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Chargers seek to overcome rocky start against Broncos

Sep 10, 2008 - 12:26 AM SAN DIEGO (0-1) at DENVER (1-0)

DENVER (Ticker) -- The season is only one week old and the San Diego Chargers already have absorbed a pair of crushing losses.

The Chargers hit the road to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday, hoping to bounce back from a last-second defeat in their season opener.

After losing to the Carolina Panthers, 26-24, on the game's final play, San Diego endured more bad news when it learned Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

It has not been the start envisioned by the Chargers (0-1), who have been touted as a top contender to reach the Super Bowl after reaching the AFC title game last season.

The loss to Carolina was particularly galling. Quarterback Philip Rivers threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes to rally San Diego from a 19-10 deficit, only to see Jake Delhomme throw a 14-yard scoring pass on the final play of the game to snatch away the victory.

"Like every other team in this league, we have to get better," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "Obviously you give credit to Carolina for making the plays, but some of the plays were the result of us in terms of not executing what we're trying to do."

Rivers finished 17-of-27 for 217 yards and three touchdowns for San Diego, which also got 97 yards rushing on 21 carries.

However, the Chargers had trouble slowing the Panthers, who had running backs DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart combine for 139 yards on 28 carries.

The Broncos (1-0), conversely, got off to an impressive start, battering the Oakland Raiders, 41-14, behind quarterback Jay Cutler and rookie standout Eddie Royal.

Cutler threw for 299 yards and a pair of scoring passes, including a 26-yarder to Royal, who hauled in nine receptions for 146 yards in his debut.

"I've got a lot of confidence in Eddie, I don't look at him as a rookie," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "He's been doing it very consistently in practice and that's why he got the opportunity to do it in the game."

Denver, which scored the first 27 points of the contest, will receive an added boost with the return of Pro Bowl wideout Brandon Marshall, who sat out Week One for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

The Broncos will need all the offense they can muster against San Diego, which posted a pair of lopsided victories last season, outscoring Denver, 64-6.