Welcome to the Mile High Mailbag, where we take your questions via social media and feature you in the article. This week's question is a good one. @CJ_Broncos should the #Broncos be worried about the #Chargers?

— Mile High Mane-iac (@MileHighManeiac) October 15, 2014

If the playoffs started today, the San Diego Chargers would not only have won the AFC West, but they'd be the AFC's #1 seed. Fortunately for the Denver Broncos, we're still a long way from the playoffs. And traditionally, the Chargers, under Phillip Rivers, are fast starters, but tend to falter. At least, as of late. The 2011 Chargers started 4-1, but went on to lose 7 of their last 11 games and missed the playoffs. That year, they split with the Tim Tebow-led Broncos, both teams winning on the road. In the last year of Norv Turner's administration, the straw that finally broke the camel's back, the Chargers started relatively hot, going 3-1 in the first quarter of the 2012 season. But they went on to lose 8 of their last 12 games. And Turner was shown the door. Enter Mike McCoy. The 2013 Chargers started 4-3, but went on to lose 4 of their last 9 games. They finished 9-7, and 3rd in the AFC West. Fortunately for them, the AFC was very weak in 2013 and they managed to sneak into the playoffs and even won a game, handing the Cincinnati Bengals their annual "one-and-done" playoff loss. The next week, however, the Broncos knocked them out with an emphatic win. What I'm getting at is that this team has a tendency to start hot. But for whatever reason, they can't maintain it and lose steam in November and December. Nonetheless, they're currently 5-1 and it seems that everyone in the media is already crowning them as the jewel of the AFC and proclaiming Rivers the front-runner for league MVP. There's no denying that they've played very well. And Rivers is arguably playing the best football of his career. The Chargers keep winning games, even as their injuries continue to pile up. On the flip-side, the Broncos are 4-1, having already received their bye. And despite having the 2nd best record in the conference, they've yet to play their best football and thus, are playing 2nd fiddle to the Chargers. So where's the truth? The Chargers one loss, suffered at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals, was a resounding win for the Broncos, who beat them in week 5. The Broncos one loss, an overtime defeat in Seattle, was an impressive win for the Chargers who spanked the Seahawks in week 2. Are the Chargers a real threat to the Broncos? I like to rely on history to help decide questions like this. Peyton Manning is 4-1 vs the Chargers as a Bronco, including playoffs. Rivers has struggled mightily to beat the Broncos, ever since the Sheriff came to Denver. In 2013, when the Chargers stole their only victory over the Manning-led Broncos, on the road, I might add, there was something different about their roster. Well, their coaching roster, anyway. That was Mike McCoy's first year as the Chargers head coach. McCoy served as the offensive coordinator for the Broncos from 2009-12. His last year with the Broncos was Manning's first. But in the 4 seasons he spent with the Broncos, 2 of them were under head coach, John Fox. In McCoy's professional career as a NFL coach, he's spent 11 of them as a Fox assistant, including his 9 years under him in Carolina. This experience has informed McCoy's coaching in San Diego, especially as it pertains to playing the Broncos. McCoy is uniquely qualified to take down Manning and the Broncos. McCoy knows what Manning likes to do. He knows both his strengths and his weaknesses. But knowing and doing are two completely different things. Execution is paramount. It's no secret that the best way to beat an elite quarterback and an elite offense, is to play keep-away. Find a way to keep the offense on the sidelines. In their week 15 win over the Broncos last year, the Chargers did just that. They possessed the ball for 38:49, to the Broncos 21:11. The Chargers ran the ball well and seemed to convert every 3rd down opportunity. It really was a masterful performance. Manning simply didn't get enough time, or opportunities, to put up more points than the Chargers. Week 15 marked the 2nd time that the Chargers won the time of possession battle vs the Broncos that year. In their week 10 matchup, which the Chargers lost, they possessed the ball 38:03 to the Broncos 21:57, but Manning and company found a way to win. McCoy knows what he's doing. And although he failed to extend that trend in the Chargers playoff loss to the Broncos, he's won the TOP battle 2/3 times. That strategy isn't going to change in 2014. When the two teams meet for the first time this year, in week 8, the Chargers will try to dominate the game by running the ball and getting themselves into manageable 3rd down situations and rely on Rivers to convert on crossing routes and jerk routes, ran to perfection by he and tight end, Antonio Gates. One thing that has helped the Chargers improve in 2014 has been their defense. With a healthy Dwight Freeney and stout front seven, they have found a consistent pass-rush and it's creating turnovers, which equal more possessions for Rivers. Although both the Chargers and the Broncos have drawn the NFC West on their schedules this year, the Chargers have the benefit of playing a 3rd place schedule. The Broncos have faced a brutal, front-loaded schedule to kick off the year, facing the Colts, Chiefs, Seahawks, Cardinals and Jets. 4 of those 5 teams won at least 10 games last season. But following their matchup with the Chargers in week 8, the Broncos schedule gets markedly softer. It's been just the opposite for the Chargers. They've faced the Cardinals, Seahawks, Bills, Jaguars, Jets and Raiders to start. Only 2 of those teams won at least 10 games last year. But they face 6 playoff teams, out of their next 11 games. And that doesn't include the resurgent Baltimore Ravens. It's tough sledding ahead for the Chargers. And 2 of those games will be against the Broncos. So, are the Chargers a threat to the Broncos in the AFC West? Absolutely. But they're a threat that I feel the Broncos can handle. The Chargers may have improved on defense this year, but so have the Broncos. At the end of the day, these matchups will come down to the quarterback. Whichever quarterback plays better, that's who will win. And I know that Rivers is looking good thus far. But Manning has managed to produce against some very, very good defenses. We'll see how it shakes out, starting next week. For now, the Broncos have a stiff challenge in hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Chad Jensen is the Publisher and Lead Analyst for MileHighHuddle. You can find him on Twitter @CJ_Broncos and on Google+. Brandon Perna is the Director of Video Content for MileHighHuddle. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonPerna and YouTube. Follow MileHighHuddle on Twitter @MileHighHuddle and become a subscriber to receive access to premium content and discounted Broncos tickets. .mediaplayer-box:before { content:""; display:block; padding-top:56.25%; }

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