Broncos

LITTLETON, Colo (CBS4) ― Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey was hoping for a better result on his first return to Washington to play his former team. The 27-17 loss to the Redskins and the San Diego Chargers win over the Philadelphia Eagles has put both teams at 6-3 and a tie for the top spot in the AFC West.

The Broncos traded running back Clinton Portis for Bailey prior to the 2004 season. Bailey was the guest host on Comcast Broncos Live! on Monday and said it hurt just a little bit more losing to his former team.

"I've got to admit, you go to your old place and you want to get a win, plain and simple," Bailey said. "You know how bad (head coach) Josh McDaniels wanted to beat the Patriots. It's kind of the same feeling."

The Broncos lost to a Redskins team that had only won two games this season and was dealing with multiple injuries going into Sunday -- backups were playing at many key positions.

"Those guys, they want to play, they want to win, their backs are against the wall, you're in their backyard; you've got to fight," Bailey said. "I can understand where they're coming from, you want to keep pushing. Everybody's fighting for their jobs, nobody is guaranteed in this league, so you've got to expect that from every team, every week."

Bailey said the Broncos may not just be in a slump and definitely need to improve.

"I tell you what; we've got a lot of work to do. We can't go out there and play the way we did on Sunday and expect to come out with a win. We wouldn't beat anybody playing like that, so we've definitely got to improve and that's all we can concentrate on right now."

Jack-of-all-trades Spencer Larsen was the guest on Comcast Broncos Live! The versatile player has seen action as linebacker, fullback and on special teams. But if Larsen had a preference, he said defense is where he feels most comfortable.

"Defense is more my natural position. I've been doing it all my life. Those college years are kind of your years where you kind of ingrain yourself in what you're going to want to do," Larsen said. "I played all defense and that's kind of the personality I developed."

Larsen had to learn both the offensive and defensive play books, as well as learning the plays on special teams.

"You watch a lot of film on special teams to kind of study that component and know the guy you are going against," Larsen said. "That's where special teams eats up a lot of my time."

Sunday's game against the Chargers could arguably be the most important game of the season for the Broncos.

"In my opinion (it's) the biggest game of the season," CBS4 Broncos Insider Vic Lombardi told Bailey.

Bailey agreed, not only because it's the "next game," but there is so much at stake.

"First place in our division, division opponent, AFC opponent; however you want to spin it, we've got to win this game," Bailey said.

Quarterback Philip Rivers and the Chargers never seem to go away. They are a good team the Broncos just can't seem to shake.

"When you have a well-coached, talented football team, you're going to do good things," Bailey said. "That's what they have and we look for them to be a tough opponent every year."

The Chargers come Invesco Field at Mile High on Sunday. Kickoff is at 2:15 p.m. on CBS4.

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