3 things to watch Start me up

New offensive tackles

There will be a bright spotlight shining on new Broncos tackles Garett Bolles and Menelik Watson, key figures in Denver’s offseason offensive line rebuild. Their first test is limiting the havoc created by Chargers pass rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, who combined for 18½ sacks last season. Keeping quarterback Trevor Siemian upright is at the top of the Broncos’ agenda. This matchup should be a good indicator of just how well Denver is equipped to achieve that goal in 2017. The Broncos have lost only one home opener since 2011, but the start of games caused problems all last season. The Broncos were outscored by 54 points in first quarters, the second-worst mark in the NFL. The 55 points and seven TDs that Denver yielded on opponents’ first possessions were both tied for the second-highest in the league. It is important the Broncos set a better tone. That’s a stiff test against the Chargers, whose 65 points on opening possessions last season were the second-most in the NFL.

New No-Fly Zone

Aqib Talib made it clear: Even though Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward, a key member of the Broncos’ top-tier secondary, was released less than two weeks before the start of the season, the Broncos are still proudly waving their No-Fly Zone banner. But make no mistake: The pressure is on for second-year safeties Justin Simmons and Will Parks to prove they are ready to fill some big shoes. Philip Rivers has no shortage of weapons to test the Broncos’ new secondary.