2020 vision: Looking ahead to Denver's Week 16 matchup vs. the Los Angeles Chargers

[Miles]

The Broncos' regular-season opener isn't for another couple of months, but DenverBroncos.com_ is taking _an early look at each game on the Broncos' 2020 schedule. We don't know how injuries could impact each contest, but we'll present the pressing storylines, matchups, questions and more.


We continue with Denver's Week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.


Storylines to monitor:


The Broncos and Chargers are slated to meet for the second time in 2020 in Week 16, and Denver will play against its division rival at SoFi Stadium for the first time. The Broncos are currently scheduled to travel to SoFi Stadium to play the Rams in the preseason, but this Week 16 trip will be the first contest there that counts in the standings for Denver.


Both Melvin Gordon III and Chris Harris Jr. will have made their debuts against their former teams in Week 16, but that storyline will bear watching again as Denver potentially tries to complete a second consecutive sweep against LA.


And while rookie Justin Herbert may not be in the lineup for the Week 11 game between the two teams, it feels quite possible that he'll be starting by the time they battle late in the year. If things aren't going well for the Chargers in 2020, this could be the first time Denver faces the 2020 sixth-overall pick.


Player to watch:


QB Justin Herbert


We highlighted veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor in the Week 11 preview, so we'll turn to Herbert this week. The Oregon product completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 3,471 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions in his final season in Eugene, and he appears to be the Chargers' long-term answer to replace Philip Rivers. Interestingly, Herbert earned the same pre-draft grade as Drew Lock from NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah. Both players could be compared for years as they lead their teams in the AFC West, which also features Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs' signal caller made his first career start in a game against the Broncos in 2017. Could Herbert do the same?