two to be exact). It ended up costing the Chargers a win.With the Broncos out of timeouts at the two-minute warning Kellen Winslow Color Rush Jersey , the Chargers faced a third down at the Denver 48. Rivers threw the ball away, burning only two seconds off the clock. It gave Denver just enough time — 1:58 — to drive from its own 8 to the Los Angeles 16, where Brandon McManus kicked a 34-yard field goal on the final play. The Broncos somehow, someway pulled out an improbable 23-22 upset of the Chargers.It ended the Chargers’ six-game winning streak and dropped them another half game behind the Chiefs, who play the Rams on Monday night. The Chargers are 7-3. The Broncos, who had lost six of their past seven before Sunday, improved to 4-6.The Broncos overcame a questionable offensive pass interference penalty on Tim Patrick in their seven-play, 76-yard winning drive. It resulted in a 21-yard difference Philip Rivers Color Rush Jersey , negating an 11-yard catch with a 10-yard penalty with only 37 seconds left.But Case Keenum found Courtland Sutton for a 30-yard gain to the Chargers 16 with the clock running. Keenum spiked the ball with three seconds remaining, so if Rivers had not thrown an incompletion, the Broncos likely would have run out of time.As it was, the Chargers could have blown out the Broncos. But they settled for three field goals, missed an extra point and threw two interceptions. Despite gaining 479 yards, the Chargers scored only 22 points.Rivers, who entered the game as an MVP candidate, went 28-of-43 for 401 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.Keenum went 19-for-32 for 205 yards Melvin Gordon Color Rush Jersey , and Broncos running backs Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman combined for 102 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Sutton caught three passes for 78 yards.Von Miller had a sack, an interception he returned 42 yards to set up a touchdown, a pass defensed and a tackle. Bradley Chubb also had a sack.Joey Bosa had a tackle and a quarterback hit in his 2018 debut. After another wonderful win against the Bengals, the Chargers are gearing up for what looks to be their most important and pivotal game of the regular season. While most Chargers faithful had this date circled on the calendar before the season began, it has been incredible to see the Chargers continue to catch up to the Chiefs after a really tough starting slate in 2018.There are a number of very important items on the line for this Thursday’s game: Not only the fate of the AFC West (the Chiefs would still have to lose another game, but a win this week would seal it for them). On the brighter side, the Chargers also have the door open for the #1 seed in the AFC if they win out (and have a few dominoes fall their way). Oh, and one final thing— a win this week clinches a playoff spot for the Bolts. However Austin Ekeler Color Rush Jersey , both the Chiefs and the Chargers will be hurting at one of their positions of strength this season: Running Back. The Chiefs ditched the baggage of Kareem Hunt, and deservedly so, and that has left a bit of a vacuum that hasn’t filled quite well with Spencer Ware and Damien Williams. They have reason to be optimistic, but RB is not the threat the offense had become used to.And the Chargers have been without Melvin Gordon III, who was enjoying a breakout year before missing action since November 25 because of a knee injury. In his absense, capable running back Austin Ekeler has been doing double the work he has been used to this year. He took 66 on the ground and 28 through the air—not bad for a $555k salary!However, reports began to storm in that Ekeler suffered a neck ‘stinger’ during the game, and his week 15 presence would be questionable.Neither Gordon nor Ekeler practiced Monday Joey Bosa Color Rush Jersey , when more grim reports began to surface. Austin Ekeler entered the concussion protocol on Monday, and that is in addition to his prior woes.It’s pretty clear that things look grim for Ekeler’s availability this week.But what about Gordon, who theoretically is day to day?The fact of the matter is that things don’t look good for a rushing attack on Thursday, but coach Anthony Lynn is a bit too wiley to give Andy Reid too much of a game planning cookie: he is giving some positive indications that Gordon could be back.In any event, Chargers fans should brace for an aerial showdown on Thursday evening, as both teams feature capable signal callers. There is an outside chance that one or both of the Chargers’ featured running backs can make the game, but it would be quite the surprise if they are up to speed by Thursday.-Jason “Run it Anyway” Michaels