The Denver Broncos were looking like a team on the cusp of stumbling on the road against the winless Los Angeles Chargers down 17-10 in the fourth quarter. Then the defense went crazy and the offense did what it needed to do to capitalize on the big plays being generated by them.
As much fun as it was to enjoy another comeback win, this team has some serious issues it needs to correct and with a short week and the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks coming to town it doesn’t get any easier.
This stat below is not a long-term winning strategy…
Broncos vs. Chargers final score
First Quarter
Denver got their first first down on an opening drive all season, though they would end up punting on that drive anyway. The big play came on a third down catch and run by Chargers’ tight end Charlie Kolar who would have the ball knocked loose by safety Talanoa Hufanga to give Denver the ball on the plus side of the field.
Two plays after the fumble, Bo Nix would find a wide open Evan Engram deep down the middle of the field for a 34-yard gain to the Chargers’ five yard line.
J.K. Dobbins would punch it in two plays later to put Denver up 7-0 early. That’s where it would remain with the two teams trading punts after that scoring drive.
Broncos 7, Chargers 0. Full first quarter recap.
Second Quarter
Both teams traded good drives for field goals in the second quarter, with Denver’s drive being a 14-play, 60 yard clock-eating drive that ate up half the quarter. Even so, they struggled to close the deal. They had a chance to put up points before halftime too after a defensive pass interference call on Los Angeles on a deep pass to Jaylen Waddle. Though Courtland Sutton would then commit offensive pass interference on the next play to take them out of fringe field goal range.
The quarter would end with very little offense outside of those two drives and a lot of good defense and bad penalties. Just your typical first half game play from these 2026 Broncos.
Broncos 10, Chargers 3. Full second quarter recap.
Third Quarter
The third quarter was an absolute disaster for the Broncos. They gained five yards until the final seconds of the quarter and the defense could not generate any pass rush despite the Chargers’ offensive line being down to their second and third stringer at every position.
Los Angeles would score on a long drive to start the half, then after a Bo Nix fumble, the defense would miss about five tackled to give Kiami Vidal a 42-yard touchdown for the lead.
All of the issues that plagued Denver last season that were washed over by the crazy comebacks are definitely showing again this year, but without the comebacks.
Chargers 17, Broncos 10. Full third quarter recap.
Fourth Quarter
The two teams would trade three-and-outs, but then Marvin Mims Jr. showed why he is a few All-Pro selections as a special teamer with a 25-yard return to the Chargers’ 27-yard line. The Denver offense would do nothing and go nowhere with an offensive line that was as leaky as its been in years. Wil Lutz would hook the field goal attempt to leave the score unchanged.
A critical decision was made on a fourth and short from their own 40-yard line by Los Angeles that the Broncos’ defense would stuff to give them another chance.
On the first play, Nix finally hit Courtland Sutton for the first time in the game who fought his way for 13 yards and a first down. Nix would then keep it on a designed run for six and then hit Jaylen Waddle outside for a first down inside the red zone.
A roughing the passer penalty would set them up with a first and goal. Two plays later Sutton came wide open on a slant for the game-tying touchdown.
The momentum shift seemed to wake up the defense. They were all over the football, then on third down Zach Allen would take the stripe-sack to set Denver right back up at the Chargers’ 23 yard line.
J.K. Dobbins took the first handoff up the middle for a big 14-yard gain to the nine yard line to setup a first and goal. Dobbins would gain minimally on the next play. Nix was faced with a third and goal from the seven. He would find Evan Engram open at the five where he would fight his way down to the one yard line.
On fourth and goal, Sean Payton thought about going for it and then after burning a timeout changed his mind and took the points to put Denver up 20-17 with just over five minutes left in the game.
The Chargers would go for it on fourth down again on their next drive where Brandon Jones got the interception to seal the comeback victory for Denver’s defense.
Broncos 23, Chargers 17.
