The Denver Broncos beat the Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, scoring the final 13 points after Justin Herbert lost a fumble with the game tied and threw an interception on the next series, each of which Wil Lutz turned into a field goal.
Denver improved to 3-2 in the first game since Sean Payton took play-calling back from offensive coordinator Davis Webb. The offense was hardly better for it, gaining 224 yards and converting one of 12 third downs, but the defense sacked Herbert five times and forced three turnovers. Los Angeles fell to 0-5 and trails Denver by three games in the AFC West.
Got it done. #DENvsLAC pic.twitter.com/UJLkzjyXMB
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 11, 2026
How the fourth quarter turned
The Chargers carried a 17-10 lead into the final quarter, then came up empty on a fourth-down try early in the period. Denver used the short field to cover 41 yards, and Bo Nix found Courtland Sutton for a 5-yard touchdown with 8:53 left to tie the score.
On Los Angeles’ next possession, Herbert put the ball on the ground and Denver recovered deep enough in Chargers territory that Lutz needed only a 19-yard kick to put the Broncos ahead 20-17 with 5:07 remaining. Herbert’s following drive ended with an interception by safety Brandon Jones, and Lutz added a 36-yarder with 1:08 to go.
INTERCEPTION‼️ pic.twitter.com/9EGV6WBewU
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 11, 2026
Los Angeles had no timeouts left for its final march. The Chargers reached the Denver 39 and spiked the ball with three seconds showing, but Herbert was dragged down before he could launch a last throw toward the end zone, his fifth sack of the afternoon.
The third-quarter surge that faded
The Chargers had managed 74 yards and a field goal in the first half and trailed 10-3 at the break. They came out of it with a 14-play, 93-yard drive, converting all four third downs they faced, with a 23-yard Herbert scramble taking them into the red zone. Tight end Hayden Rucci caught a 7-yard pass to tie the game. It was his first NFL touchdown and the first time he had touched the ball in a regular-season game.
Late in the quarter, Akheem Mesidor wrapped up a scrambling Nix and Tuli Tuipulotu stripped the ball, recovering it at the Denver 42. Kimani Vidal ran through several tackles on the next snap and went the distance for a 17-10 lead.
kimani house call pic.twitter.com/9oLiU763t1
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 11, 2026
Denver’s opening touchdown also came off a takeaway. Tight end Charlie Kolar fumbled on the Chargers’ third snap, and J.K. Dobbins finished a 40-yard drive with a 2-yard run.
The numbers
Nix completed 16 of 27 passes for 123 yards and the touchdown. Dobbins ran 18 times for 68 yards, and Evan Engram led Denver with four catches for 55 yards. Lutz made three of four field-goal tries, missing from 42 yards.
Herbert was 14 of 24 for 121 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he was also the Chargers’ second-leading rusher with 54 yards on six carries. Vidal had 57 yards on eight carries, while Omarion Hampton managed 33 on 14. Los Angeles, playing with several rookies on an injury-hit offensive line, was penalized nine times for 93 yards.
What comes next
The Broncos have a short week, hosting the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, October 15, at 8:15 p.m. EDT. The Chargers visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, October 18, at 4:25 p.m. EDT. The full box score is in the Game Center.
No published comments yet. Start the conversation.