Injured Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton again missed practice on Friday, leaving backup Chris Simms to take repetitions with the starting team for the third day in a row.

Coach Josh McDaniels said Orton, who remains listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle, still has a chance to play but his availability won't be determined until game-day. He said Orton will be evaluated after going through a workout prior to Sunday's game.

The last time Orton tried to come back from a sprained ankle too early, things didn’t work out, but that was back in Chicago, and this one isn’t his plant leg. I don’t think this hurts the Chargers at all, because the preparation will be the same for both quarterbacks, because, well, you don’t really have to prepare for underthrown ducks.

I don’t think this means Orton won’t play, because this is a huge game, and he doesn’t necessarily need to practice all week to be ready to go at this point in the season. One thing is for sure, though, and that is Orton will not be at his best, and that will only make things easier for the Chargers defense.

Should Simms get the nod, he would be making his first start since September 2006, when he suffered a life-threatening spleen injury while with Tampa Bay. He had a tough time playing the second half last week in relief of the injured Orton, completing 3 of 13 passes for 13 yards and an interception in a loss at Washington. If needed, he should at least be better prepared this time around since he's gotten pretty much all the practice repetitions this week.

--- CLAY SPIEGEL.

Week 11

Broncos (6-3)

Broncos vs. Chargers (6-3)

It was only a month ago that the Denver Broncos beat the San Diego Chargers on a Monday night in their own house 34-23, to move to 6-0 and grab what looked to be an unbreakable grip on the AFC West. Now, the tables have turned, and Broncos have barely a fingertip-hold on the division lead coming into Sunday's showdown. Both of these teams have completely shifted momentum since they last met. The Chargers are riding a four-game winning streak, while the Broncos have lost three straight games by a combined 51 points. After watching the collapse by the Broncos down the stretch last year, there is a very uneasy feeling amongst Broncos fans that this year may be holding a similar fate. Most people believe that a loss this week to the Chargers would be the proverbial 'nail in the coffin' for the Broncos and their hopes for a division title, or possibly even a playoff berth. Although the exact ramifications of this game aren't clear, there is no doubt that this is the biggest game of the year to this point for the Broncos. Here are a few match-ups to watch that may decide the game:

Broncos O-line vs. Chargers Pass Rush:

Whether it's Kyle Orton or Chris Simms playing QB for the Broncos on Sunday, pass protection will be the key to the team’s passing success, or lack of it. A large part of San Diego’s rejuvenation has come from its defense, and more specifically, its pass-rush. Shawne Merriman and company have combined for 17 sacks in the last four weeks. Although the Broncos have only given up a combined seven sacks during their three-game slide, they have struggled protecting the passer and it has shown in the team’s production. Now, whether it's protecting a gimpy Kyle Orton, or adjusting to a left-handed Chris Simms, the Broncos offensive line needs to come up big if the Broncos hope to slow down the surging Chargers.

Broncos Secondary vs. Philip Rivers:

Philip Rivers has been on fire lately. He has passed for 957 yards with nine touchdowns and only one interception since these teams last met. When you look at the match-up on paper, there is no question that the Chargers have the edge offensively. Add into the equation Kyle Orton's iffy status because of an ankle injury, and the odds of the Broncos’ offense out-producing that of the Chargers becomes very slim. Unless of course, the Broncos secondary can hold Rivers in check and possibly create a turnover or two, giving the Broncos struggling offense a fighting chance.

Broncos D-line vs. Chargers O-line:

Maybe the most extreme example of the Broncos recent defensive futility is the way in which the defensive line has been losing the battle at the line of scrimmage. For the first six games of the season, the Broncos defense allowed an average of 80 yards rushing, and not a single team went over the century mark against them. The last three weeks, the same Broncos defense has allowed an average of 157 yards rushing and all three teams went well over 100 yards. Nearly twice as much! That's staggering. The Chargers still rank last in the league in rushing. But, they have a solid offensive line and seem to be gaining confidence after LaDainian Tomlinson had his best performance of the year, picking up 96 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles last week. If the Broncos are going to turn the season around, it needs to start up front, and it needs to start against the Chargers.

Fantasy Pick:

Brandon Marshall has been a very consistent fantasy performer as of late, so I wouldn't fault anyone for starting him. But, because of the uncertainty at quarterback for the Broncos and the fact the Chargers weakness is their run defense, I'm going with Knowshon Moreno as my top fantasy play this week. Moreno has been very active in the offense lately, and will likely get plenty of carries as well as passes out of the backfield. Thumbs up to starting Knowshon Moreno in your fantasy league.

--- SONNY PLATT.

So, are we about to see Tom Brandstater at quarterback for the Denver Broncos?

OK, that might not be the case, but the sixth-round rookie from Fresno State couldn’t have played much worse than Chris Simms did in the second half in last week's loss at Washington, the Broncos' third in a row since a 6-0 start.

And now, with word that Broncos starter Kyle Orton has torn ligaments in his left ankle, not the right one that sidelined him last year in Chicago, one has to wonder if Brandstater would give Denver a better chance at victory than Simms.

Now, this may be jumping the gun a little bit, but considering Simms, who hasn’t started a regular-season game since 2006, was just 3-of-13 for 13 yards in Sunday's 27-17 loss to Washington, why not give the rookie a chance? This especially holds true if things go south more than they have in the past three weeks.

Orton wants to play in Sunday’s crucial AFC West showdown with San Diego. But Simms got the first-team reps in practice Wednesday. Brandstater also may be in line for more work if Orton’s injury lingers. Coach Josh McDaniels certainly isn’t ruling it out.

“That’ll all depend. He could get a few reps,” McDaniels said prior to Wednesday’s practice. “If Kyle is not practicing, yes, he will get a few reps. He always takes plenty of the defense’s reps when the defense is out there. We try to get him a lot of work against high-level competition.”

Now this may be farfetched, but he might be getting a lot more than that if Orton can’t go and Simms’ play doesn’t pick up soon. What do the Broncos have to lose after dropping three straight games and the outright lead in the AFC West?

---MICHAEL HICKS.

The Broncos beat the Chargers in San Diego 34-23 back on Oct. 19. The Broncos haven't won since then while the Chargers have reeled off four consecutive victories.

"They are playing with a different fire, with a different zest that you can see on film," safety Brian Dawkins said of the Chargers. "You just go into this game expecting their best, and then you put up your best and see whose best is the best. Like I said, it is going to be an exciting game. I'm jacked up, juiced up about it already."

Dawkins also talked about maintaining an upbeat approach despite the team's losing streak.

"I practice what I preach, and I preach what I practice first," he said. "In other words, I'm out doing what I'm supposed to do on the football field. I'm doing what I'm supposed to do in the meeting rooms. I'm still engaged in every phase of preparing for a team with my teammates, having conversations. My head is not held low. My smile, it doesn't disappear from my face in the midst of a losing streak. I'm still going to have fun playing this game. Those things, young guys, especially, see that and understand that this is not a panic situation."

Click here for video of Dawkins' press conference on DenverBroncos.com

Kyle Orton wants to start on Sunday, and it's been reported by at least one well-respected football pundit that he will be under center for the Broncos on Sunday when they play the San Diego Chargers. But, it was backup Chris Simms, not Orton who took snaps with the first team offense in practice on Wednesday. Although it may only be to allow Orton a chance to rest his sprained left ankle before making the start against the Chargers, it also points to the reality that the biggest game of the year for the Broncos may be riding squarely on the shoulders of a very rusty Chris Simms.

Simms lasr started a game on Sept. 24, 2006, while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He suffered a ruptured spleen on a hit during that game _ a life-threatening injury that required surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation before he could even think about playing again.

After Kyle Orton injured his left ankle Sunday against Washington, Simms played the entire second half at quarterback for the Broncos. He did little to impress on his first signficiant action since suffering the spleen injury. Simms was 3-of-13 for 13 yards with an interception. The Broncos offense was shut-out with Simms at the helm.

When asked about Orton's status, coach Josh McDaniels said this:

"I don't know, we'll see. He's going to do everything he can to to get better every day. We'll make that decision at the end of the week."

Even if Orton gets the start, there is a good chance that he will either worsen the injury or be rendered ineffective, or both. In which case, McDaniels would again have to turn to Simms. Considering that Simms is left-handed_ something that both players and coaches have to adjust to_ and looked somewhat lost last week, getting him extra preparation while giving Orton time to rest, seems like a good idea at this point in the week. Should Simms be thrust into action again, he'll be able to lean at least a little bit on his preparation time rather than coming in cold as he did a week ago.

--- SONNY PLATT.