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DENVER (Ticker) -- Invesco Field has not been a pleasant place to visit for the
San Diego Chargers
.
The
Denver Broncos
have outscored the Chargers, 89-33, in the three previous games between the AFC West rivals at Invesco Field, which opened in 2001.
The primary reason for the Chargers' lack of success has been the Broncos' ability to contain
LaDainian Tomlinson
. In the last three games here, Tomlinson was held to 29 yards rushing in 2003; 48 yards in 2002, and 25 yards in 2001.
"It's no secret that you have to cut off his (Tomlinson's) running lanes, and even then he can beat you catching passes out of the backfield," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "With him and
Priest Holmes
four times a year, our defense certainly has its hands full."
Jake Plummer
threw three touchdown passes in each of Denver's wins over the Chargers last season - 37-13 on September 14 and 37-8 here on November 16.
Clinton Portis
also was a major factor, rushing for 235 yards on 37 carries in the two games. But Portis has been replaced by
Quentin Griffin
as Denver's feature back. Griffin rushed for 156 yards on 23 carries in the Broncos' season-opening win over Kansas City, but was held to 66 yards on 25 carries and fumbled the ball away at the Jacksonville 23 with a minute to play in last week's 7-6 loss to the Jaguars. Denver's defense held Jacksonville to eight first downs and 176 total yards.
The Broncos may have succeeded in containing Tomlinson here, but they were burned for 220 yards by the NFL's best all-around back in a December 1, 2002 game at San Diego.
Tomlinson has rushed for 208 yards on 45 carries in San Diego's first two games of the season.
Quarterback
Drew Brees
suffered a concussion in the Chargers' home-opening 34-28 loss to the
New York Jets
last week. Brees completed just 8-of-19 passes for 146 yards with two interceptions and a fumble and was replaced by
Doug Flutie
.
Brees says he expects to play against the Broncos.
Matchup to watch: Broncos receiver
Rod Smith
, who caught six passes for 83 yards last week, faces right cornerback
Sammy Davis
.
Series: Denver leads, 49-38-1, including wins in four of the last five meetings.
Next week: San Diego hosts Tennessee, October 3 Denver visits Tampa Bay, October 3
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