Trailing 21-13 at halftime Thursday night time towards the Denver Broncos, some questioned if the Los Angeles Chargers had any resolve left after going by means of their worst four-quarter stretch of the season.
The Chargers put some doubts to relaxation getting again on observe and getting nearer to wrapping up a playoff spot.
Justin Herbert handed for 284 yards and two touchdowns, together with a go-ahead 19-yarder to Derius Davis early within the fourth quarter, because the Chargers rallied for a 34-27 victory.
Los Angeles (9-6) have a 97% chance of constructing the playoffs with the win based on the NFL. They’ll wrap up their second postseason berth in three seasons Sunday with losses by Indianapolis and Miami.
“It was a complete crew effort by everybody. It was phenomenal,” coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned. “The check and problem is how you will reply. They went again to work and stayed the course.”
The Chargers’ comeback additionally included Cameron Dicker making the primary profitable fair-catch kick within the NFL in 48 years. He was good from 57 yards on the ultimate play of the primary half to tug the Chargers to 21-13.
Denver (9-6) may have clinched a playoff spot however had their four-game profitable streak snapped. The Broncos nonetheless have an 85% probability of constructing it, however they’ve robust remaining checks at Cincinnati on 28 December and at house towards Kansas Metropolis in Week 18.
“Clearly, a disappointing loss. There was quite a bit at stake, and we all know that,” Denver coach Sean Payton mentioned. “We had a quick begin, after which uncharacteristically this season, we didn’t end or play practically effectively sufficient within the second half, each offensively and defensively.”
The Broncos appeared effectively on their strategy to wrapping up their first postseason berth since 2015 after they scored on their first three drives to go up 21-10. However after Wil Lutz’s 41-yard discipline objective halfway by means of the third quarter gave the Broncos a 24-13 benefit, the Chargers stormed again.
“First three drives, 21 factors, after which simply sort of stalled,” mentioned Bo Nix, who accomplished 29 of 40 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns. “We obtained the identical protection (within the second half). Only for no matter purpose, we couldn’t get going.”
Gus Edwards – who had 14 carries for 68 yards – went off 5 yards off left finish for his second landing of the sport to get the Bolts inside 24-19, however the two-point conversion was no good when Herbert was stopped in need of the objective line.
Edwards additionally burrowed in from the 1 within the first quarter to tie it at 7.
After Denver went three-and-out for the second time in three possessions, the Chargers took their first lead. On first-and-10 from the Denver 19, Herbert – who accomplished 23 of 30 passes with an interception – scrambled left and threw throughout his physique off his left foot to Davis with 12:29 remaining.
“We had him on slightly bubble out of the backfield. I scrambled out, noticed the stress and he simply turned upfield and made an unimaginable play,” Herbert mentioned.
Herbert then discovered Joshua Palmer at the back of the top zone for the 2-point conversion. Palmer made a one-handed seize earlier than going out of bounds to make it 27-24.
Los Angeles put it out of attain with 2:27 remaining on Herbert’s 34-yard landing move to Hassan Haskins.
Lutz narrowly made a 55-yard discipline objective with 57 seconds remaining to get Denver inside a landing, however Los Angeles’ Nick Niemann recovered the onside kick to sprint any hopes of a comeback.
Herbert accomplished passes to 10 gamers, together with Ladd McConkey, who had six receptions for 87 yards.
Nix had a pair of landing passes within the first half – a one-yard move to Michael Burton off a rollout and a six-yard throw to Devaughn Vele within the left nook of the top zone – and accomplished 15 of 21 passes for 155 yards earlier than halftime.
Audric Estime’s three-yard run off proper guard gave the Broncos a 7-0 lead halfway by means of the primary quarter. It was solely the third time this season Denver reached the top zone on their opening possession.
The Chargers have been outscored 48-13 in 4 quarters that included the second half towards Tampa Bay and first half towards Denver.
Going into halftime, the protection had a stretch the place it had allowed scores on 13 of 18 drives (together with eight touchdowns) and compelled solely two punts in seven quarters.
As an alternative of Harbaugh addressing the crew at halftime, it was security Derwin James.
“I really feel like, as gamers, we have to take it upon ourselves. That is our crew too,” James mentioned. “And I really feel like, man, my message was easy. Man, it’s time for us to play ball. And I really feel like, as a crew, we simply got here out and did that. It was nothing rah, rah, rah. It was simply, it’s time to go, man. It’s time for us to play our greatest ball in December, January. I really feel like we did that immediately.”
Denver gained 212 yards on their first drive and 229 within the first half, however simply 107 after halftime.
Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers took benefit of a seldom-used fair-catch kick, which permits a crew that has simply made a good catch to strive a free kick for 3 factors. The kick is tried from the road of scrimmage, and the defending crew should stand 10 yards away.
The Chargers have been in a position to strive it as a result of Denver’s Tremon Smith dedicated fair-catch interference on what would have been the ultimate play of the primary half when Los Angeles’ Derius Davis tried to discipline Riley Dixon’s punt on the Chargers 38.
The penalty moved the ball to the Denver 47 for an untimed down. The Chargers additionally have been the final crew to efficiently execute a free kick when Ray Wersching transformed from 45 yards for San Diego on 21 November 1976, towards Buffalo.
