The Denver Broncos had a chance to secure their first playoff berth in nine years with a win on Thursday Night against the Los Angeles Chargers, but penalties and costly decisions capsized them in the second half and makes their road to the playoffs even more difficult with two games remaining.
Denver Broncos capsize vs. Chargers
In a game where the Broncos offense scored touchdowns on their first three drives, the defense let them down in the biggest game of the season. Denver’s defense struggled with penalties and had no answer for Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey, who carved up the Broncos when they were in zone and man coverage.
Tonight’s loss puts the Broncos in a tough hole with the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs coming up, where they’ll need to win one game to make it in. Based on how Denver’s defense played on Thursday, it’s scary to think about how Joe Burrow and the Bengals might play with their elite-level weapons at wide receiver.
Los Angeles torched the Broncos on third down, converting 6-of-11 attempts, and Denver’s run defense was gashed for 134 yards.
This loss puts Denver’s playoff hopes in jeopardy if they fail to win one of their final two games, especially if the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins win out.
Biggest turning point for the Denver Broncos – Second half momentum swing
The Denver Broncos had a chance to go into halftime with a 21-10 lead, but a rare fair catch free kick opportunity gave the Chargers three points before halftime. While the Broncos came out of halftime and kicked a field goal to make it 24-13, that play altered the momentum and vibe of the game.
Denver’s defense couldn’t get a stop in the second half, and penalties led to extended opportunities for the Chargers offense and Herbert, who made them pay for it.
The Chargers simply outcoached the Broncos in the second half, and Denver’s failure to adjust proved costly. Los Angeles capitalized on crossing routes most of the evening and it didn’t appear to matter if Denver played zone or man coverage, Herbert found the open guy and the mismatch.
Denver was out-scored 21-3 in the second half, and the run game that saw them generate 89 rush yards in the first half dissipated with only 21 total rushing yards in the second half. Los Angeles utilized several explosive plays in the second half to put the game away.
The Broncos were penalized seven times for 61 yards, and Bo Nix struggled to push the ball downfield, including a missed opportunity to Marvin Mims that sailed too high into the air instead of leading him in stride. The Chargers DB made contact with Mims early, but the official didn’t throw a flag, and that led to a Broncos punt.
Too many missed opportunities. What’s even more disappointing about the outcome of the game is that Denver had the best opportunity to secure a playoff spot with a lead and with a win, and the moment appeared to be a little too big on Thursday Night.
Los Angeles sweeps the series and owns the tiebreaker over Denver, with both teams sitting at 9-6.
This one stings, and it adds fuel to the fire of skepticism many national pundits have about them. Now they’ll have to wait until next Saturday to get this taste out of their mouth and hopefully rebound against a tough Bengals team.