Broncos at Chargers Monday Night Football

If San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers continues on his torrid passing pace, he’ll likely break the single-season passing yards record held by Dan Marino.

You’d like to say it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, but that would be a lie. Rivers, known as one of the most promising young pivots in the NFL, is also known as the league’s biggest trash talker.

There is a thin line between confident and cocky, and Rivers has trampled it several times. But isn’t that what you want from the face of the franchise? That unwavering cockiness is what has gotten Rivers and the rest of the Chargers over a 2-5 start to the season and has them looking for their third straight win when they host the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.

San Diego is a 9-point favorite at Bodog Sportsbook for Monday’s game, coming off back-to-back wins over Houston and Tennessee. Rivers led the charge in those victories, passing for 600 total yards and six touchdowns while helping Bolts backers cash in both outings as betting favorites.

Rivers’ 2,944 passing yards are impressive on their own, but what is even more remarkable is the fact that he’s been without his star receiver (Vincent Jackson) all season and has had a rash of injuries thin out his receiving corps.

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He’s thrown to 15 different targets including mystery men like Seyi Ajirotutu (two TDs versus Houston) and NFL journeymen like tight end Randy McMichael, who has filled in for the injured Antonio Gates – Rivers’ favorite receiver who has caught nine balls for scores this season.

Gates could miss Monday night’s game against the Broncos due to a foot injury, but Rivers may have wideout Malcolm Floyd back after he missed three games with a tender hamstring. Before suffering the injury in Week 6, Floyd was coming off an eight-reception day in which he totaled 213 yards and a score.

But it doesn’t really seem to matter who Rivers has on the wings, especially when he is facing the Broncos. Last season, while sharing the offensive duties with running back LaDainian Tomlinson, Rivers was 37 for 55 for a total of 419 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, going 1-1 SU and ATS versus Denver.

In fact, in his nine career appearances versus the Broncos, Rivers is 6-3 SU with a 6-2-1 ATS mark, has completed 68 percent of his passes (152 for 222), averaged 231 yards per game, and has connected for 14 touchdowns while throwing just four interceptions.

And with the offensive load, and the team’s playoff hopes, riding squarely on him this season, expect bigger and better numbers from Rivers on the primetime stage Monday night.

Pick: San Diego -9 at Bodog