Justin Herbert's magnificent start to the season has hit new heights, and the Chargers are 3-0 this season … and already 3-0 against the AFC West. Herbert led back-to-back scoring drives late — the first capped by a tremendous touchdown pass to Keenan Allen, the second capped by Cameron Dicker's game-winning field goal — as the Chargers rallied past the Broncos 23-20.
Los Angeles is the first team to start 3-0 with all three wins in division play since the 2006 Bears.
The Chargers led 10-0 in the second quarter after Omarion Hampton's first career NFL touchdown. The rookie first rounder powered in from 3 yards put just after his fellow running back, Najee Harris, suffered what appeared to be a serious, non-contact ankle injury.
Finally, the Broncos got things going on their penultimate drive of the half. Facing a fourth and 2 near midfield, Sean Payton called a timeout and drew up a deep ball to Courtland Sutton. The Chargers blowing the coverage — it appeared like a miscommunication — made it an easy pitch and catch, and Nix made no mistake this time for a 52-yard score.
That kicked off what was a tremendous stretch sandwiching halftime for the Broncos. Down 10-7 at halftime, Denver got the ball, and JK Dobbins ripped off a 41-yard rush. Two plays later, he made another highlight-reel play, catching a backward Bo Nix pass and avoiding multiple would-be tacklers en route to a 19-yard touchdown.
Derius Davis then fumbled the following kickoff return, and a Wil Lutz field goal made it 17-10, Broncos, with all 17 points having been scored in a five-minute span.
Herbert and Dicker, however would prove the heroes. Halfway through the fourth quarter, he shook off a pass rusher and found Allen for a touchdown, the veteran wide receiver working back to the ball and reeling it in. Then, after Los Angeles forced a three and out, Herbert led the Chargers to the Denver 25, and Cameron Dicker nailed a 43-yard field goal as time expired.
Here are out takeaways from an absolute thriller:
It just doesn't get a whole lot better than this:
Herbert finished the game 28 of 47 for 300 yards, one touchdown and one interception. They're good numbers but not great numbers.
But the box score doesn't even tell half the story. Herbert was under pressure from the get-go — he ended up being sacked five times — and that was despite the Broncos not blitzing much.
In winning time, though, he got even better. He finished each of his last eight passes. That included a massive third-and-10 conversion to Allen, whose game is aging like fine wine, and a 12-yard completion on second and 13 so help set up Dicker's field goal.
The Harris injury is disheartening. He was ruled out almost immediately, and after he overcame an offseason eye injury just to play this season, it's a brutal turn of events. Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman love big, physical backs and love to deploy multiple of them.
But Hampton stepped up and then some in Harris' absence: 70 yards rushing and 59 yards receiving. That included a big 22-yard catch and run on Los Angeles' penultimate drive.
It was a frustrating game for Bo Nix, who went just 14 for 25 for 153 yards, with 52 of those yards on a completely busted coverage right before halftime. Nix saw a deep ball glance off Marvin Mims' hands earlier in the game and missed Sutton deep late in the game on a third and 10.
Those were the more memorable misses, but another crucial matter of inches came with the Broncos leading 10-13 with about five minutes left. Facing third and 13 deep in his own territory, Nix stepped up, scrambled and lunged for the first down. However, his knee hit down with the ball inches short. The Broncos punted, Herbert found Allen for a touchdown, the Broncos went three and out again, and Dicker won it at as time expired.
Denver also had 10 penalties for 90 yards, went just two for 13 on third down and ran just 48 plays, compared to Los Angeles' 80. If not for several defensive stands, this could have looked very different. It's been an uneven start for Nix, who threw three interceptions across the first two weeks. Though he didn't have a turnover today, he missed on a few throws that could have easily swung the game in Denver's favor.
The battle for the AFC West lived up to the hype and then some, with Dicker converting a 43-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Chargers to a 23-20 win over the Broncos.
Here's the video of the game winner.
Justin Herbert led a touchdown drive and a field goal drive on consecutive possessions to end the game as his remarkable start continues.
My goodness, Justin Herbert. Take a bow. The Chargers star just shook off the pass rush and delivered a dart to Keenan Allen, who fought through a defender for the touchdown catch. We have a tie game!
It's another bend-don't-break possession from the Denver defense, this time at the most crucial juncture so far. The Chargers moved into Broncos territory before the defensive line took over. On second and 4, they got immediate pressure, and on third and 4, Jonathan Franklin-Myers took down Justin Herbert. That forced a Los Angeles punt in what might have been four-down territory otherwise.
Bo Nix just made two huge plays -- one lucky, one very skillful -- to open the fourth quarter.
Facing third and 10 to open the quarter, Nix fired a ball over the middle that got deflected up into the air. It somehow landed in the arms of Lucas Krull for a 9-yard game. One play later, he rolled out and found Courtland Sutton to convert the fourth and 1.
Los Angeles' defense stiffened, though, and Wil Lutz's field goal makes it 20-13.
To the fourth quarter we go! Denver is driving but is facing a third and 10 after a big Derwin James tackle for loss.
What an incredible turn of events! After J.K. Dobbins' touchdown gave the Broncos a lead early in the second half, Derius Davis fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, with Kaden Elliss knocking it loose and JL Skinner recovering.
Wil Lutz made a field goal to extend Denver's lead to 17-10. The Broncos have scored 17 points in the last five minutes of game action.
The Broncos' running backs had 0 yards in the first half.
Dobbins ripped off a 41-yard run on the very first play of the second half, then picked up another 6 yards and then produced this highlight-reel 19-yard score (it was deemed a run, as Bo Nix's throw to Dobbins went backwards).
Dobbins has battled all sorts of injury issues throughout his career. But he looks very healthy and very explosive for Denver, and it's never been on display more than it was on that drive.
After just barely missing Marvin Mims on a deep shot on the possession prior, Bo Nix made no mistake this time, hitting Courtland Sutton in stride to cut the Broncos' deficit to 10-7. The Chargers coverage completely busted out of the timeout, something coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter will be none too happy about.
Finally, with 38 seconds to go in the first half, the Broncos' offense shows some life.
If Najee Harris' injury proves serious, the Chargers are going to need Omarion Hampton to step up, and it's so far, so good. The rookie first-round pick out of North Carolina has scored his first career touchdown, giving the Chargers a 10-0 lead. After having trouble running the ball in their first two games, the Chargers have 56 rushing yards in the first half.
Harris went down when trying to move forward to execute his part of a play action fake, completely untouched by anyone. It could be a brutal, brutal turn of events for Harris, who has already returned from an offseason eye injury to be available.
Harris had to be carried off the field by the medical staff.
Justin Herbert has thrown his first interception of the season, and Brandon Jones did the honors, reeling in a ricochet. It's a second impressive red zone stand for Denver already, but the offense still hasn't found much of anything.
With 1:40 remaining in the first quarter, the Broncos still don't have a first down. The Chargers are getting quick interior pressures, and Bo Nix and co. look just a little bit off, with misfires and missed assignments. Benjamin St.-Juste just had a great pass breakup against Courtland Sutton.
In under one quarter, the Broncos already have three sacks after having just one all of last week. On the last series, both Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper took down Justin Herbert.
We'll see if the Broncos' offense can get in gear with good field position, trailing 3-0.
The Chargers are on board via a 32-yard Cameron Dicker field goal. But how about this catch and run by Quentin Johnston to get things going for Los Angeles?!
Good job by the Denver defense to stiffen in the red zone, though.
