Los Angeles @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 6, 2019 ) Denver 20, L.A. Chargers 13

Philip Rivers is going through a miserable stretch as the visiting Los Angeles Chargers attempt to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the AFC West-rival Denver Broncos on Sunday. Rivers has thrown seven interceptions over the past two games - both losses - and speculation is heating up on whether he will be back with the team in 2020.

Rivers has started 219 consecutive regular-season games -- the second-longest streak among quarterbacks in NFL history behind Brett Favre's 297 - but the soon-to-be-38-year-old is suddenly showing his age though the club is sticking with him for now. "I'm not going to entertain that right now," Chargers coach Anthony Lynn told reporters of possibly benching Rivers and promoting backup Tyrod Taylor. "I'm evaluating everything, and right now Philip Rivers is our starting quarterback. I'm not going to single one position out; I'm looking at everybody. At 4-7, everybody could be doing something better." Denver could unveil a new starting quarterback as second-round pick Drew Lock is practicing after returning from a preseason thumb injury. "We're going to up Drew's reps this week extensively in practice, see how he does with that, and then make a decision prior to the game," Broncos coach Vic Fangio told reporters Wednesday as per whether the team goes with Lock or sticks with Brandon Allen.

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Chargers -3. O/U: 38.5

ABOUT THE CHARGERS (4-7): Rivers has one more touchdown pass than interceptions (15 to 14) but has passed the 3,000-yard mark for the 14th consecutive season despite the recent evidence that his skills are on the decline. Safety Derwin James (foot) could be activated from injured reserve to make his season debut and the Chargers badly miss the player who had 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions, and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie last season. Defensive end Melvin Ingram (5.5 sacks this season) has moved into fourth place in franchise history with a career count of 47.5, passing legendary Junior Seau (47 from 1990-2002).

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (3-8): The possible move to Lock comes after Denver had 134 yards of total offense in last week's 20-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the club's lowest output since 1992. Second-year running back Phillip Lindsay (708 yards, five touchdowns) figures to get a lot of carries as he had a season-best 114 against the Chargers earlier this season. Outside linebacker Von Miller (six sacks) will likely be up and close with Rivers at some point Sunday as he has 16 career sacks against the Chargers.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Broncos didn't allow a defensive touchdown and forced three turnovers in a 20-13 victory in Los Angeles on Oct. 6.

2. Chargers WR Keenan Allen (6,002) became the seventh player in franchise history to top 6,000 career receiving yards and needs 131 to pass sixth-place Wes Chandler (6,132 from 1981-87).

3. Denver WR Courtland Sutton (50 receptions) has caught five or more passes on six occasions this season.

PREDICTION: Broncos 24, Chargers 20