DENVER -- After Sunday's loss, no one in the locker room was happy.
The team's second-half comeback attempt, though thrilling, fell short, and left the Broncos with a 1-4 record entering the bye.
“You’ve got to stay positive," 
There were mixed feelings in the locker room about facing the bye week in Week 6.
On one hand, the players can rest and recharge. But the club is also anxious to get back on the field and get back in the win column.
"You never want to wait. You want opportunities,"
"This team is 1-4, but 12-4 doesn’t sound too bad to me," Ayers said.
McGAHEE ON A MISSION
His 7.8 yards per carry marked the second-highest average of his career when he had at least 10 carries in a game.
“Willis has stepped in and done a terrific job," Head Coach John Fox said. "And with that goes our offensive line, our blocking element, our fullback, the tight ends -- we’re getting better in that area. We’ve not arrived yet by any stretch at 1-4, but we’re getting closer.”
Sunday was McGahee's second consecutive 100-yard rushing game, the first time he has put together back-to-back 100-yard games since 2004.
It was McGahee's third 100-yard rushing game of the season, and he became the first Bronco to rack up three 100-yard rushing games in a season since Travis Henry did so in 2007.
The veteran running back is now tied for fifth among active backs -- alongside Minnesota's Adrian Peterson and San Francisco's Frank Gore -- with 26 100-yard games.
“It is what it is," McGahee said after the game. "It doesn’t mean anything because we didn’t win. It’s good that we’re establishing the run game, but we have to put everything together and just get a W.”
TAKEAWAYS KEEP COMING
One week after snaring two interceptions against the Green Bay Packers, the Broncos kept the takeaways going in Week 5.
“It was a great play, but it was more the rush and the secondary – we all came together and Coach (Defensive Coordinator Dennis) Allen made a great call," Vaughn said. "I was just in a position to make the play, and (finding the end zone) was easy.”
The defense nearly grabbed a Ryan Mathews fumble late in the third quarter, but a San Diego challenge was successful as the referees ruled the running back was down before the ball came out.
Ayers made amends for that in the fourth quarter when the team needed a play. Leading 26-18, the Chargers had a first down at their own 31-yard line. Rivers dropped back and Ayers came streaking into the backfield, swiping at the quarterback's hand to force a fumble, which the Broncos recovered.
“I saw him step up and tried to spin back and tried to swing at the ball, because I thought he was going to run, but he didn’t and tried to throw it," Ayers said. "I just swung at the ball.”
The call was initially an incomplete pass, but Fox threw the red challenge flag, and the ruling was overturned.
“I thought it was (a fumble) and I was trying to pick it up and go run," Ayers said. "When I saw the replay, I knew it was (a fumble).”
Vaughn said that while the defense can build off the big plays, they're to be taken with a grain of salt thanks to Sunday's result.
"It would have been way sweeter if we’d won," Vaughn said. "None of it matters if we lose."
FORCING FIELD GOALS
The Chargers found the red zone five times on Sunday, but once they got there, they only found the end zone once.
The other four times, San Diego had to settle for Nick Novak field goals.
“I’m proud of us for getting down there when it was crunch time,"
Of course, San Diego still came away with the win, so the defense wasn't nearly satisfied with its performance.
"The field goals add up after a while,"
