Three teams are tied for the NFL lead in scoring defense, having given up 247 points in 14 games.

Two are the Broncos and the Philadelphia Eagles, who both allowed 13 points last Sunday. The other is the Los Angeles Chargers, who were gashed at home by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 40-17.

Before that game, the Chargers had allowed 20 or less points in 11 of 13 games and were giving up a measly 15.9 per outing. Now their average is 17.6.

The Chargers had been known all season for their vaunted defense, but it collapsed against the Buccaneers. That has given some additional hope to the Broncos (9-5), who will face the Chargers (8-6) on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium and would clinch a playoff berth with a win.

“Yeah, I certainly think it helps the way that (the Buccaneers) ran the football,’’ said Denver right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who didn’t deny he was surprised when he saw the score of last Sunday’s game. “They were able to stay in front of the chains. They were able to control and sustain drives and they have quick explosive playmakers all over the place. So, they did a really good job. They blocked well, they protected well, which is going to be all the same things that we need to do.”

The Buccaneers rolled up 506 yards on the Chargers after they had given up just 323.7 per game. They ran for 223 after the Chargers had been allowing just 117.5 per outing. They converted 9 of 15 third-down conversions and Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was only sacked once after the Chargers had been averaging 3.0 per game.

“Every team does when someone has success offensively against a defense and especially a great defense like that,’’ tight end Adam Trautman said of the Broncos trying to use what Tampa Bay did as a model. “You try to find things that work and just build off that.”

One issue for the Broncos is they don’t run the ball well, having gained just 72 yards in last Sunday’s 31-13 win over Indianapolis and having a seasonal average of 108.4 yards. And on Wednesday, the Broncos ruled out running back Jaleel McLaughlin with a quad injury, leaving Javonte Williams and rookie Audric Estime as their available backs.

The Buccaneers, though, were able to shred the Chargers after they had been averaging a modest 127.2 yards on the ground before their trip to SoFi. Tampa Bay had 155 yards rushing in the second half while outscoring the Chargers 27-0.

“Anytime you don’t play well, it’s a concern,’’ said Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. “You play a game in the National Football League and give up 40 points and 500 yards, high level of concern. I think you look to your foundation and what you build over time and hope that your foundation allows you to rebound from a game like that. It can only be a one off if you let it be a one off.”

The Chargers’ defense does feature outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, who has a team-high 7 1/2 sacks, and perennial Pro Bowl pass rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. But after the way the defense played against the Falcons, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said their level of urgency is “at its highest.”

The No. 6 Broncos have moved ahead of the No. 7 Chargers in the AFC playoff race, with seven teams making it. A Broncos win would almost lock them into No. 6 and the Chargers would be fighting just to make the postseason. But a Chargers win would put them back into No. 6 and clinch a possible tiebreaker due to having beaten the Broncos 23-16 on Oct. 13 at Empower Field at Mile High.

The Chargers’ defense was dominant in that game as they sprinted to a 23-0 lead in the third quarter while shutting down rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who completed just 3 of 10 passes for 22 yards with one interception in the first half. Nix, who finished 19 of 33 for 216 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, did rally the Broncos late in the game when the Chargers were playing a lot of prevent defense.

Now, though, the Broncos might have some more confidence going against the Chargers’ defense. After all, they’ve seen tape of what the Buccaneers did.

“Oh yeah, we see that stuff, and we take the good things and stuff like that,’’ said wide receiver Troy Franklin.

Of course, there could be one drawback about the Broncos facing the Chargers after they gave up 10 points more than they had in any previous game this season.

“I definitely didn’t expect it to be so lopsided but all that does is maybe poke a bear, so they’ll probably be a little more ticked off Thursday,’’ McGlinchey said.