Chargers-Broncos: Savvy coaches lay 1st brick as AFC West rivals

Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton didn’t have a lot of opportunities to create a rivalry in their past NFL lives. But that was then and this is now. They meet for the first time as AFC West head coaches when Harbaugh brings his Chargers (2-2) to face Payton’s Broncos (3-2) on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).

San Francisco’s head coach from 2011-14, Harbaugh took the 49ers to three straight NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl – and he was 3-1 against Payton’s Saints, although the New Orleans head coach was suspended by the NFL during the 2012 meeting. Payton wasn’t thrilled to see Harbaugh land in the AFC West.

“Obviously, his success speaks for itself both at the NFL level and college level,” Payton said Wednesday. “I was excited that he got a job in our league, but not so much in our division.

“If you look up his overall career as a pro coach, turnover margin is off the charts,” Payton added. “They protect the ball, they’re smart, and they’re well-coached. They always have balance relative to running the football and throwing the football. All the things that we sometimes — all the things that are necessary to develop a team and he’s done that wherever he’s been. If you got back to USD — University of San Diego — it’s just not an accident.”

It’s not an accident in 2024, either. Despite a slew of injuries, the Chargers have just two turnovers, tied for fewest in the league. They’ve also played with balance, totaling 115 carries on 217 overall plays. And their defense leads the league in allowing just 12.5 points per game (Denver is second at 14.6). But before their Week 5 bye, the Chargers also lost two straight games. Denver has won three in a row, including a Ferris Bueller special last week.

At Michigan, Harbaugh referred to byes as improvement weeks, something appropriate for him since his NFL record after bye weeks is just 1-2-1. Each of those 49ers losses was by a field goal. But after leaving San Francisco, he was 7-2 in those games with the Wolverines.

Harbaugh made his Chargers team practice last week before giving players and coaches a few days off. The bye came a little earlier than he’d hoped, but regardless, his philosophy remains the same.

“And when it comes this early, if you can get your team back, refreshed, but also take advantage of the things we need to get better at,” Harbaugh said, courtesy of Eric Smith from Chargers.com. “There’s that element to work together and get it to where we want it. Good, great, where it needs to be.”

Where it needs to be is where it was after Week 2, when Los Angeles was 2-0. The Chargers took full advantage of the break, healing key starters Justin Herbert, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. They also expect to return safety Derwin James, who missed their 17-10 loss against Kansas City Sept. 29 on a one-game NFL suspension.

Those players could provide an important advantage against Denver, which is now dealing with two injuries on its offensive line. But don’t discount Payton. Throughout his career, Payton is 12-6 against opponents fresh off their bye weeks. That includes a 19-17 win last year at home against Green Bay.