INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers are looking to open the season 3-0 for the first time since 2002 with a third straight victory over an AFC West opponent.

The Denver Broncos (1-1) want to get back to winning after a critical penalty led to a one-point loss at Indianapolis last week.

“You only play six of them and this will be the third one,” Chargers safety Derwin James said. “You have to make them all count. Not like every game isn’t important but these division games mean a lot.”

They'll match up Sunday at SoFi Stadium in the Chargers' home opener. LA beat Kansas City in Brazil and the Raiders in Las Vegas.

Call him Coach Mack

Linebacker Khalil Mack is on injured reserve after a gruesome elbow injury suffered in the first quarter against Las Vegas on Monday. He's still got a sideline presence with the Chargers.

Call him Coach Mack, at least for now.

“He's back on the sideline coaching the guys up, sitting next to guys on the bench looking at the iPad,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said, describing Mack shortly after he got hurt. “That is the ultimate team guy. He’ll continue to do that and he’s back at meetings. It’s great for our guys to see how important it is to him. He’ll do whatever he can to help out. Blessed to have a guy like that.”

Road cheering section

Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton knows it will be loud at SoFi Stadium — because of cheering Denver fans.

“It’s hilarious. There’s always a point in the game where you hear, ‘Let’s go Broncos,’” Sutton said. “I don’t want to start no beef or nothing but it’s always funny how another set of fans won’t really want to start that chant until they hear Broncos Country hitting the chant.”

It comes in handy for these divisional games.

“The Chargers are playing really good football right now,” Sutton said. “They are playing with a spark, and it’s fun to see and it’s fun to be a part of. We’re also playing with a spark, and we’re practicing with a spark and having the passion and desire. You can see it all over the field at practice and in the games.

“I know they are going to show up, but I also know that we’re also going to show up and it will be fun to be a part of.”

Harbaugh ties

Broncos coach Sean Payton has a friendly relationship with the Harbaugh family. He worked alongside Ravens coach John Harbaugh when both were up-and-coming coaches with the Philadelphia Eagles. Payton was the QB coach back then and John Harbaugh the special teams coordinator.

Payton’s respect carries over to Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh.

“Our league is better when Jim is in it,” Payton said. “I’ve said this before out of respect, I would rather him be in a different division, but he does a tremendous job with his team, as does John.

“Think about that. At one point there was a Super Bowl where the two of them were coaching against each other. We might go 200 more years before that happens again. That’s pretty remarkable.”

Cornerback Pat Surtain II vows to bounce back after rare off game in Broncos' loss to Colts

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — This was an unfamiliar scene — Pat Surtain II chasing receivers and giving up completions. Typically, teams make his game day boring by staying far away from his side of the field.

The Denver Broncos cornerback and reigning AP defensive player of the year was in coverage when seven passes were completed on him in a 29-28 loss to Indianapolis last weekend. It's tied for the most catches he's allowed in an NFL game, according to research from Pro Football Focus.

Surtain credited pinpoint throws by Colts QB Daniel Jones. He also vowed to fix the little things where he thought his technique was “a little lazy.” No excuses, either, not even an ankle injury he suffered early in the game.

“I hold myself to a high standard, so that wasn’t one of my best games,” said Surtain, who allowed 35 catches for 306 yards last season, according to NextGen Stats. “It’s a lot to learn from, a lot to gain from. It gives me a lot of motivation to make sure that I’m on point and I’m on cue."

Broncos coach Sean Payton had a slightly different read on the Colts “targeting” his top defensive back.

“Do I think in those Wednesday night and Thursday night game-plan meetings they were out to target Patrick? I don’t think that was the case,” said Payton, whose Broncos (1-1) go back on the road this weekend to face Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers (2-0). “I think a lot of it is the progression of a route."

To prepare for Herbert and the Chargers offense, Surtain planned to visit with Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins, who played with Los Angeles last season.

“He’s got a lot of intel, a lot of insight,” Surtain said. “It’d be good to really gain some insight.”

Mostly, though, Surtain is going to study film and work on his mechanics at practice.

“Knowing that I could have been better with my placement, my footwork, knowing what certain routes was coming,” he said. “But also they made some great throws, great catches.”

The last time Surtain allowed seven catches in a game was Oct. 2, 2022, at Las Vegas. He also gave up seven catches against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 3, 2021, according to PFF. Both were losses, just like the Colts game.

“Shoot, it’s the league. They get paid, too,” said Surtain, the ninth overall pick out of Alabama in the 2021 draft. “I think I had pretty tight coverage.”

Last season, among cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps, Surtain ranked first in lowest target rate (10.9%) and fewest yards allowed per coverage snap. It paved the way to him becoming only the seventh cornerback to win the AP NFL defensive player of the year award.

“Different teams got a different game plan,” said Surtain, who signed a four-year contract extension worth $96 million, including $77.5 million in guarantees, last September. “Obviously, I thought I could have made a couple plays here and there, but kudos to them as well for executing. It’s something to learn from and take away from that game.”

He hadn't heard yet from his father, Patrick, who was a cornerback in the league for 11 seasons with Miami and then Kansas City.

Not that his dad needs to say much.

“When I have games like that, I think he knows it as well, too,” Pat Surtain said. "It’s the life of a DB. You’re going to have some rough games, like games where you’re not on top of your game. He understands that. He also knows that I’m a student of the game.

“I’m always looking to get better. I’m never complacent in my work habits, in my study habits.”

Liam Hicks' career-high 4 RBIs help Marlins beat Rockies 9-7 for 3-game sweep

DENVER (AP) — Liam Hicks matched a career high with four RBIs, including his sixth homer of the season, and the Miami Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 9-7 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep.

Otto Lopez and Heriberto Hernández also homered for the Marlins, who finished with 34 hits in the series at Coors Field.

Miami has won seven of eight and remained six games back of the New York Mets for the final National League wild-card spot.

Sandy Alcantara (10-12) struck out eight and gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings. Over his past 11 starts, the former Cy Young Award winner is 6-3 with a 3.18 ERA. He went 4-9 with a 7.14 ERA in his first 19 starts this season.

The Rockies mounted a late charge with a four-run ninth inning, but with the tying run at the plate, Calvin Faucher forced Jordan Beck into a groundout to pick up his 14th save.

In his 11th major league game, Blaine Crim homered twice for the MLB-worst Rockies, who have lost five in a row, 11 of 12 and 22 of 26. Mickey Moniak hit a two-run home run in the ninth to extend his streak of games with a homer to four.

Tanner Gordon (6-7) allowed four runs (three earned) over six innings.

Key moment

Hicks and Lopez hit back-to-back homers in the third inning to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead.

Key stat

The Rockies’ loss was their 112th, breaking a tie with the 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks for the most by a National League team since 1969.

Up next

Marlins: RHP Janson Junk (6-3, 4.48 ERA) will square off against RHP Tyler Mahle (6-3, 2.34) and the host Texas Rangers on Friday.

Rockies: RHP Bradley Blalock (1-5, 9.00 ERA) will take the mound against a to-be-announced starter and the visiting Los Angeles Angels Friday.