Broncos vs. Chargers: Week 17 Bold Predictions & Picks
The Denver Broncos are moving forward without Russell Wilson at quarterback. Jarrett Stidham will start in Wilson's place on Sunday vs. the Los Angeles Chargers.
It's a move that took everyone aback, and it casts an even bigger pall of uncertainty on Broncos-Chargers. It's the end of a short-lived era in the Mile High City.
Head coach Sean Payton claims he made the move in hopes of finding a "spark" on offense. Will Stidham be that spark?
Let's go around the Mile High Huddle table to see how our staff foresees this one shaking out for the Broncos.
James Campbell (@JamesC_MHH) 7-8: The Chargers are a team playing hard for its interim coach. With Stidham playing, there are so many unknowns, but the Chargers have enough talent to make it a long day for the good guys. Ultimately, the Broncos go down with a whimper in their final home game, splitting the series with the Chargers.
Pick: Chargers 24, Broncos 14
Keith Cummings (@KeithC_NFL) 8-7: For as fractured as the Broncos look, the Chargers are perhaps worse. Finally, this is the game Payton effectively incorporates all of his running backs. Jaleel McClaughlin breaks free for the long touchdown that seals the win.
Pick: Broncos 23, Chargers 14
Carl Dumler (@CarlDumlerMHH) 7-8: This past week, Chris Simms talked about the extensive playbook that Payton wants to be able to run, and so far this year, he's been limited in the plays he can call. If Stidham can prove he can handle the playbook and get the ball out on time, we might just see the best offense the Broncos have had all season against a bad Chargers defense. Jerry Jeudy ends up with his best game of the season with 10+ targets and over 100 yards in this one. The Broncos do enough on offense to walk away with a win.
Pick: Broncos 27, Chargers 13
Mike Evans (@MHHEvans) 7-8: Stidham's presence promises a sharper, more efficient offense, potentially reducing the frustrating negative plays that have plagued the team. Hindered by multiple injuries in crucial roles, the Chargers seem vulnerable, offering the Broncos' coaching staff a golden opportunity to exploit these weaknesses and tip the scales in their favor.
Pick: Broncos 20, Chargers 17
Thomas Hall (@ThomasHallNFL) 7-8: The battle of the backup quarterbacks this Sunday when the Broncos face off against the Chargers. Will the change at QB give the offense a spark, or will it be more of the same from a team that struggles from top to bottom? There is more that is wrong with this Broncos team than just the signal caller.
Pick: Chargers 23, Broncos 17
Chad Jensen (@ChadNJensen) 8-7: As two backup QBs cross swords, I'm taking the signal-caller with Payton in his corner over the one with Kellen Moore. I expect there to be some early jitters from Stidham, but by the time it's all said and done, the Broncos offense looks more on schedule and on point as Stidham avoids the Wilson pitfalls of missing open receivers, holding onto the ball too long, and taking unnecessary sacks. If a demotion can happen to Russ, it can happen to anyone, so intensity shouldn't be in short supply on Sunday.
Pick: Broncos 24, Chargers 16
Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) 7-8: With a new QB under center, this can go only one of two ways for Payton: Either Stidham shows that Russ was, in fact, the issue — vindicating his coach — or nothing changes, and Payton will peel egg off his face. I think Stidham will play well, though not great, while some of the problems from the Russ era remain. But, hey, winning is a powerful deodorant.
Pick: Broncos 20, Chargers 16
Nick Kendell (@NickKendellMHH) 7-8: The Broncos' season is essentially over. But so is the Chargers'. Stidham will probably go out and throw it around more than we have seen Payton call for Wilson this year. Can the Denver defense get after Easton Stick like it did last time?
Pick: Broncos 30, Chargers 20
Bob Morris (@BobMorrisSports) 4-11: Payton has made his decision, and we'll see what Stidham has to offer. Given the injuries to both teams and their QB situations, I'm expecting an ugly game. The Broncos defense comes through to get a win in the final home game.
Pick: Broncos 16, Chargers 9
Luke Patterson (@LukePattersonLP) 6-9: Fans won’t need to wait until this offseason to see a new Broncos QB. Payton’s benching of Wilson ushers in Stidham to the starting lineup. Payton just had to have Stidham last offseason, so let’s see how good of a QB evaluator he is these last two games.
Pick: Broncos 23, Chargers 17
Erick Trickel (@ErickTrickel) 7-8: It's now Stidham's turn to lead the team against the Stick-led Chargers, but the question is, what version of the Broncos' defense shows up? Is it the one that allows bad offenses to make critical plays, sustain drives, and score points, or the one that forces takeaways and bends but doesn't break? In the end, Stidham provides a good enough spark as the Broncos win on what turns out to be closer to a shootout rather than a defensive bout.
Pick: Broncos 31, Chargers 27
Dylan Von Arx (@arx_d) 7-8: With Stidham taking control of the offense, this team will lean on the run game to get the job done on Sunday. How this offense will look under Stidham is unknown but hopefully he can work the middle of the field effectively.
Pick: Broncos 20, Chargers 13
Ron White (@RonWhiteNFL) 7-8: Now facing the injury-riddled Chargers squad at Empower Field, the Broncos turn the page to new life under center in hopes of igniting an offensive spark. Under Stidham, expect more passes to the middle of the field with the complement of a solid ground game. Meanwhile, the Broncos' defense will generate enough pressure on Stick and force a few turnovers to win the game.
Pick: Broncos 24, Chargers 14
Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!
