Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.<\/p>\n
Live updates
\nPre-game updates<\/p>\n
Scouting report (9:16 a.m.): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Chargers in Luca Evans\u2019 scouting report<\/a>.<\/p>\n Game predictions<\/p>\n Parker Gabriel, Broncos writer:\u00a0Broncos 38, Chargers 0<\/p>\n If it was good enough for Week 18 last year, it\u2019s good enough for Week 18 this year. The Broncos need a win to wrap up the No. 1 seed. The Chargers are sitting likely several key players. A couple of times this year, Sean Payton\u2019s played just to ensure a win. This week, the bet here is he tries to dial up a feel-good game for Bo Nix and the Broncos offense heading into a bye week. What does it matter once Denver\u2019s postseason play actually starts? Probably not much.<\/p>\n Luca Evans, Broncos writer:\u00a0Broncos 21, Chargers 13<\/p>\n This will be another one-score game, because of course it will. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is too good to let Sean Payton and Bo Nix just tee off on Sunday, and here\u2019s betting Los Angeles takes a similar approach to Kansas City and tries to keep the lid on the Broncos\u2019 passing game. The Chargers just have little offensive juice without Herbert, though, and this one should really never be in doubt.<\/p>\n Troy Renck, columnist:\u00a0Broncos 34, Chargers 12<\/p>\n Sean Payton knows his team needs momentum going into the playoffs as it clinches the AFC\u2019s top seed. He will not be a turtle on offense. More like a snap dragon. Remember what the Broncos did to the JV Chiefs in the season finale a year ago? This should be a repeat, including two takeaways by the suddenly-maligned defense.<\/p>\n Sean Keeler, columnist:\u00a0Broncos 23, Chargers 10<\/p>\n The Chargers\u2019 offensive line is a mess, and Vance Joseph\u2019s defense won\u2019t miss. Los Angeles gave up five sacks to the Texans, four to the Chiefs and seven to the Eagles \u2014 that\u2019s 16 takedowns over the last four games. The Bolts come into the weekend 28th in the league in sack percentage allowed, per SumerSports.com. The road to Super Bowl LX goes through Empower Field.<\/p>\n Broncos-Chargers NFL Week 18: Must-reads On a forgettable Thursday night, the Broncos became Raiders of the Lost Art.\u00a0They won, beating Las Vegas, despite finishing with more penalties (11) than first downs (10). There is winning ugly, and there is delivering a victory while looking like Freddy Krueger<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the six games since, the Broncos have averaged 24.5 points per game<\/a>. As the excitement bubbles about the postseason, it is important to remember how vulnerable the Broncos are. They have trailed in 12 of their wins. Their negative turnover margin cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n But there is a takeaway as important as the takeaways: it is time for Sean Payton to shine. Read Troy Renck\u2019s column<\/a>.<\/p>\n Broncos analysis: Sean Payton\u2019s takeaway quest and an existential defensive question<\/a><\/p>\n A defense as disruptive as the Broncos figured to be and one that takes the ball away, too? That set up a scary proposition. Except then a strange thing happened. The turnovers dried up. The group has smacked around quarterbacks, tackled well and dominated most key areas but hasn\u2019t taken the ball away like an elite defense<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now the playoffs are just about here and head coach Sean Payton is doing his version of sounding an alarm bell. Read Parker Gabriel\u2019s story<\/a>.<\/p>\n Broncos CB Jahdae Barron says it\u2019s \u2018human nature\u2019 to want more reps, but rookie\u2019s role is growing<\/a><\/p>\n That has been the story of Barron\u2019s inaugural season in Denver: a rookie who\u2019s gradually learned to put himself in better positions in Joseph\u2019s defense but has only sparingly found himself in the position to do so<\/a>.<\/p>\n Six months ago, in a locker room in Santa Clara, Calif., after the Broncos\u2019 first preseason game of the season, Barron told The Post that \u201ceverything\u2019s gonna click.\u201d Now, as the Broncos gear up for a postseason run that could take them right back to Santa Clara for the Super Bowl, Barron\u2019s role has mostly stayed static. Read Luca Evans\u2019 story<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nRenck: Doubts remain about Broncos offense. Time for Sean Payton\u2019s vindication.<\/a><\/p>\n