The Chargers failed to pick up their first win of the 2026 season after collapsing in the fourth quarter on Sunday, falling 23-17 to the Broncos.
To recap Week 5, here is a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Good
Kimani Vidal's touchdown: Vidal provided the play of the afternoon for the Chargers. Late in the third quarter, he exploded around the left end, breaking through a couple of defenders for a 42-yard touchdown run that gave the Bolts a 17-10 lead and the offense the life it desperately needed.
Second-half adjustment drive: After a sluggish first half, the offense briefly found its rhythm with a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive. Tight end Hayden Rucci capped it off with a 7-yard touchdown catch, as the Chargers went 4-for-4 on third downs
during the series.
Chris O'Leary's unit: The Chargers' defense limited Denver to just 224 total net yards (118 passing, 106 rushing). Ultimately, the defense was left unrewarded. While they held the Broncos' offense to little success, the Bolts' own offense imploded in the fourth quarter with three straight turnovers, handing Denver short fields that they converted into 13 unanswered points.
Bad
Pass protection: The offensive line, which had four rookies starting, struggled to anchor, resulting in five sacks on Justin Herbert.
Penalties: The Chargers were penalized nine times for 93 yards. They constantly put the offense behind the chains and gave the Broncos free yards. After Week 5, Los Angeles is the second-most penalized team in the NFL.
Injury bug strikes again: Already down Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Brenen Thompson, the wide receiver corps took another hit when Tre' Harris went down with a hamstring injury in the third quarter. On defense, veteran edge rusher Bud Dupree was lost early to a neck injury.
Ugly
Justin Herbert: Herbert failed to overcome playing behind a young offensive line and a depleted skill-position room. In his 100th career game, Herbert completed 14 of 24 passes for just 121 yards. The finish was messy. A critical strip-sack fumble forced by defensive lineman Zach Allen and a game-icing interception thrown straight to safety Brandon Jones on fourth down buried the Chargers late.
Failed fourth-down gamble: Early in the fourth quarter, head coach Jim Harbaugh went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Chargers' own 41-yard line. The Broncos stuffed the quarterback sneak, taking over on short field and sparking their 13-point unanswered rally.
Blown challenges: During a single second-quarter drive, Harbaugh burned both coach’s challenges on low-probability plays: a quarterback Bo Nix sneak spot and a pass interference call. The officials upheld both, stripping the Chargers of their timeouts and replay rights. This proved costly in the fourth quarter when officials missed a clear Herbert first-down spot. Unable to challenge, Harbaugh panicked and went for it on 4th-and-1, which failed.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers vs. Broncos: Good, bad and ugly from LA's 23-17 loss
