Denver: The Broncos won their first four games of 2016, as Trevor Siemian started each one at QB. He was injured in Denver's Week 4 game at Tampa Bay early (had attempted just seven passes) and was replaced by Denver's first-round pick, Paxton Lynch. The Memphis standout played well, completing 14 of 24 for 170 yards with one TD and no INTs. Denver won 22-7 and with Siemian unavailable last Sunday, Lynch started against the red-hot Falcons. His numbers were not awful, as he went 23 of 35 for 223 yards with one TD and an interception. However, he was sacked six times (and hit many more times), fumbling twice, although Denver recovered both of them. The key being that Lynch didn't deliver a TD (only one of the contest) until the game was all but over. Trevor Siemian (shoulder) is expected to start here but questions abound regarding Denver's running game. C.J. Anderson has been unable to top 50 yards rushing in any of the last three games and the Broncos average a modest 101.4 YPG on a poor 3.6 YPC on the season.

San Diego: The Chargers opened the season by blowing a 27-10 fourth-quarter lead in KC (lost 33-27 in OT). San Diego returned home in Week 2 to crush the Jags 38-14 but enter this Thursday game having lost by four, one and three points the last three weeks. San Diego checks in at 1-4, despite Philip Rivers (68.0 percent / 1,469 yards / 11-3 ratio / 108.4 QB rating) being at the controls of the NFL's second-highest scoring offense (30.4 PPG). RB Gordon opened the season with two rushing TDs against KC (he had ZERO as a rookie) and followed with his first-ever 100-yard game in Week 2 (102 yards) against the Jags. However, he's run for just 140 yards (46.7 YPG) during the team's three-game slide, averaging a pathetic 2.7 YPG. San Diego's defense is allowing 28.4 PPG (28th) and the offense has 11 turnovers (three INTs / eight fumbles), with only the Panthers (14) and Jets (13) having more.

The pick: Giveaways have been a big part of the reason that the Chargers have already seen three leads evaporate after the two-minute warning in 2016 and now they have to face the defending Super Bowl champs, off a loss. There is nothing wrong with Denver's defense (17.6 PPG allowed) and there is no overlooking the fact that the Chargers have lost 10 straight games against their AFC West rivals (nemesis?). Semian should fare well against a San Diego secondary allowing 291.6 passing YPG and the Broncos will be fully focused off the loss to Atlanta. Losing heartbreakers have become commonplace for the Chargers and why should anything change here? The Broncos have not only won their last five visits to San Diego but they've also gone 5-0 ATS, with the Denver defense holding Rivers and Co. to an average of just 14.0 PPG. Denver is an 8* play.