SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers did not play in the first matchup this season against the Denver Broncos, and San Diego suffered the consequences.
San Diego’s top cover guy suffered a concussion against his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, in an Oct. 19 contest a week earlier. Denver's Peyton Manning threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns against the Chargers with Flowers watching from the sideline. Manning’s favorite target was Emmanuel Sanders, who caught nine passes for 120 yards and three scores.
Rookie Jason Verrett replaced Flowers in the starting lineup and was on Sanders early, giving up a long reception and a 3-yard reception for a score. After Verrett left the game with an injured shoulder, veteran Richard Marshall subbed in at left cornerback, giving up a 31-yard touchdown to Sanders.
Sanders is second on the Broncos in receptions (86), receiving yards (1,208), and third in touchdown catches (7).
The Chargers are hoping for better results with Flowers. He leads the team in pass breakups (11) and interceptions (3).
"That’s what San Diego brought me in for -- to play in big games, and to play good in big games," Flowers said. "I felt bad, even though I couldn’t help that I missed the first game with a concussion, I felt bad I wasn’t out there. So I get a chance again to go and try and get a win against this team."
Flowers likely will be matched up against Sanders, and said he’s played against him in the past when Sanders was with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"He’s a great receiver," Flowers said. "He’s a receiver that’s fearless going across the middle. He can get deep. He can turn a 6-yard pass into an 80-yard play. He’s a difficult receiver to keep in check. We’re going to have our hands full, but that’s how we like it. We like a lot of pressure on the back end, and we just have to go get it done."
