Jim Harbaugh called. The Chargers responded.
Needing to bounce back quickly from a blowout loss last Sunday to not only save their playoff seed but also bolster Harbaugh’s first-year turnaround for the much-maligned franchise, the Chargers staged a thrilling second-half comeback against the Denver Broncos, winning 34-27 at SoFi Stadium Thursday night.
Chargers (9-6) recovered from a near-disastrous first half to secure its first season sweep against the Broncos (9-6) since 2010, confirming a Week 6 win at Denver that was the team’s first victory team on the road in the series since 2018.
While the Broncos missed an opportunity to clinch their playoff spot, the Chargers moved back to sixth in the AFC playoff standings. They can clinch their first playoff berth since 2021 if the Miami Dolphins win or tie and the Indianapolis Colts lose or tie on Sunday.
The Chargers’ final games will be against teams already eliminated from the playoffs, the New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Justin Herbert threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns while completing 23 of 30 throws and the Chargers surpassed 100 yards rushing for the first time in over a month. Led by 68 rushing yards from Gus Edwards, the Chargers ran for 117.
At the start of a short week of preparation, the Chargers recognized that Thursday’s game against the AFC West was the most important of the season. Instead, it was the Broncos who played with urgency from the start.
Learn more: Chargers make history with rare fair kick against Broncos
They drove through the Chargers defense for touchdowns on each of their first three drives. Herbert had a pass intercepted at the one-yard line late in the second quarter.
As he had often been this season, Cameron Dicker was the Chargers’ lifeline on offense. He just did it in a very rare way.
Dicker made a 57-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter on a fair kick. He is the first NFL player to connect on a fair kick – an obscure play similar to a free kick allowed immediately after a fair kick – since 1976, when Ray Wersching made a 45-yard kick for the San Diego Chargers. No one had attempted one since 2019.
The odd play, set up when punt returner Derius Davis was interfered with on a fair catch, put the Chargers in position for a long punt and gave the home team some life.
Trailing 21-13 at halftime, they responded in the third quarter by limiting the Broncos to a field goal on their first possession, then forcing a three-and-out.
Herbert doubled the lead with back-to-back touchdown drives, capped by a 19-yard touchdown run to Davis with 12:29 left in the fourth quarter. Herbert escaped from the pocket to his left and threw a pass while falling as defenders rushed.
Learn more: 🏈Chargers-Broncos Summary
When he got back to his feet and realized Davis had scored on the laser throw, Herbert spread his arms and looked at his offensive linemen with equal parts surprise and confidence as the Chargers moved up a point. .
Every rebound seemingly went the Broncos’ way in the first half. In the second, they fell against Joshua Palmer.
The receiver caught a tipped pass on a two-point conversion by hitting it to himself and tapping his foot into the back of the end zone to give the Chargers a 27-24 lead.
After scoring touchdowns in their first three drives, the Broncos were held to just two field goals in their final seven drives.
This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
