Jim Harbaugh referred to 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 towards the Denver Broncos, profitable 34-27 at SoFi Stadium on Thursday evening.
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 group’s first highway win within the collection since 2018.
Whereas the Broncos missed a possibility 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 if the Miami Dolphins win or tie and the Indianapolis Colts lose or tie on Sunday.
The Chargers’ remaining video games are on the highway towards groups already eradicated from playoff rivalry, the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders.
Justin Herbert threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns whereas finishing 23 of 30 throws and the Chargers surpassed 100 yards speeding for the primary time in additional than a month. Led by 68 yards speeding from Gus Edwards, the Chargers ran for 117.
Getting into a brief week of preparation, the Chargers acknowledged Thursday’s AFC West recreation was their most necessary of the season. The Broncos as a substitute have been those who performed with urgency early.
They sliced via the Chargers protection for touchdowns on every of their first three drives. Herbert had a cross intercepted on the one-yard line late within the second quarter.
As he typically has been this season, Cameron Dicker was the Chargers’ lifeline on offense. He simply did it in a really uncommon manner.
Dicker hit a 57-yard subject purpose on the ultimate play of the second quarter on a good catch free kick. It was an obscure setup because the 15-yard penalty for interfering with Derius Davis on his punt 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.
The three factors additionally breathed life again into the house group.
Trailing 21-13 at halftime, they answered within the third quarter by holding the Broncos to a subject purpose on their opening possession, then forcing a three-and-out.
Herbert doubled down with consecutive landing drives, capped off by a 19-yard landing throw to Davis with 12:29 remaining within the fourth quarter. Herbert escaped the pocket to his left and slung a cross whereas falling away as defenders beared down.
When he received again to his ft 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 cross on a two-point conversion by batting it to himself and tapping his ft at the back of the tip zone to place the Chargers up 27-24.
After scoring touchdowns on their first three drives, the Broncos have been held to simply two subject targets of their closing seven drives.
