Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos sprinted to a 24-13 lead in this game, but the Los Angeles Chargers dominated from there on to send both teams to 9-6.
The Denver Broncos finally had a game where they started fast, but a series of miscues and penalties derailed them in the second half. Most glaringly may have been Sean Payton’s decision to stop running the ball behind Audric Estime in the second half who was averaging five yards per carry.
The result was three second half points and a 24-13 blown lead to the Los Angeles Chargers. They still need to win one of their final two games to get in now and the mojo to the season has completely evaporated. Yikes.
The Broncos came out hot for a chance with a 10-play, 72 yard drive that ate up six minutes in the first quarter. They had 43 yards rushing and capped the drive behind this three-yard touchdown run by rookie Audric Estime.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers responded to that touchdown drive with one of their own mostly behind their rushing attack, but Herbert made the play of the drive with a 24-yard strike down to the goal line to setup their score.
Broncos 7, Chargers 7. Read full first quarter recap.
Denver’s second drive began in the first quarter, but ended in the second quarter with Bo Nix making a couple of big time throws to Courtland Sutton before rolling out from the one yard line to hit fullback Michael Burton for the touchdown pass and the lead.
The Chargers were on the verge of answering touchdown for touchdown, but on a third and inches inside field goal range, Zach Allen blew up the line for a three yard tackle for a loss to force the field goal instead.
Denver got the big play with their next drive with a nicely schemed play to get Marvin Mims Jr. out in space. He beat the defense to the edge and was off the races for a 54-yard gain to setup a first and goal.
Two plays later, Nix would find Devaughn Vele in the back of the end zone for another touchdown to put the Broncos up by two scores late in the first half. The teams would trade punts, but the Chargers would get the ball back under three minutes to go in the half.
It looked like Denver would avoid giving up points after rookie Kris Abrams-Draine intercepted a pass at the goal line.
However, Sean Payton would make some questionable calls on offense and give the Chargers a chance to call a timeout to force a punt. And, of course, there would be a 15-yard penalty on a fair catch to give Los Angeles the first fair catch free kick play since 1976. And wouldn’t you know, they would hit the 57-yard field goal to at halftime.
Broncos 21, Chargers 13. Read full second quarter recap.
The third quarter was...
