NFL Denver BroncosSan Diego Chargers

What Denver Broncos’ Turmoil Means For San Diego Chargers

Fresh Videos

By

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

In the last 24 hours, the Denver Broncos have experienced a season’s worth of big stories. First, they went one-and-done in the playoffs to a lower seed in the Indianapolis Colts. Then, it was discovered that Peyton Manning had been playing with a torn quad muscle for the last several games of the season and the playoffs. Finally, today John Elway fired head coach John Fox and the entire coaching staff, putting the 2015 season for the Broncos in the spin cycle when it comes to what their team will look like from top to bottom.

The San Diego Chargers, as well as the rest of the AFC West, had to be looking on with a slight smirk on their collective faces. The Bolts have already begun the process of team evaluations, and it appears that unless Frank Reich is hired away by another team for a head coaching position, their team looks to be the same in terms of leadership for 2015. The Chargers are betting that the continuity will put them in no worse position than in 2014 to contend for the division. With the Broncos looking to make a bunch of big changes, things can get pretty interesting next year.

First, the head coaching position. Will the Broncos go internally or externally to fill it? Offensive coordinator Adam Gase was a hot name being thrown around for possible interviews before the playoff loss, and should still be a name Denver wants to talk to. But apparently Elway just fired him, so it would be weird to see him turn around and hire him as the head coach.

Second, and probably most importantly, QB Manning was already potentially on the fence about whether he’d return to play next season, and it is widely known he is not a fan of big changes when a team is playing well. Will he want to return not only to a new head coach, but potentially an entire new offensive system? It seems things would have to work out perfectly for Manning to be willing to return in 2015. If he retires, it puts the Broncos’ 2015 campaign into further chaos.

The Chargers have been the team to compete with the Broncos over the last several years when it came to the AFC West. Along with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bolts knew that as long as Manning was playing, the Broncos were the favorite. Now, it is not a reach to think the Bolts would step into that role in 2015 and have a real chance at taking back the division they dominated during most of the 2000’s.

There is still a lot to delve into, but the San Diego Chargers couldn’t ask for a better week from their current main division rival.

Jonathan George is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jonageorge. “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on