Alliance... » Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers offens

The veteran quarterback noted this week as they prepare for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos that things can turn south quickly."We haven't won six in a row in a while White Brandon Mebane Jerseys , but it can be a one-game losing streak just like that. So I think, again, it's week to week," Rivers said. "Again, now we've reset and get ready for the Broncos on Sunday."The Chargers (7-2) have one of the league's most-balanced offenses. Rivers is third in the league with a 115.4 passer rating and running back Melvin Gordon is third in yards from scrimmage (1,033).Rivers has been sacked only 12 times, third least among quarterbacks who have started nine or more games. But the Broncos have one of the NFL's best pass-rushing duos in Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, who have combined for a league-high 17 sacks.Miller, who has nine sacks this season, has sacked Rivers 15 times since entering the league as the second overall pick in 2011. That is the most by an active player against an active QB."I'm a big Philip Rivers fan. I feel like he's always played great, but the difference this year is he doesn't have as many interceptions," Miller said. "He can make all the throws but he don't take all the shots. He is still accurate as hell, the running game is lights out Brandon Mebane Jerseys 2019 , and he has a pretty good team."Miller added that the biggest difference with the Chargers this season is they are relying more on the running game with Gordon and Austin Ekeler, which has allowed Rivers to take fewer risks.Chubb, the fifth overall pick in last April's draft, has 6 1-2 of his eight sacks over the past four games. Chubb said he got to meet Rivers last season at North Carolina State when he came in to talk to the team."He throws the ball out quick. It's making sure that when I get there, I make sure I try to get the ball out," Chubb said. "He's kind of a bigger guy, he's not going to try to move around too much. But a lot of guys slip off of him. If I get to him, just make sure I secure it and get the ball up."Rivers is tied for fourth in the league with 21 touchdown passes and has thrown two or more in nine straight games. Only five quarterbacks have done it in 10 or more straight games. He has thrown two or more TDs the past three times the Chargers have faced the Broncos.Denver (3-6) is rested after having its bye last week, while the Chargers return to StubHub Center for the first time in six weeks. Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said he sees a lot of similarities between this year's Broncos and his team last year, which was 3-6 before winning six of its last seven."This team (Denver) has lost four of the six games to division leaders, and they were close games. So this is a good football team," Lynn said. "So, you know White Casey Hayward Jerseys , I think it's a matter of time that this team gets going on a streak, but we're just trying to prevent that from being this week."Here are other things to watch in the meeting of AFC West rivals:GORDON'S STREAKGordon has five straight games of at least 120 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Only four players in NFL history have done it in six straight games or more. Coincidentally, the last to do it was the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006.FREEMAN'S RETURNBroncos RB Royce Freeman, who has missed the last two games due to an ankle injury, is likely to be back for this week. Freeman is part of a prolific rookie trio that also features RB Phillip Lindsay and WR Courtland Sutton. They have combined for 1,462 yards from scrimmage, sixth-most yards by a rookie trio through nine games since the 1970 merger.CHALLENGING CORNERBACKBroncos star Chris Harris Jr. is hardly being challenged by quarterbacks this season. In his last game, he locked down on Texans No. 1 receiver DeAndre Hopkins and was only thrown at twice. But he knows that will change Sunday."Against Rivers, I'm excited this week because he always gives me a chance. I know Rivers is going to let me play ball."CENTER OF ATTENTIONWith Matt Paradis on IR with a broken right leg, Connor McGovern will get his first start at center Sunday after moving over from right guard. QB Case Keenum said losing Paradis puts a lot more on everyone's plate."Everyone needs to step their game up," Keenum said. "What's great is that nobody has to be anybody but themselves. Everybody's confident in what their ability is and everybody's confident in what their job is. I think everybody is going to step up on the offensive line, including me, too. I definitely can help out with those guys."KEEP AN EYE ONChargers DE Joey Bosa is back practicing and could he see action. Bosa has missed the first 10 games due to a bone bruise to his left foot Casey Hayward Jerseys 2019 , but will be a game-time decision. The Chargers struggled with their pass rush early this season, yet have 15 sacks over the past four games.AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed to this report. COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP)The first workout in pads during training camp usually belongs to the defense, but Los Angeles Chargers center Mike Pouncey was ready to bring his own level of physicality.Pouncey traded blows with Chargers defensive linemen Brandon Mebane and Corey Liuget on Monday, showing a ferocity he rediscovered because of how his time in Miami ended after seven seasons.”It just lit that fire again in me,” Pouncey said. ”I never thought I would play with anybody but the Dolphins, but once they released me, it made me want to be an even better football player. It made me want to prove everybody wrong, and I’m excited to be here. I can’t wait to help this run game out, help this football team do something special.”Pouncey signed a two-year contract with the Chargers in March, inspired by the chance to play with one of the game’s top quarterbacks in Philip Rivers.His time in Miami saw Pouncey working with a host of journeymen before helping first-round draft pick Ryan Tannehill transition to the NFL. Rivers is at the other end of the spectrum in terms of talent, experience and understanding of the game. It didn’t take long for Pouncey to recognize Rivers’ comprehensive mastery of the position.”I just like that he knows everything that is going on each and every play. When we go up, he’s the guy that points out the Mike (linebacker). He knows when blitzes are coming White Travis Benjamin Jerseys , so he puts us in the right protections and he gets us in and out of plays. When a bad look is there and we don’t want to run that play, he switches the play,” Pouncey said.”To be able to play with him, I don’t take it for granted. I feel like it’s something that I lucked up into, and I’m going to take full advantage of it.”The chance to play on a team with viable Super Bowl aspirations was just as important for Pouncey, who reached the playoffs once during his time with the Dolphins, as the Chargers are the only team in the AFC West that returns its head coach, both coordinators and starting quarterback. The professionalism displayed by his new teammates during their brief time together has convinced Pouncey the Chargers can deliver on their growing expectations.”Every year in the league I’ve always wanted to win,” Pouncey said. ”That’s the goal every year you go into training camp is to try and win something, win the Super Bowl. For me right now, at the point in my career, I’m excited to be on a football team that has a chance. They finished top of the league in offense last year, and our defense is unbelievable Travis Benjamin Jerseys 2019 , so I feel with me coming here it can only help.”Pouncey wants to make his presence felt in the run game, where the Chargers tied for 25th after averaging 3.8 yards per carry last season. He looked up to the part in practice, creating holes for Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler. But Pouncey also felt the familiar push back from the likes of Mebane and Liuget on the interior.Chargers defenders had been looking forward to the chance to hit again, and coach Anthony Lynn said their energy was evident.”That’s kind of why you had to hold them back a little bit. You don’t want the excitement to go too far,” Lynn said.The back and forth during the morning session was fine by Pouncey.”First days of pads is always the funnest day,” Pouncey said. ”I feel we had a really good day as a football team on both sides of the football, and we can only get better from here.”—