a team we're very familiar with, as they are with us," Manning said. "They beat us last year, so we got to get ready on this short week."
For his career, Rivers is 10-6 as a starter against Denver, and is 20 games over .500 (35-15) when starting against AFC West competition. In fact, since 2006, Rivers has the second-most passing yards (12,251) and third-most touchdowns (81) of any player in the AFC against his own division.
"He's a tremendous competitor," Fox said. "We go way back. When I was in the Carolinas, he played at N.C. State, so I had a chance to watch him perform. I know a lot about him as a competitor."
One of the key components to beating Denver last season, running back Ryan Mathews, is sidelined with a sprained MCL, though. Mathews piled up 127 yards and a TD on 29 carries in the Thursday win last season, spearheading a rushing attack that outgained the Broncos on the ground by a significant 177-18 margin.
That would be hard to duplicate under any circumstance but with Oliver now leading the way in the backfield, it's probably safe to assume that more of the responsibility with be placed on Rivers' shoulders.
Oliver has been solid, however, amassing 316 yards -- tops for all rookies -- and two touchdowns in three games. However, he will be up against a much- improved Broncos defense which is third in the NFL, allowing only 74.3 rushing yards per game, nearly 30 yards better than last year's unit.
Jack Del Rio's defense is allowing 242.5 passing yards a game, though, good for just 18th in football.
Just Kidding! 
not then I had SEATTLE in the SuperBowl
Hot Forum Topics
