The Los Angeles Chargers are 2-0, and the Kansas City Chiefs are 0-2? The start that everyone in the AFC West expected, right? Well, the team in between the two of them is the Denver Broncos. They are fresh off a tight loss against the Indianapolis Colts, and letting the Chargers start 3-0 within the division would be problematic down the road.

A win starts with a more consistent Bo Nix. He’s been up and down through two weeks, but that will need to change against a vaunted Chargers defense. So who wins? Well, five analysts from around the A to Z Sports landscape made their picks.

Chargers 30, Broncos 20

“Los Angeles is a wagon right now, and it’s thanks in large part to it’s defense. That unit has been suffocating through two weeks. I think they overwhelm Bo Nix and turn him over a few times, giving the Chargers’ offense a few short fields. The Chargers need to show they can run the ball more efficiently, but I believe in Justin Herbert and the offense.”

– Rob Gregson, A to Z Pittsburgh

Chargers 27, Broncos 17

“The Bolts and Broncos are going in two different directions right now. While Denver is 1-1, some offensive woes have wrecked their first two weeks. Bo Nix hasn’t looked quite as impressive as he did to finish last season, and the run game hasn’t shown much explosiveness. While I think they get it moving a bit smoother by mid-season, not sure I project a great performance against this Chargers defense.”

“Los Angeles’ defense has been one of the best in football so far this year and held the Las Vegas Raiders without a TD last week. Not to mention, Justin Herbert is playing like one of the best quarterbacks in football, and LA is trusting him to sling the football around plenty. In divisional games, you can never be too certain, but I’ll take the Chargers here.”

– Adam Holt, A to Z Sports New Orleans

Chargers 27, Broncos 23

“This one should be fun, one of the top defenses in the NFL meets one of the hottest offenses to start the year. Pair all of that with this being a divisional game, and you have one of the must-watch matchups on the Week 3 slate. In Week 2 the Broncos defense got picked apart by Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts as they allowed 29 points in a loss.”

“Justin Herbert is playing like one of the top QBs in the NFL through the first two weeks, and I expect the Chargers to use the Colts-Broncos film to their advantage. I think this is a game where the Chargers get up early and have to hold off a Broncos comeback and ultimately win by one score.”

– Destin Adams, A to Z Sports Indianapolis

Chargers 28, Broncos 27

“The Chargers have a massive opportunity to not only start 3-0, but also have those victories against the other three AFC West teams. L.A. will certainly miss having linebacker Khalil Mack, but the Broncos’ offense hasn’t shown much improvement from last season.”

“Denver has also been disappointing on defense. It may better a matter of time until it gels and plays to its potential, but Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is playing like an MVP and has the best cast of weapons of his career.”

– Nick Roesch, A to Z Sports Kansas City

Chargers 30, Broncos 20

“The Chargers are playing excellent all-around football right now and are catching their AFC West rival at the right time on the calendar. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has looked like a player with some new pieces around him and Sean Payton is still greasing the wheels to get this offense humming. The Chargers defense, even without Khalil Mack, feels like the wrong draw for an early-season matchup, especially at home.”

“Daniel Jones found ways to negotiate the Broncos’ fierce defense in Week 2 and thrived against pressure looks, which sets the template for Jim Harbaugh’s team to use with their own quarterback, Justin Herbert. Herbert looks dialed in right now and is playing impressive football on all fronts — thanks in part to Harbaugh allowing him to throw on early downs at the highest rate in the league through the first two weeks. I look for the Chargers’ hot start on both sides of the ball to continue.”

-Kyle Crabbs, A to Z Sports NFL

Chargers 28, Broncos 24

“The Chargers enter Week 3 at 2-0 behind the stellar play of Justin Herbert, who has looked every bit like one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. With a trio of dangerous pass catchers in Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey, and Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles has carved up defenses through the air and shown balance with explosive plays downfield and steady production in the short game. That poses a major challenge for Denver, whose secondary has looked vulnerable at times this season. Slowing down Herbert’s rhythm and limiting gains will be critical if the Broncos want to pull off the road upset. For Denver, the formula begins upfront. If the Broncos’ pass rush can pressure Herbert and get him off his spots, it gives them a chance to swing momentum. Offensively, Denver’s passing game has shown flashes, and the Chargers’ secondary can be attacked if Bo Nix finds rhythm with his receivers. That matchup could keep things close into the fourth quarter, but in the end, the difference may come on the ground. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton has struggled so far this season, but Denver’s run defense is their weak link, and I think this is the week Hampton gets it going.”

– Brentley Weismann, A to Z Sports, Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers 24, Broncos 21

“The Los Angeles Chargers seem to be the team to beat in the AFC West at the moment. It’s a long season, and so many things can change, but after Week 2’s performances from both of these teams, it feels like the cards are on the table for the Chargers to beat the Broncos. Justin Herbert looks great. The running game looks good with the different backs they use, and most importantly, Herbert’s weapons look amazing, which was one of the biggest question marks. Oh, and the secondary has been playing lights out. So, package all of that with the fact that Denver is still struggling on offense, and you should get a game that sees LAC winning. However, this is a division rivalry, so I’m not entirely sure LAC will blow Denver out. Not to mention, Denver has an elite defense.”

– Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports, Las Vegas Raiders

Broncos 28, Chargers 23

“I think that the Chargers will miss Khalil Mack in this one more than anyone realizes as the Broncos have one of the best offensive lines in football through the first two weeks of the 2025 NFL season. Bo Nix has looked like a quarterback that defensive coordinators have a full season of tape on, but I suspect that the Denver offense has a few adjustments they can make to help him out moving forward. Justin Herbert is playing loose, and it’s leading to some of the best football of his career, but I still think the Denver defense can make life hard on him in Week 3, despite playing on their home field in SoFi Stadium.”

– Charles Goldman, A to Z Sports, Kansas City Chiefs

Chargers 32, Broncos 27

“Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos are looking to bounce back after a tough Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. They’ll be a little shorthanded against the Chargers with TE Evan Engram out on the offense. Justin Herbert, in the early stages of 2025, has looked dominant, but the Chargers had a big loss in Khalil Mack that will sideline him for a few weeks. This is going to be a high-scoring affair with both offenses putting on a clinic in the AFC West showdown. Denver’s offense with Courtland Sutton and the dual running backs of RJ Harvey and JK Dobbins, with Dobbins taking on his former team, is going to be the difference maker in the game. The Chargers’ running game is going to be shut down by Denver, as Herbert is going to put the team on his shoulders with a close game heading into the fourth quarter. Denver’s defense proves to be too much, and Nix and the offense pull out the win with a big fourth-quarter performance.“

– Adam Zientek, A to Z Sports, Denver Broncos

Final Prediction for Chargers vs. Broncos

It’s clear that the Chargers are a favorite among our staff. With what they have shown through two weeks, that makes a ton of sense. The Broncos have been a Super Bowl dark horse for many this year, though, So I wouldn’t rule them out just yet.

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Brentley Weissman