Three big things headed into the Broncos’ Week 3 game with the Chargers

VENICE BEACH, Calif. — The Denver Broncos knew that Dre Greenlaw wouldn’t play on Sunday. Thus, the decision to move him to injured reserve doesn’t have an impact on their game-planning for the Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Chargers compared to what they’ve worked on throughout the week.

But it further underscores the risk the Broncos took by bringing him aboard as part of a free-agent class that included four signees who all had recent injury concerns. And with two of them out Sunday, the early returns are mixed, as J.K. Dobbins and Talanoa Hufanga have already made a significant and palpable impact,

In my on-site dispatch from Southern California, I break down the lingering impact of Greenlaw’s troublesome injury, as well as the numbers that reveal why forcing at least one takeaway from Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will be so crucial … and how one of the significant impacts of Jim Harbaugh on Herbert has been more games with zero giveaways for the sixth-year quarterback.

Given that the Broncos entered Week 3 tied for 28th in turnover margin, generating takeaways — and protecting the football better — are likely to be crucial if the Broncos are to avoid falling two games back in the AFC West race.

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