This is not an article about how this week’s game against the San Diego Chargers will be Peyton Manning’s last match up against them. It is also not an article about how both teams are having terrible seasons, with the Broncos on a seven-game losing streak and the Chargers being winless in their past six games. This is about something bigger.
This is about a rivalry that has been going on for over fifty years and will continue to be one of the best rivalries in all of sports. In this article, I will provide some background information about the Chargers and how they were created, along with the history of the rivalry between them and the Broncos.
What Makes a Rivalry
Well, it’s an intense dislike or competition between two opposing teams or players. This especially applies to sports where each team plays each other at least twice a year. Now, why do I think this rivalry has been so successful over the years?
The Rivalry:
There are many reasons why this is one of the best rivalries in all of sports. One example is that since the origins of both teams, there has been at least one game where it’s winner gets a guaranteed spot in the NFL Playoffs. Some other examples are playoff games. Both teams have participated in a total of 8 playoff games against each other and all but one has resulted in either team going to the Super Bowl or winning it.
One last reason why it’s so successful is because of player transfers. Since both teams were created around the same time, there would be players who would go from either team to the other if their contract was up. An example of this being successful is the case of LaDainian Tomlinson, who would be drafted by the Chargers 5th overall in 2001 out of Texas Christian University. During his first six seasons with the Chargers, he would total over 5,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving along with 145 touchdowns (121 rushing and 24 receiving).
The 2008 season would be the last year he would play for the Chargers, where he had already made it known that his time with them was coming to an end. He would be traded to the New York Jets before the start of the new season.
Who Won the Match Between
The answer to that question is the Denver Broncos. Congratulations if you already knew that. Here are some additional stats about their meeting(s):
- Both teams would play each other in the AFC Divisional round on January 4th , 2006 and it was played at INVESCO Field at Mile High, where it resulted with a final score of 24-17.
- The second meeting was at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, on September 30th , 2006 and the result was 42-14 with a final score for the Broncos.
Who Are Some Notable Players For Each Team
Some notable former players for the Broncos were Floyd Little (1969-1977), Peyton Manning (2012-2015), Randy Gradishar (1974-1982) and Terrell Davis (1995-2002).
Some notable former players for the Chargers were Junior Seau (1990-2002), LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-2009), Kurt Warner (1998-2003) and Dan Fouts (1973-1987).
Who Is The Broncos’ Head Coach
The head coach for the Denver Broncos is Gary Kubiak. He was born on November 21st , 1961 in Houston, Texas and attended college at Texas A&M University.
- His first coaching job was as a player-coach for the American Football Association’s Galveston Pirate where he was a running back and even led them to a championship in 1983.
- He would later get his first professional coaching job with the Denver Broncos as the quarterbacks coach. This would be from the years of 1983-1991, 1992 (Offseason), 1994-1995, 1997 and 2005-2006 (Offseason).
- Kubiak’s first head coaching job was with the Houston Texans, where he held it from 2006-2013. He would go 63-66 during his time there and 2-2 in the postseason.
Who Is The Chargers’ Head Coach
The head coach for the San Diego Chargers is Mike McCoy. He was born on December 13th ,1972 in Sandusky, Ohio and went to college at University of California-Davis.
- His first coaching gig was at his alma mater in 1993 as a graduate assistant, which is where he would stay until 1997.
- He would then become the quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers from 1998-2000 before becoming their offensive coordinator from 2001-2008.
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