DENVER (Ticker) -- Last week, Doug Flutie gave the San Diego Chargers a lift. On Sunday, Jake Plummer will be looking to do the same for the Denver Broncos when the AFC West rivals meet at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Plummer - the Broncos' starting quarterback - has missed the last four games with a broken left foot. Denver also has been without backup Steve Beuerlein and has been forced to use third-stringer Danny Kanell the last two games.
The return of Plummer could not come at a better time for the Broncos, who went 1-3 in his absence. They have dropped their last three games, virtually falling out of the AFC West race.
Denver is looking to avoid its first four-game losing streak since dropping its first four contests in 1999.
Prior to getting hurt, Plummer had been playing well. He has a 92.5 quarterback rating, and has completed 80-of-131 passes for 903 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions.
Plummer also suffered an injury in the first meeting between the teams, a 37-13 victory for the Broncos on September 14.
In the first half, Plummer completed 9-of-13 passes for 94 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Broncos build a 24-10 lead. But he separated his right shoulder while diving for a first down midway through the second quarter, and sat out the second half.
Clinton Portis also had a big game for the Broncos, rushing for 129 yards on just 12 carries. He suffered a bruised sternum in the second quarter and did not play after intermission.
The Broncos are coming off their bye after suffering a 30-26 loss to New England. Portis led the Broncos with 26 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown.
Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer shook things up last week by benching quarterback Drew Brees and calling on the 41-year-old Flutie.
Flutie paid immediate dividends, accounting for four touchdowns in a 42-28 victory over Minnesota. He passed for 248 yards and two TDs while also rushing for two scores as the Chargers racked up 458 total yards.
LaDainian Tomlinson also had a big game against the Vikings, rushing for 162 yards and two TDs. He had a career-high 73-yard TD run in the opening quarter.
Tomlinson is fourth in the NFL in rushing and needs 58 yards for his third straight 1,000-yard season.
Denver leads the series, 48-38-1.
