Did Broncos ‘punt’ on Falcons game to prepare for Chargers?

The Denver Bronco haven’t loss on the road to an AFC West opponent since 2011 — 15 games in a row and the longest such streak in NFL history.

And Denver’s won nine of their last 10 divisional matchups.

But despite the recent success, the Broncos have to overcome a short week and the loss of a head coach to take down, on the road, a San Diego Chargers team that Broncos interim head coach Joe DeCamillis said could easily be 4-1 instead of 1-4.

So, is it possible that Denver, seeing a tough road ahead, could have perhaps looked beyond Sunday’s home matchup — a 23-16 loss — with the Atlanta Falcons?

Joining Sandy Clough Tuesday on 104.3 The Fan, Colorado Springs Gazette sports columnist Paul Klee proposed the theory that Denver “punted” on the Falcons game knowing they would have to turn around on a short week to face a tough divisional opponent in the Chargers.

“I don’t think the Broncos put a lot of weight on Sunday,” Klee said. “I think they’re going to treat Thursday as though it’s a very, very important game because it is a divisional game.”

Klee said he’s not saying the Broncos “threw the game,” as they “game planned, they practiced, they had guys there, all of that.” But lining up against Philip Rivers and the Chargers, the Broncos are focused on coming away with a divisional win Thursday.

“They’ve emphasized these divisional games going back for years. But I think now that the division has stood up a little bit, and it looks like there will be some pushback, I think there going to place even more emphasis on that,” Klee said.

Clough said its not as if the Broncos purposefully didn’t show up Sunday, but that Klee’s argument is a bit nuanced in the sense that perhaps Denver was a little more cautious in playing some of its players recovering from injury.

Key offensive players Virgil Green, Donald Stephenson and Trevor Siemian may all have played if the stakes were a bit higher than facing a rolling non-conference opponent.

“(They) could have played if it’s a consequential game, a divisional game, a playoff game,” Clough said. “Obviously, Siemian would have been out there, I think, playing on Sunday — certainly dressing out for the game.”

And Denver, Clough said, was simply outplayed on Sunday, which could have been the cause whether those injured played or not.

“You’re going to throw in a stinker from time to time,” Clogh said. “I don’t think it was done intentionally, but I also think their attitude was we’re not going to risk aggravating existing injuries.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.