The Chargers are nonetheless determining methods to run the soccer — a objective that can solely get more durable — however they’ve efficiently run one thing extra vital.
The desk.
For the primary time in franchise historical past, they’ve began the season with consecutive victories over all three AFC West opponents, finishing the job Sunday with a 23-20 comeback victory over the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium.
Cameron Dicker clinched the victory with a 43-yard discipline objective as time expired, enhancing his document to eight for eight on successful kicks.
The Chargers got here into the sport with wins over Kansas Metropolis and Las Vegas, however wanted to prime Denver for his or her first 3-0 begin since 2002 and a clear sweep of the primary half of divisional video games.
It was a well-known mixture that introduced the Chargers again from the sting of defeat: Justin Herbert to Keenan Allen.
These two linked on a 20-yard landing within the waning minutes, tying a house opener that had been steadily slipping away from the Chargers within the second half. Throughout one stretch, they had been outscored, 17-0.
Herbert accomplished 28 of 47 passes for 300 yards, with a landing and an interception. Quentin Johnson made six catches for 89 yards and Allen had seven receptions for 65 yards.
Chargers large receiver Quentin Johnston catches a cross over Broncos cornerback Riley Moss within the second quarter Sunday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Instances)
Operating the soccer will solely get more durable for the Chargers, who misplaced operating again Najee Harris to an Achilles tendon harm within the first half. The severity of that’s unknown, but it surely seemed unhealthy on replays and he needed to be helped from the sphere.
For almost all of the primary half, it seemed as if the Chargers had been heading for a lopsided victory, however Denver had one thing to say in response: Nix that.
Second-year quarterback Bo Nix jump-started the Broncos with an enormous play on the finish of the primary half that shocked the Chargers and had hundreds of orange-clad followers at SoFi Stadium erupting in cheers.
It was a 52-yard, fourth-down landing cross to a wide-open Courtland Sutton with 38 seconds remaining within the second quarter — Denver’s longest fourth-down landing cross since 1978. Nix completed with 153 yards on 14-of-25 passing.
Cameron Dicker kicks the successful discipline objective as time expires within the Chargers’ 23-20 win over the Broncos on Sunday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Instances)
The Broncos (1-2) had been trying to spoil a pristine season begin for the Chargers.
With the harm to Harris, the majority of Chargers ball-carrying duties trip on the shoulders of rookie first-round decide Omarion Hampton, who ran for 70 yards — together with a landing — and caught six passes for 59.
After being stymied by the Chargers protection all through the primary half, the Broncos broke by with Sutton’s landing and would go on to tip the scales with 17 unanswered factors.
Broncos operating again J.Ok. Dobbins, who performed for the Chargers final season, had a painfully sluggish begin with minus-seven yards on his first 4 carries. Like his workforce, he would come alive. Early within the second quarter, he caught a display screen cross, did a tightrope run down the Los Angeles sideline and dived into the tip zone for a 19-yard landing.
Chargers linebacker Troy Dye (43) tackles Broncos large receiver Troy Franklin within the third quarter Sunday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Instances)
Denver followers will lengthy bear in mind the landing to Sutton within the waning moments of the primary half. Some may name it probably the most artistic and impactful play name by coach Sean Payton in his brief tenure with the workforce. Going through a fourth-and-two from their 48, the Broncos made it appear to be they deliberate to run for the primary down.
After a Chargers timeout, the Broncos got here out in a distinct line configuration that included proper deal with Mike McGlinchey lined up at proper guard, tight finish Adam Trautman lined up at left deal with, and big left deal with Garett Bolles at tight finish. Every thing pointed to Denver operating to the proper.
However Nix rolled proper, and threw throughout his physique to an uncovered Sutton streaking down the sphere for a landing.
It was an excellent play, however one lowered to a mere footnote within the wake of a come-from-behind victory by the Chargers.
