The Denver Broncos didn’t light up the scoreboard in Inglewood, but they found a way when it mattered most.
A fourth-quarter defensive surge and a handful of timely plays on offense carried Denver to a 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, handing Los Angeles its fifth straight loss and lifting the Broncos to 3-2. Sean Payton shifted into the play-calling role, taking over from offensive coordinator Davis Webb, and Denver scraped together just enough production to survive.
Bo Nix finished 16 of 27 for 123 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Courtland Sutton on a 5-yard score early in the fourth quarter to pull Denver even. Wil Lutz then delivered twice late, including the go-ahead 19-yard field goal with 5:07 left.
The Broncos offense never got comfortable, but the defense kept giving it life. Denver forced four straight bad moments for Justin Herbert to close the game: a fourth-down stop, a fumble, an interception and then a sack to end it. On that final stretch, the Chargers simply unraveled.
Herbert went 14 of 24 for 121 yards with a touchdown for Los Angeles, which fell to 0-5. On the Chargers’ final four possessions, he was stopped on fourth down, lost a fumble, threw an interception and was sacked to finish the game. Kimani Vidal led the ground game with 57 rushing yards and a 42-yard touchdown run, while Los Angeles totaled 237 yards.
Denver’s comeback started with the defense. Trailing 17-10, the Broncos slammed the door on a fourth-and-1 at their own 41-yard line with 10:27 to play. Five snaps later, Nix found Sutton for the tying touchdown.
Then came the turnover that changed everything. On the second play of the next Chargers drive, Herbert was stripped at the Los Angeles 23 by Zach Allen, with Que Robinson recovering. That set up Lutz’s 19-yard kick and a 20-17 Denver lead with 5:07 left.
The Broncos weren’t done. Four plays later, Brandon Jones picked off Herbert with 3:19 remaining, and the Chargers never recovered.
Los Angeles had briefly grabbed its first lead late in the third quarter when Vidal burst through for the 42-yard touchdown run that made it 17-10.
The game had been sluggish early, with both offenses fighting through the kind of season-long issues that have haunted them. Denver opened the scoring on its second possession when J.K.
Dobbins punched in a 2-yard run. Cameron Dicker answered with a 42-yard field goal for the Chargers in the second quarter, and Lutz added a 34-yarder just before halftime to put the Broncos up 10-3.
In Other News...
Chargers Face A Harsh Trade Deadline Question At 0-4
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The names getting mentioned tell their own story. Outside linebacker Khalil Mack and wide receiver Quentin Johnston have come up as possible trade candidates, but there is a difference between league chatter and an actual willingness to act, particularly for a team that has spent so much on trying to stabilize its direction. For now, the real uncertainty is not just who might draw interest, but whether the Chargers would ever decide the season is far enough off track to make a serious move at all. [Read more 🡒]
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Jeudys profile is a complicated one for any team considering a move. His production has slipped since a strong 2024 season, and Cleveland now has several younger receivers beginning to carve out roles, which is part of why his situation bears watching. For the Chargers, the question is whether his talent and experience outweigh the uncertainty that comes with a midseason receiver decision. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Harbaughs Chargers Just Reached A Troubling New Low
The Chargers 0-5 start has turned Jim Harbaughs first season in Los Angeles into something he has rarely faced as an NFL head coach. After the loss to Denver, the usual Harbaugh edge gave way to a more unsettled tone, with the veteran coach stressing that his players have to fight with their hearts and bring their best effort if they want to turn things around.
For a coach whose previous six NFL seasons mostly featured winning records, this is an unfamiliar stretch and a jarring one for a roster still trying to find traction. The schedule does not offer much breathing room either, with the Chiefs waiting on the road next week, and the bigger concern right now is not just the record but how Harbaugh plans to pull the team out of it. [Read more 🡒]