The San Diego Chargers visit the Denver Broncos for NFL Thursday Night Football. Kickoff is at 8:25 p.m. ET. Listen to the live radio broadcast below.
While Denver has clinched a spot in the postseason, San Diego is fighting to make a final push for a wild card berth. At 6-7, the odds of making the playoffs are against the Chargers. Still, the Chargers can at least keep their postseason hopes alive if they're able to knock off Denver.
It's not an easy task with Peyton Manning under center, but the Chargers' solid defense is looking forward to the challenge.
"I can't wait," Chargers linebacker Jarret Johnson said, via ESPN. "It's going to be a great challenge. As a competitor and an athlete in the NFL, these are the opportunities you want. We worked ourselves into a hole and we have to depend on other people, but the only thing we're focusing on is what we can control, and right now that's Denver."
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has enjoyed a resurgence under his new coach, Mike McCoy. The former Broncos offensive coordinator helped Rivers return to an elite playing level, which included cutting down on costly turnovers. Rivers has completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 3,882 yards, 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The running game has also shown life this season with Ryan Matthews rushing for 885 yards and four touchdowns.
While San Diego's offense has improved from last year, Denver's offense has shown no signs of slowing down. Manning is just five touchdowns away from tying the NFL single-season record for touchdown passes, and he could finish the season with more than 5,000 yards through the air.
Despite a spot reserved for them in the playoffs, Denver (11-2) doesn't plan to coast into the postseason.
"I guess you have some security but our job is not finished - winning this division is number one and winning this conference is number two," Broncos receiver Eric Decker told the team website. "And we have to make sure that we get better as a team as a whole. We have a big goal and expectations for this year and that's just one week at a time and grinding away."
Listen to the live radio broadcast HERE (SD) and HERE (DEN).