For the third straight game, the Los Angeles Chargers started hot and ended cold but were able to hold on and beat the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
The Bolts came off of a much-needed Week 5 bye, allowing key starters to rehab injuries. After being without both starting offensive tackles the last several weeks, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt suited up on Sunday. Edge Joey Bosa remained out with a hip injury, and the defensive end has now missed ten of the Chargers’ last 22 games. The bye also allowed starting quarterback Justin Herbert to give his lingering ankle injury another week of recovery.
Sunday’s game made for drama early, as Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was not on the sideline to start the contest and was deemed questionable to return with an illness, which he later clarified was an atrial flutter episode. The first-year head coach returned to the Chargers’ sideline later in the first quarter after receiving an IV and magnesium, per ESPN.
Similarly to LA’s Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chargers’ defense forced a turnover on the Broncos’ opening drive. Defensive back Elijah Molden took advantage of both, having recovered the fumble in Week 4 and intercepted Broncos quarterback Bo Nix’s first pass attempt this week.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s group continues to impress, shutting out Denver through the first three quarters. LA’s defense was especially solid on third down, allowing Denver to convert just three of its 11 attempts. The Broncos totaled 316 yards of offense, but the Bolts’ defense held them in check for most of the game and forced two turnovers and five punts.
The LA offense got off to a quick start too, as Herbert found sixth-round rookie Kimani Vidal for a 38-yard touchdown along the right sideline, which marked the Troy product’s first NFL touch. Vidal finished with 51 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on six touches.
Herbert finished with 237 yards and one touchdown, spreading the ball amongst nine Chargers. Third-year receiver Simi Fehoko led the team with 44 receiving yards on two catches.
Los Angeles’ rushing attack maintained the momentum from prior weeks, and J.K. Dobbins got back on track after struggling in LA’s past two matchups. The former Buckeye rushed the ball 25 times for 96 yards and one touchdown.
It was an overall productive day for offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s group, but the second half was worrisome. Three of the Chargers’ 23 points came after halftime, a worrying sign for an offense that scored zero second-half points the two weeks prior.
The offensive miscues allowed the Steelers and Chiefs to overcome first-half deficits in Weeks 4 and 5, and Denver’s offense similarly caught fire. After trailing 23-0 heading into the fourth quarter, the Broncos scored 16 unanswered points and cut LA’s lead to just one possession.
However it was too little too late for Denver, who couldn’t capitalize on a late onside kick to keep its comeback hopes alive, allowing Los Angeles to kneel out the clock.
Nix put up a solid stat line, completing 19 of his 33 pass attempts for 216 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Nix also showed off his ability to scramble, leading his team with 61 rushing yards on six attempts. Nix spread the ball across the receiver room like Herbert, throwing to eight different Broncos. Wide receiver Devaughn Vele led the team with 78 yards on four catches.
The 3-2 Chargers now hit the road to take on the 2-4 Arizona Cardinals on Monday night for both teams’ 2024 primetime debuts.