Simon is a colleague at the Mirror who after years away is back enjoying football. I’m trying to get him to write regularly, so what this space.

This game is all about first place in the AFC West. A win for the Broncos would give them a game lead plus a superior head to head record against the fast improving Chargers.

However should the San Diego franchise complete another impressive victory it would not only put them top of the pile and erode the head to head concern, it would more importantly put some heavy duty slick oil under the Denver wheels.

After a traumatic post season Denver were the early season surprise story, they reached 6-0 on the back of a very mean defence that allowed only 11 points per game during that initial spell. However since the bye in week 7 the Broncos have begun stumbling. Defeats to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens are in some ways explainable, but losing to the dysfunctional Washington Redskins says that there are problems afoot. the defence has begun leaking 25 points per game in the losing streak and seriously needs Mike Nolan to begin tightening the screws once again, especially as due in town is a red hot Chargers team led by an in form Phillip Rivers.

They are on a four game winning march that began against poor, if mediocre opponents (Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders) but really gained momentum in the come from behind last minute victory over the Giants in new York. they then continued the run by seeing off the Eagles last week.

Earlier in the season it was with the ball in hand that Denver stole the points, Eddie Royal returning a punt and a kick off for touchdowns. this game could be won in similar fashion, though this time the man carrying the ball could be the great LaDainain Tomlinson. There have been countless column inches devoted to detailing the great mans demise but last week he had a productive afternoon with the ball (96 yards and two touchdowns) and with a key divisional game ahead, who’s to say LT won’t produce once again. with the other teams in the division vying for worst in the entire football league this really is a shoot out for a playoff place and divisional title. Both will drop one or two defeats before the seasons end but this will give the winner just a little more breathing space.

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