Chargers 23-16 Broncos (Oct. 13, 2024) Game Recap

DENVER – Justin Herbert led a time-consuming, methodical Los Angeles Chargers offense that took advantage of the departure of star cornerback Patrick Surtain II and beat the Denver Broncos 23-16 on Sunday.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh missed the start of the game while being evaluated by medical staff, but returned to the sideline in the first quarter and coached the rest of the game. He told a CBS sideline reporter that he was struggling with a cardiac arrhythmia.

The Chargers (3-2) looked like they would hand the Broncos (3-3) their first home shutout in their 65-year history for much of the afternoon. But after two turnovers and five punts, Bo Nix led the Broncos on a 95-yard scoring drive, capped by his 2-yard pass to former Oregon colleague Troy Franklin early in the fourth quarter.

Then Courtland Sutton made a 15-yard TD grab with 5:22 left, but a failed 2-point attempt kept the deficit at double digits. The Broncos reached the Chargers' 32 on their next possession and Wil Lutz's 40-yard field goal on first down made it 23-16 with 59 seconds left.

However, their onside kick failed and the Chargers picked up their first win over Denver in two years and their first against Sean Payton in seven tries.

The game featured the NFL's only two defenses ranked in the top 10 in points, yards, yards rushing and yards passing allowed. And with Chargers star Joey Bosa missing his second straight game with a nagging hip problem, the game was expected to go in favor of the Broncos, who hadn't lost since Week 2.

Surtain's concussion on Denver's first defensive snap completely changed that calculation, as the Broncos had their three-game winning streak snapped after falling behind 23-0 early in the fourth quarter.

Surtain was injured while deflecting Herbert's pass to Ladd McConkey. He will also likely miss the next game as it is Thursday night in New Orleans.

Without Surtain, the Broncos were unable to stop the Chargers, who scored two field goals and two touchdowns before ending the first half with a kneel-down. They dominated time of possession in the first half with 21 minutes, 13 seconds to Denver's 8:47.

The Broncos' only snap in Chargers territory in the first half ended with a lost fumble by running back Javonte Williams.

Rookie running back Kimami Vidal's first NFL touchdown was a 38-yard catch-and-run touchdown that made it 10-0. JK Dobbins also scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with a minute left in the second quarter. Cameron Dicker hit field goals from 20 and 33 yards.

The final field goal capped a 20-play, 76-yard performance that took 10:29 seconds and came one play after Herbert recovered his fumble forced by Jonathon Cooper with a strip sack.

Surtain's absence on Sunday demonstrated his value to the Broncos, as did his performances a week earlier, when his two-interception performance against Las Vegas earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Surtain's injury occurred one play after Chargers safety Elijah Molden intercepted Nix's first pass and returned it 25 yards to the Denver 31. This set up a field goal while Harbaugh was examined by the Chargers' medical staff.

Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter took charge until Harbaugh returned to the sideline midway through the first quarter as the Chargers went for a touchdown.

Dobbins ran for 96 yards on 25 carries for Los Angeles.

Injuries

Chargers: G/T Trey Pickens (shoulder), TE Hayden Hurst (groin) and DB Deane Leonard (hamstring) exited in the second quarter, while CB Kristian Fulton (hamstring) exited in the third quarter.

Broncos: RT Alex Palczewski (ankle) was inactive and TE Greg Dulcich was a healthy scratch for the second straight week.

Next

Chargers: Visit the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night, October 21st.

Broncos: Visit the Saints on Thursday night in Payton's highly anticipated return to New Orleans.

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