Jim Harbaugh known as. The Chargers responded.
Needing to bounce again shortly from a blowout loss final Sunday to not solely save their playoff seedings but additionally reinforce Harbaugh’s first-year turnaround of the much-maligned franchise, the Chargers delivered an exhilarating second-half comeback in opposition to the Denver Broncos, successful 34-27 at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night time.
The Chargers (9-6) clawed again from a near-disastrous first half to safe their first season sweep over the Broncos (9-6) since 2010, backing up a Week 6 win in Denver that was the workforce’s first highway win within the collection since 2018.
“This is a challenge and the challenge is how you’re going to respond,” Harbaugh mentioned. “I knew how our guys were going to respond and they did.”
Whereas the Broncos missed a chance to clinch their playoff berth, the Chargers moved again into the No. 6 seed within the AFC playoff standings. They will clinch their first playoff spot since 2021 on Sunday if the Miami Dolphins lose or tie and the Indianapolis Colts lose or tie.
Nonetheless in agency management of their playoff future with highway video games remaining in opposition to the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders — groups already eradicated from the playoff rivalry — the Chargers aren’t ready to activate their private playoff mode.
“We emphasized all week, ‘Hey, this is a playoff game to us,’” mentioned quarterback Justin Herbert, who threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-31 passing. “It’s the environment, it’s the team. They’re obviously a very talented and incredible team, so for us to be able to pull away with one there, I thought it was awesome.”
The Chargers acknowledged Thursday’s AFC West recreation was their most essential of the season. They have been simply blown out for the primary time beneath Harbaugh, permitting 40 factors to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That they had solely 4 days to reset. Early on, they performed like a workforce shrinking beneath the strain.
The Broncos, who had gained 4 straight video games earlier than Thursday, sliced via the Chargers protection for touchdowns on every of their first three drives. Herbert had a go intercepted on the one-yard line late within the second quarter.
Later the Chargers obtained an surprising enhance from kicker Cameron Dicker, who reduce the result in eight factors on the ultimate play of the second quarter with an unorthodox 57-yard subject purpose on a good catch free kick. It was an obscure setup as a result of a 15-yard penalty for interfering with Derius Davis’ catch put the Chargers in kicking vary with no time left.
Dicker is the primary NFL participant to attach on a free kick since 1976, when Ray Wersching made a 45-yard kick for the San Diego Chargers. Nobody had even tried one since 2019.
Dicker recalled the precise yr Joey Slye tried the final truthful catch free kick as a result of, he mentioned, particular groups gamers assessment the rule each week on Fridays with particular groups coordinator Ryan Ficken.
Harbaugh, who had Phil Dawson try a fair-catch kick for the San Francisco 49ers in 2013, mentioned it’s his favourite rule in soccer. He’s been ready for one his whole profession.
The wait was value it. The three factors additionally breathed some life again into the house workforce.
So did security Derwin James Jr., who addressed the workforce at halftime within the locker room, telling Harbaugh to not converse.
“I feel like, as players, we need to take this upon ourselves,” James mentioned. “It’s our team too. I feel like my message was simple, man: It’s time for us to play ball. And I feel like, as a team, we just came out and did that.”
The Chargers answered within the third quarter by holding the Broncos to a subject purpose on their opening possession, then forcing a three-and-out. After their quick begin to the sport on offense, the Broncos have been held to 2 subject targets on their closing seven possessions because the Chargers scored touchdowns on three of 4 drives.
“We were kind of riled up going into the game,” cornerback Kristian Fulton mentioned. “That wasn’t like us. But coach [Harbaugh] always told us we just have to be our best when our best was needed.”
The offense that has struggled with consistency this season roared to life simply in time as Herbert led consecutive landing drives, capped by a 19-yard landing throw to Davis with 12:29 remaining. Herbert escaped the pocket to his left and slung a go whereas falling away as defenders beared down.
The Chargers’ Joshua Palmer (5) retains his toes in bounds after tipping the ball to himself for a two-point conversion in opposition to the Broncos.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
When he obtained again to his toes and realized Davis had scored on the laser throw, Herbert held his arms out large and stared at his offensive linemen with equal elements shock and confidence because the Chargers went forward by one.
Each bounce seemingly went towards the Broncos within the first half. Within the second, they have been falling to Joshua Palmer.
The receiver corralled a tipped go for a two-point conversion by batting the soccer to himself and tapping his toes behind the tip zone to place the Chargers up 27-24.
After struggling to seek out any momentum within the speeding assault since main rusher J.Okay. Dobbins suffered a knee damage, the Chargers closed the sport with an explosive run of 43 yards from working again Gus Edwards to arrange the ultimate landing to Hassan Haskins, who took a brief go from Herbert and ran 34 yards into the tip zone.
Because the Chargers kneeled out the clock, outdoors linebacker Joey Bosa held each fists within the air on the sideline. He punched his proper hand towards the sky, his loud shout of “yes” being drowned out by the even louder cheers from Chargers followers. On the closing whistle, James bumped into the sector and whipped a towel via the air.
