DENVER -- How so much can change in such little time.The Broncos and Chargers arent exactly the same teams that met in San Diego on Oct. 13 when Denvers 15-game divisional road winning streak skidded to a halt in a 21-13 loss that snapped the Chargers out of a 10-game AFC West funk.Following with a win at Atlanta, the Chargers (3-4) have gone from stagger to swagger, saving coach Mike McCoys hide and earning the chance to make the seasons second half much more meaningful.Weve won two in a row but this is what we expected, what we should have done in some of those earlier games, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. We should be sitting here with a different record, but were not. This one right here can really get us right back in the thick of it.The Broncos (5-2) also are a very different team than the one that stumbled into San Diego under interim coach Joe DeCamillis, got off to a slow start and never recovered.Gary Kubiak is back on the sideline after missing that game under doctors orders following a complex migraine. And quarterback Trevor Siemian isnt nearly as compromised from his sprained left shoulder that did as much to keep him from throwing downfield as the Chargers cover-2 schemes.But the Broncos will be without running back C.J. Anderson , who underwent right knee surgery Thursday, 72 hours after his best game of the season, a 107-yard effort that helped the Broncos beat Houston 27-9 Monday night.Instead, theyll hand off to rookie Devontae Booker and third-year pro Kapri Bibbs, who has four carries in eight career games -- not exactly the 1-2 punch they were so excited about when they rumbled over the Texans.Whenever players get hurt its unfortunate, but thats part of the league, Broncos linebacker Von Miller said. I feel like everybody has to battle some type of injury throughout their career and overcome it, and C.J., hell do that. Hell be right back for us. And what injury does is it gives opportunity for guys to go out and start their legacy.The Broncos felt really good about their 190 yards rushing against the Texans, but now they dont have that 1-2 punch. Or do they?Book is ready to play; Im ready to play, Bibbs said. And I dont think theres going to be any drop-off. I think were going to go in there and were going to handle our business.Thats something the Broncos as a whole didnt do in San Diego earlier this month.Other subplots when the teams meet Sunday:BOSA BOOM: Rookie Joey Bosa has played in only three games but has four sacks, including takedowns on consecutive drives last week in Atlanta. Bosa is the first NFL player since Elvis Dumervil in 2006 to have two multi-sack games in his first three games. He is the only player in Chargers history to accomplish that feat. Bosa missed all of training camp in a contract spat and then injured a hamstring, costing him the first four games.MEN IN THE MIDDLE: In a nod to Denvers star-studded secondary, the Chargers isolated tight ends Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry on Denvers inside LBs Brandon Marshall and Todd Davis last time, similar to what the Falcons had done with running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. The Broncos realized they had to mix some zone looks in their man-heavy coverage. Corey Nelson will likely get tested with Marshall dealing with a pulled left hamstring.CHASING RIVERS: Miller, who has 7+ sacks, is excited at the prospect of DeMarcus Ware (broken forearm Sept. 18), returning to the field this weekend. Its like having the Karate Kid and Mr. Miyagi, Miller said, praising Wares wisdom and poise. Hes just always calm no matter what the situation. He always has great advice, he always knows the direction to go, and he has the vision.MELVIN METAMORPHOSIS: Chargers RB Melvin Gordon, who didnt score as a rookie last year, leads the league with 10 TDs, eight rushing and two catching. Hes got 10 more touchdowns than he did last year, Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips deadpanned when asked what was the difference. No, he was a good back last year. He was a rookie. I think they certainly realized how to use him and hes come on and gotten better and better.BOLSTERED BRONCOS: Denver acquired a tight end just before the trade deadline for the second straight season. Last year, it was veteran Vernon Davis from the Niners. This time, the Broncos got greenhorn A.J. Derby from the Patriots. Playing behind Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett, Derby had no catches this season. But his preseason production -- 15 receptions for 189 yards, a TD -- is roughly what the Broncos other tight ends have managed so far.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton . Antti Suomela Jersey . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Tomas Hertl Jersey . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. http://www.officialsharksnhlshop.com/ . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. Brent Burns Jersey . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. Martin Jones Jersey . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- This past week saw USA Hockey hold its evaluation camp for this winters IIHF world junior championship, and three other nations -- Canada, Sweden and Finland -- also took part in a series of practices and games to gauge their top talent for inclusion on the rosters.If you missed my flurry of social posts on the event, youre in luck: What follows is a rundown of the players who stood out the most to me through the practices, scrimmages and games.You may notice that I didnt list Arizonaas Dylan Strome or Torontos Mitch Marner here; if you wanted the spectacular insight about how top-five picks from two drafts ago -- who have torn the OHL to shreds the past two seasons -- looked great against junior-level competition, then I do apologize.dddddddddddd Instead, here are 14 players whose production demonstrated improvement since we last saw them in competition: ' ' '