After the Denver Broncos put down the Kansas City Chiefs last week in impressive fashion, faith began to creep back into Bronco Nation. But last night that hope was pounded out of the Broncos and their fans, as the San Diego Chargers slapped Denver with a 35-14 beat down on national television. The Broncos looked good in the game’s opening drive, moving down the field with ease. But after going up 7-0, the Chargers put up 35 points, and now it looks like the Broncos’ season is over (recap via The Associated Press).

The Broncos are now solidly the worst team in the AFC West, one of the worst divisions in the NFL. At 3-7, the Broncos are three games behind the division-leading Chiefs, and it’s doubtful things will get much better. ESPN points out that the Broncos are 5-15 since starting the 2009 season 6-0, the first time since 1971-72 that the team has lost 15 games in a 20-game stretch.