BRONCOS FALL TO SAN DIEGO, 31-9 Rookie QBs Play Well August 28th: The Josh Freeman era started sooner than the Broncos expected. The Mark Sanchez era started right on time. Rookie Mark Sanchez started at quarterback for San Diego, and shook off a shaky beginning to lead the Chargers to a 31-9 win over the Broncos in the first game for both teams. Sanchez, opening only one of three and throwing a pick-six to second year Denver cornerback Terrell Thomas, settled down after that and finished with 21 of 33 for 217 yards and three scores, and the one pick (100.2). "I felt comfortable in the pocket, and the guys gave me good protection up front," Sanchez said after the game. "It wasn't too fast for me. I was just trying to do too much early on." Sanchez took a sack from veteran defensive tackle Tony Brown on his second pass attempt of the game when he held the ball too long, then forced a pass into tight coverage that Terrell picked off and returned 26 yards for the first score of the game. The Broncos missed the extra point attempt, but the miss didn't factor into the final result in any significant way. The Terrell touchdown was the only Bronco points until the fourth quarter, when a field goal cut the Chargers lead to 31-9 with eleven minutes remaining in the contest. After the Terrell pick, the Chargers came out throwing, with Sanchez moving the Chargers to the Bronco 29, but a fourth down and four pass by Sanchez to tight end Bo Scaife fell incomplete. Wrapped in a towel after showering, Sanchez said "We proved we could move the ball through the air with that drive. It also showed the coach had confidence in me. That gave me a boost." The Chargers went ahead in the second quarter on a defensive score of their own, when Lendale White was stripped, and Charger defensive lineman Darnell Dockett scooped up the loose ball and returned it 26 yards to give San Diego a 7-6 lead. That seemed to take all the pressure off Sanchez, and he proved he belonged when he connected with Sidney Rice on a short pass just inside the Bronco goal line for a 14-6 lead with 1:15 remaining in the half. The Broncos started Daunte Culpepper at quarterback, and he played well, completing five of eight for 43 yards, but left in the second quarter with a knee sprain. The prognosis is that Culpepper could miss most of the first half of the season, which means, ready or not, Josh Freeman is the starting quarterback for the Broncos. Freeman looked ready, however, as he completed his only two passes of the first half and finished with 12 of 17 for 128 yards, but threw one pick and lost the handle on the ball on a scramble just before halftime that gave the Chargers a gift three points and a 17-6 halftime lead. When Freeman was picked off by Charger veteran safety Brodney Pool to start the second half with the pick returned to the Denver 16 yard line, the Chargers and Sanchez were quick to capitalize on the great field position. Sanchez hit Miles Austin on a short slant into double coverage and gave the Chargers a 24-6 lead. After a Bronco three and out (all runs), Sanchez hit Austin for another touchdown, his third TD pass of the game, to give San Diego a 31-6 lead that was too much for the Broncos to surmount. The Broncos tried, however. They went on a long march that took almost nine minutes off the clock, pretty evenly split between the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, but after getting as close as the Charger 20, the 15-play drive ended with a whimper, with two penalties and a short gain moving the ball back to the 30 and Denver settled for the Mason Crosby 47-yard field goal just to put their first offensive points on the board. The Broncos next drive got to the Charger 36, but ended on downs when Freeman's pass for Devin Thomas was slapped away by tight coverage. A fourth-and-two attempt from their own side of the field ended in the final minute when another pass attempt went awry. Game Notes: The Broncos run game - sans recently traded Ricky Williams - still looked good, with the Broncos running for 114 yards on 32 runs. Overall, the Broncos completed 17 of 25 for 171 yards, but lost three turnovers - the fumbles by White and Freeman, and the pick off Freeman, which led directly to 17 Charger points. The Denver rebuilt defensive line held the Chargers running game in check, allowing just 73 yards on 26 runs. Brian Westbrook was the leading ground gainer for the Chargers with 41 yards on nine rushes. For Denver, Lendale White was 8-30, but six players were in double-digits in rushing yards. Bo Scaife led the Chargers with seven receptions for 82 yards and six first downs, while Austin finished second with fuve for 53 and two scores. The Broncos leading receiver was Washington, who caught three for 29. He also gain 14 yards on an end-around. Defensively, the Broncos featured Terrell Thomas, who had eleven tackles, two passes defensed, and one pick. Williams led the Chargers with 12 tackles, a forced fumble, and a stuff. Injuries and a look ahead: In addition to their starting quarterback, the Broncos lost their leading receiver from last year, wideout Dwayne Bowe, who will miss the next month or more. In his brief time on the field (like Culpepper he went down in the second quarter), Bowe caught two for 13 yards but also dropped two passes, displaying the same lack of concentration that was on display last year (12 drops, tied for third most in 2009). Next week the Broncos get their first home game, versus the 1-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who beat the Carolina Panthers in a heavy downpour 21-17, while the San Diego Chargers host the Bears, who demolished Cleveland 38-14 in their first game. Special Note: Thanks to Bill Robison for filling in for Will Blandford, who is having computer problems.