Broncos Fall to Chargers 34-27

The Denver Broncos lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 34-27 to fall to 9-6. Below is the recap and postgame interviews:

Broncos won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half

Justin Herbert and the Chargers started the game with the ball at their own 30 yard line. On 3rd and 3, Cody Barton knifed through to tackle Darius Davis for a 3 yard loss and the Chargers quickly went 3 and out.

The Broncos offense took the field from their own 28 yard line and immediately went to the ground game with Audric Estime and Javonte Williams. On 3rd and 2, Javonte Williams burst through the line for a 15 yard gain into Chargers territory. Quick completions to the Broncos fullbacks got the Broncos into the Red Zone. Rookie RB Blake Watson took a screen all the way down to the 6 yard line and with a personal foul penalty got it to the 3. Audric Estime punched it in on the next play for his first career touchdown and the Broncos early lead 7-0 with 7:34 remaining in the 1st quarter.

The Chargers went back to work on offense and immediately went back to the run game which got quickly into Denver territory. Justin Herbert hit Joshua Palmer over the middle for a 24 yard gain down to the 2 yard line. Two plays later, Gus Edwards powered into the end zone to tie the game at 7 with 3:09 remaining in the 1st quarter.

Denver's offense went back to work starting from their 30 yard line. On 3rd and 9, Bo Nix scrambled for 10 yards and got the drive on the move. Audric Estime gained 9 on the next play and two plays later Vele gained 15 yards to get the Broncos near the Red Zone. Nix found Sutton for an 18 yard gain and two plays later, Bo hit Michael Burton in the flat for a 1 yard touchdown to give the Broncos back the lead 14-7 with 12:17 remaining in the 1st half.

Chargers got quickly into Denver territory on a blown coverage on Ladd McConkey who gained 27 yards on 1st down. The Chargers worked all the way down to the Denver 17 yard line before Zach Allen stuffed Gus Edwards for a 2 yard loss to force a 37 yard field goal. Cameron Dicker converted it and the Broncos lead cut to 14-10 with 8:50 left in the 1st half.

Broncos offense went back on the field looking to add to their lead. On 3rd and 11, Nix hit Javonte Williams in the flat who took it for exactly 11 yards. On the next play, Nix found Marvin Mims on the left side who took it up the field for 54 yards! A couple plays later, Nix rolled out to his left and found Devaughn Vele for a 6 yard touchdown! Broncos extend the lead 21-10 with 6:22 remaining in the first half.

The Chargers went 3 and out on their next possession and sent it back to Denver who would take the field from their own 22 yard line.

Denver's red hot offense got their initial first down on a 15 yard run by Bo Nix. Bo was sacked on the next play by Joey Bosa and, even though Courtland Sutton's 12 yard gain gave the Broncos a manageable 3rd down, Nix's pass to Vele fell incomplete and Denver had to punt for the first time in the game.

Los Angeles' offense started their 5th drive from their own 25 yard line with 2:34 remaining in the 1st half. Herbert connected with Demario Davis for 12 yards on his first completion. Following the 2 minute warning, Herbert hit a wide open McConkey for a 21 yard gain and the Chargers were in Field Goal range. On 1st and 10 from the 26 yard line, Kris Abrams-Draine intercepts Justin Herbert at the goal line and returns it to the Denver 18 yard line.

Denver's offense went three and out, punting it back to the Chargers and Tremon Smith interfered with the returner giving LA an untimed down from the Denver 47 yard line. Cameron Dicker was awarded a 57-yard free kick field goal and he nailed it. First time we've seen this situation since 1976. At halftime, Broncos lead 21-13.

Denver's offense got the ball first out of halftime starting from their own 30 yard line. Nix found his old college teammate Troy Franklin over the middle for an 18 yard gain to get near midfield. Broncos went for it on 4th and 2 and Nix hit Sutton for a 5 yard gain. The drive unfortunately stalled at the Chargers 23 yard line and the Broncos had to settle for a 41 yard field goal, extending the lead 24-13 with 8:31 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

Justin Herbert went back to work for the first time in the 2nd half and found McConkey again for a quick hit. Herbert scrambled on the next play for 18 yards and the Chargers were into Denver territory. Dondrea Tillman got a big sack against Herbert and it seemed like that would help stall the drive but Strnad got called for a late hit on Herbert which gave the LA a 1st and goal at the 6 yard line. On the next play, Gus Edwards walked into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. The 2 point conversion was no good so the Broncos remained in front but now it was 24-19.

Denver's offense needed to put together a decent drive but unfortunately went 3 and out, punting it back to LA who would start their next drive at their 22 yard line with 45 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter.

Herbert hit Palmer for 12 yards on the first play of the drive. As we opened the 4th quarter, Jonathon Cooper got called for a horsecollar on Herbert and the ball was moved into Denver territory. Broncos got another couple of penalties as the drive continued. McConkey got a 16 yard catch and run into the Red Zone. From the 19 yard line, Justin Herbert found Darius Davis down the left sideline for a touchdown and then Palmer caught a miraculous 2 point conversion in the back of the end zone to give Los Angeles their first lead of the game 27-24 with 12:23 remaining in the game.

Now trailing for the first time tonight, Denver's offense went to work from the 30 yard line. Nix hit Burton on 3rd and 5 to get the ball to midfield. An obvious missed defensive pass interference call that should've been made against Mims but no call. Broncos forced to punt but were able to pin the Chargers at their 5 yard line.

Herbert got the initial first down to the 20 but on 3rd and 9, Drew Sanders came unblocked and sacked Justin for a 10 yard loss. Huge play. The Broncos would receive the punt at their own 45 yard line but Bud Dupree sacked Bo Nix on 1st down and it effectively ended the drive. Denver's defense would go back on the field at the Chargers 10 yard line with 4:28 remaining in the game.

The defense had their chance on 3rd and 10 but Justin Herbert escaped up the right sideline for a 16 yard gain. Things got worse from there after a 43 yard run by Gus Edwards, Herbert shoveled a pass to Haskins who took it 34 yards for a touchdown. Chargers extended their lead 34-24 with 2:27 remaining in the game.

Broncos drive into field goal range and convert a 55 yard field goal to pull within one score but the onside kick failed and the Chargers would win 34-27.

The next broadcast is on Saturday, December 28th as the Broncos travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. Coverage starts at 8am on KOA.

Below is the postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Bo Nix, Marvin Mims