The Los Angeles Chargers moved one step closer to their first postseason appearance since 2022 with a 34-27 win over the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Following the victory, LA has a 98% chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL.com.
If the Tennessee Titans beat the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins this weekend, then the Chargers will officially punch their ticket to the postseason.
Despite coming into this game with a nagging ankle injury, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had a strong showing as the former first-round draft pick completed 74.1% of his passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns as well as 28 rushing yards. He started the game 8/8 passing with 93 yards and completions to six different players. His first incompletion came with 5:12 left in the second quarter.
The Broncos opened up the scoring with an 11-play, 71-yard drive capped off with a three-yard rushing touchdown by rookie running back Audric Estime. That was the first career touchdown for the fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame.
That “first career TD” feeling 😤#EasyToCelebrate x @budlight pic.twitter.com/R4rNW0k6iv
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 20, 2024
Halfway through the second quarter, Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. tip-toed along the sideline for a 54-yard gain to set up a six-yard touchdown, putting the Broncos up 21-10. That was Mims’ second-longest reception of the season.
LA would get on the board one more time with a 57-yard free-kick field goal to cut the lead to 21-13 at halftime thanks to a fair catch interference penalty on the Broncos on the second-to-last play of the half. That was the first successful fair-catch free-kick field goal attempt since 1976.
get this man to the pro bowl now#ProBowlVote + cameron dicker#ProBowlVote + cameron dicker#ProBowlVote + cameron dicker#ProBowlVote + cameron dicker pic.twitter.com/4QicStseQU
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 20, 2024
Though LA started the second half facing an eight-point deficit, the Chargers outscored the Broncos 21-6 in the final two quarters of the game. This marked head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first win while trailing by 11+ points since 2020 when his Michigan Wolverines defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 48-42.
LA’s defense played a huge part in the comeback. The Chargers held Denver to less than 80 total yards in the second half of the game after being gashed for over 280 yards in the first half.
Los Angeles running back Gus Edwards had a terrific outing, rushing for 68 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which came late in the third quarter. After that TD, the Chargers would miss the two-point conversion attempt, making it a 24-19 game.
Penalties ended up playing a massive role in this contest. Denver had seven penalties accepted against them for 61 yards while only two penalties were accepted against the Chargers for a measly eight yards.
On a drive where the Broncos were penalized three times, Justin Herbert threw his first touchdown of the night, a 19-yard pass to wide receiver Derius Davis for LA’s first lead of the game. On the next play, wideout Joshua Palmer tipped a pass to himself for a two-point conversion to give the Chargers their first lead of the night at 27-24 with 12:23 to go in the fourth quarter.
this catch is INSANE
📺 | @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/z38USg3gVs
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 20, 2024
With 2:36 left in the game, Justin Herbert connected with running back Hassan Haskins for a 24-yard touchdown reception to put the game away and go up 34-24.
Denver would kick a field goal and attempt an onside kick, but the Chargers recovered the ball and closed the game out.
Los Angeles’ rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey had another good game, catching six passes for a team-leading 87 receiving yards. He also became the first rookie wideout since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014 to record at least 50 receiving yards in eight consecutive games.
Even though they were defeated, Denver can still secure a playoff berth with losses by the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, and Miami Dolphins this Sunday.
