Leading Off: Open Season On Managers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Here’s a look at whose stock improved or declined after the Broncos’ 34-27 loss to the Chargers on Thursday at SoFi Stadium. Stock Up OLB Dondrea Tillman: Denver’s first-year edge rusher has continued to be an intriguing story for the Broncos this season. Tillman, who signed in the offseason after starring for the Birmingham Stallions in the United Football League, logged his fourth sack of the season when he took down quarterback Justin Herbert for a 10-yard loss in the third quarter.

By ANDREW DAMPF ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — How fast can she go on her titanium knee? And how competitive will she be? Those are the big questions surrounding Lindsey Vonn’s comeback to World Cup ski racing this weekend at age 40 after nearly six years of retirement. “It’s a question that’s been going through my head a lot over the last week,” said Chris Knight, Vonn’s personal coach.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Hold your horses. The Broncos saw the light. And the Chargers gave them thunder. The Broncos are not yet playoff-bound for the first time since 2015. Their noses remain pressed up against the postseason window pane after a loss that was easier to hate than explain. RELATED: Broncos’ four-game winning streak snapped, postseason aspirations delayed in penalty-marred, 34-27 loss to Chargers Broncos coach Sean Payton entered Thursday night with a directive, his own version of a seatbelt.

Initial thoughts from the Broncos’ 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16 at SoFi Stadium: 1. Self-inflicted wounds: As sheer pain goes, that Chiefs road game’s got a little company now. You don’t need to see the world with orange-and-blue glasses to notice that the Broncos gifted the Bolts at least nine points in the middle of the contest.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Sean Payton never felt settled during the Broncos’ recent bye week. He said he never fully does. A few days with the prospect of more work ahead isn’t long enough to truly decompress. And the task is even tougher when you’re trying to end an eight-year playoff drought. As the Broncos returned to action ahead of a game against Indianapolis, he called out one area that he was particularly concerned about. Take Our Poll (function(d,c,j){if(!d.getElementById(j)){var pd=d.createElement(c),s;pd.id=j;pd.src='https://www.denverpost.com/wp-content/plugins/polldaddy/js/polldaddy-shortcode.js';s=d.getElementsByTagName(c)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(pd,s);} else if(typeof jQuery !=='undefined')jQuery(d.body).trigger('pd-script-load');}(document,'script','pd-polldaddy-loader')); “Our penalty numbers are still problematic,” he said on Dec.

A look at how the Broncos’ rookies played in their 34-27 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night. Highlight: Kris Abrams-Draine was known for his ball skills at Missouri. That trait was on display in the second quarter when he read Justin Herbert’s pass perfectly and jumped in front of wide receiver Josh Palmer to secure his first career interception near the Broncos’ goal line.