SAN DIEGO -- A look at Denver Broncos players who were “up" and those who were “down" in Sunday’s 17-3 victory over the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.
UP
Danny Trevathan. Trevathan left the game with a concussion, but when he was in the lineup he certainly affected things. Trevathan intercepted Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers with 4 seconds remaining in the first quarter and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. It gave the Broncos a 14-0 lead, one that proved more than enough given how Denver's defense has played.
Brock Osweiler. The quarterback's final numbers don’t jump off the page -- 16-of-26 for 166 yards with a touchdown and an interception -- but he continues to deftly handle the situation he’s been dropped into on the way to three wins in his first three career starts. His interception was an ill-advised throw into the Chargers' end zone that cost the Broncos a chance at some points, but overall Osweiler has shown the kind of composure needed to lead a team that's in the conversation for home-field advantage in the AFC.
Chris Harris Jr. Matched up on Chargers wide receiver Stevie Johnson plenty in this game, Harris helped the Broncos pitch a shutout on Johnson, who finished without a catch. Overall, Rivers completed just four passes to the team’s wide receivers, just one to Malcolm Floyd and Johnson combined.
DOWN
Injuries. The Broncos' depth is getting pushed to the limit, with several players now added to an already beefy list of the wounded. Safety David Bruton Jr., who led Denver with 12 tackles, suffered a left knee injury to go with Trevathan's concussion; safety Omar Bolden left with a hamstring injury and tight end Vernon Davis suffered a concussion.
Composure. The Broncos' defense plays at an elite level much of the time, but sometimes the players lose their grip for a moment. Malik Jackson, dominating much of the day, had a unnecessary offside penalty that took the Chargers out of a third-and-6 situation and put them into a much easier third-and-1, which they converted. Meanwhile, linebacker Von Miller -- who had two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and knocked a pass down -- grabbed Rivers’ face mask late in the game in a post-play jawing session that could have brought a flag, but didn’t.