Time Is Not on Chargers’ Side : Once Again, They Face Angry Broncos in Denver

So much for the Chargers (2-2) sneaking quietly into Mile High Stadium, stealing a share of first place in the AFC West and sneaking quietly home. Their two-game winning streak was one of the league’s better-kept secrets.

But the Denver Broncos still were hot on Monday about the treatment they received from the officials in their 16-13 loss Sunday in Cleveland.

It was the Broncos’ first defeat and it happened when Chris Bahr kicked a wind-aided 48-yard field goal on the last play of the game. Bahr was kicking downwind because early in the final period Cleveland fans littered the end zone with debris when Denver was driving for a score.

The hailstorm of garbage prompted referee Tom Dooley to move the Denver drive to the opposite end of the field. And he never bothered to switch the teams back to the direction in which they had started the quarter.

In effect, the NFL was telling fans around the league, ‘We will penalize you for noise. But not for throwing batteries, dog biscuits, sausages, peanuts, rocks or eggs onto the field.’

Those are just a few of the items hurled onto the field at Cleveland Stadium. One of the eggs hit Bronco offensive lineman Keith Bishop in the facemask. Dooley took a battery to the head.

“That’s a terrible precedent to set,” Charger Coach Dan Henning said Monday when he heard about how Dooley handled the crowd problems. “I can’t believe it.”

It’s bad enough playing in Denver where the Broncos have sold out Mile High Stadium for 141 straight non-strike regular-season games.

“It’s always the wrong time to get them there,” said H-back Rod Bernstine.

“Is there ever a right time?” Henning said.

But this might be the worst time in recent memory. The Broncos are 3-1, angry about Cleveland and ranked No. 1 in the NFL against the rush. Their quarterback, John Elway, ranked third-to-last in the AFC passer ratings, is due for a good game. And their best running back, rookie Bobby Humphrey, has been inserted into the starting lineup in place of Sammy Winder.

But the Chargers are buoyed by a two-game winning streak and a confidence they didn’t possess last year when they also took a two-game winning streak against the Broncos into Week Five. “The difference is that last year we didn’t think we could win games,” Bernstine said.

The Chargers’ injury report after their 24-13 victory over the Cardinals Sunday is a long one.

Starters Joel Patten (left tackle) and Quinn Early (wide receiver) have sprained knees.

“Patten will be in a questionable state all week,” Henning said. “I don’t know whether he’ll be able to play Sunday. I doubt whether he’ll be able to practice very much. And if he is able to play, it will probably be on a part-time basis.”

Henning said Joey Howard would start if Patten can’t. Howard has never started an NFL game. Henning said Early’s injury was similar to Patten’s and named Darryl Usher and Wayne Walker as replacements if Early is unable to play Sunday. The good news for Early and Patten is team physicians have determined neither player needs surgery.

But the bad news for the Chargers is that either Patten or Howard will have to block Simon Fletcher, the Broncos’ linebacker/defensive end who leads the NFL in sacks after four games with 6 1/2.

Charger quarterback Jim McMahon has a sore neck but, Henning said, he will play. Starting cornerback Sam Seale has a sore shoulder (AC sprain) but said he expects to play against the Broncos.

Minor injuries include tight end Arthur Cox (aggravated ankle), running back Marion Butts (bruised sternum) and strong safety Martin Bayless (thigh contusion).

Charger Notes

Thanks to a plus-nine turnover/takeaway edge the past two weeks, the Chargers have moved into a tie for third in the AFC with a plus-four rating after four games. Cleveland leads the league with plus-14. Denver is second in the AFC with a plus-five. . . . Charger rookie Marion Butts leads the AFC in touchdowns with five. . . . Denver placekicker David Treadwell has made all nine of his field-goal attempts and all 11 of his extra points. . . . There was no runback on Charger Gill Byrd’s late interception against Phoenix because an official inadvertently blew his whistle after the pickoff. “I think we would have had a good-sized return there,” Charger Coach Dan Henning said.