A desperate, winless Chargers team hosts a Broncos squad that can't stop throwing teams for a loop defensively.

Denver sits at 2-2 and has dropped its last game, while Los Angeles has lost four straight to open the season at 0-4. The Broncos need to find their footing after back-to-back results went against form, and the Chargers are simply trying to find any win at all before the season slips away.

Game details

WhenSunday, October 11, 2026 at 4:05 PM ET
WhereSoFi Stadium
TVCBS
LineDenver Broncos -3.5 | O/U 42 (market view)
Denver Broncos record2-2
Los Angeles Chargers record0-4

The matchup

Denver's split has been feast or famine. The Broncos beat the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 and the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-13 in Weeks 2 and 3, but they opened the year getting run over by the Kansas City Chiefs 10-31 and just lost to the San Francisco 49ers 14-24 this past week. They've scored 74 points and allowed 94 through four games, a defense that's been generous at times.

The Chargers have lost every game they've played, falling to the Arizona Cardinals, the Las Vegas Raiders, the Buffalo Bills and most recently the Seattle Seahawks 23-30. Los Angeles has scored just 67 points while giving up 106, numbers that match an 0-4 record and a four-game skid with no signs of stopping yet.

Key matchups

Denver is walking into this one without its top two cornerbacks. Riley Moss is out with ribs and Pat Surtain II is out with an ankle injury, which strips the Broncos secondary of its best coverage pieces. That's a problem against a Chargers passing game that, even shorthanded, still has Justin Herbert under center looking for completions.

On the ground, Denver's committee of J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey gives the Broncos two different looks near the goal line, and against a Chargers front that's already down multiple offensive linemen, Los Angeles may struggle to get stops when Denver leans on the run. For the Chargers, Omarion Hampton is the engine of the offense with Keaton Mitchell behind him, and how much work Hampton gets inside the ten will tell you a lot about whether LA can finally find the end zone with consistency.

Injuries that matter

Denver's secondary is gutted with both Riley Moss (ribs) and Pat Surtain II (ankle) out, which should open things up for whichever Chargers receivers are active.

The Chargers' injury list is long and ugly up front and at the skill positions. Offensive tackle Joe Alt (neck) and guard Kayode Awosika (fibula) are both out, and guard Trevor Penning is out with a concussion, which leaves Justin Herbert's protection in rough shape. At receiver, Quentin Johnston (chest) and Brenen Thompson (quadricep) are both out, while Ladd McConkey is questionable with a foot injury. Quarterback Trey Lance is doubtful with a groin issue, and tight end Charlie Kolar, fullback Scott Matlock and guard Branson Taylor are all questionable.

Fantasy angles

Start Bo Nix with confidence here. He's projected for 16.5 DraftKings points and gets to throw against a Chargers defense that's been torched for 106 points this season.

RJ Harvey is in play for 10.5 projected points, and with Denver's offensive line holding up better than LA's banged-up front, he should see goal-line work in a game Denver is favored to control.

Jaylen Waddle projects for 10.0 points and is a solid start given the matchup against a Chargers secondary that's dealing with its own issues across the roster.

On the Chargers side, Omarion Hampton is the one bankable piece at 9.0 projected points. He's the clear lead back and should see volume even if the Chargers fall behind.

Ladd McConkey is questionable with the foot injury and projects for 8.0 points if he plays. Sit him until he's confirmed active, but if he suits up, he's still LA's top receiving option.

The pick

Denver is favored by 3.5 points with the total set at 42.0, and the market has this one landing at Broncos 23, Chargers 19. That lines up with what's on tape here: a Broncos offense that can move the ball against a depleted Chargers front, even with Denver's own secondary banged up.

The edge goes to Denver. The Broncos have more juice at the skill positions and a two-headed backfield that should find the end zone against a Chargers defense that's let three straight opponents hang at least 23 points on them.

Injury report

PlayerTeamPosStatus
Riley MossDenver BroncosCBOut
Pat Surtain IIDenver BroncosCBOut
Joe AltLos Angeles ChargersOTOut
Kayode AwosikaLos Angeles ChargersOGOut
Quentin JohnstonLos Angeles ChargersWROut
Charlie KolarLos Angeles ChargersTEQuestionable
Trey LanceLos Angeles ChargersQBDoubtful
Scott MatlockLos Angeles ChargersFBQuestionable
Ladd McConkeyLos Angeles ChargersWRQuestionable
Trevor PenningLos Angeles ChargersOGOut
Branson TaylorLos Angeles ChargersOGQuestionable
Brenen ThompsonLos Angeles ChargersWROut

Projected starters

PosDenver BroncosLos Angeles Chargers
QBBo NixJustin Herbert
RBJ.K. Dobbins, RJ HarveyOmarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell
WRJaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Troy FranklinLadd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre' Harris
TEEvan EngramCharlie Kolar

Recent results

TeamLast games
Denver BroncosWk4 L 14-24 vs San Francisco 49ers, Wk3 W 30-26 vs Los Angeles Rams, Wk2 W 20-13 vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Los Angeles ChargersWk4 L 23-30 vs Seattle Seahawks, Wk3 L 16-24 vs Buffalo Bills, Wk2 L 14-26 vs Las Vegas Raiders

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In this story

Written by Rhett Zone, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores, box scores, injuries and depth charts), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our editorial standards.