The Broncos fight back late, but their winning streak ends with a 23-16 loss to the Chargers

Denver's defense allowed just three points in the second half and got stops on three consecutive drives in the fourth quarter to give the Broncos a chance.

“It’s not easy to look at the scoreboard and see the deficit,” Nix said. “I thought on the sideline our guys continued to fight. Despite the situation, although we may have missed another chance or left the pitch again and we have to start again. It's tough, but I think this is our team. I think that's the type of team we have. “We have a very determined and hard-working team. We can't beat every game early, (and) you have to find a way to grind it out at the end.

“The fact that we gave ourselves the chance to get another chance at the end says a lot about our team. I'm excited about this team. I know today wasn't what we wanted, but I feel like we're on the right track. “With the way we ended the game, we're not normally in a position to take a win to achieve. Nobody wants to be on this side, but just look at it There are two options: you can keep going backwards, let it defeat you, let it crush you, or you will keep going forward. and) stay motivated. Today didn't go well for us. We're going to keep fighting, find ways to get better and keep putting good things on the field.

Although the Broncos erased the deficit in the second half, Denver couldn't quite overcome the Chargers' 20-0 halftime lead.

Los Angeles scored on all four possessions in the first half except for a kneel-out at the end of the half, while the Broncos turned the ball over twice and remained scoreless.

The Chargers held the ball for more than 21 minutes in the first half and scored 10 points off turnovers in the first two frames.

On third down, Los Angeles had a decisive advantage. The Chargers were 8 of 10 on third down in the first half — including several long conversions — while Denver was 2 of 6 on third down. Los Angeles was 11 of 15 from third down in three quarters, while the Broncos were 2 of 8.

Justin Herbert, who had not thrown for more than 179 yards this season, surpassed that total in the first half and finished the game with 237 yards.

The Broncos' defensive challenge was made more difficult as Pat Surtain II left the game on Denver's first defensive possession. After the game, Payton said Surtain was in the NFL's concussion protocol.

Nix, meanwhile, threw an interception on the game's first possession and finished the first half 3 of 10 for 22 yards. Nix's best completion of the first half was a 46-yard throw from Courtland Sutton in the final minute that likely would have given Denver its first points of the game, but a call-up nullified the victory.

“We need to go back and look at it,” Nix said. “We didn’t make enough plays in a row to find a rhythm. It took a few plays and you were off the field. In a game like this, where you know they're going to control the ball, you have to find ways to stay on the field.

Previously, Denver had its most promising performance with the team trailing 0:13. After picking up two first downs at the Los Angeles 45-yard line, Javonte Williams lost a fumble that set up the Chargers' final touchdown of the half.

The deficit was ultimately too big for the Broncos to overcome.

“We need to finish this quickly,” Payton said. “We can’t forget it, but we have to learn from it.”