Broncos beat Chargers 23-17 as Los Angeles blows late lead

Same story, different week for the Chargers

Denver beat the Chargers 23-17 Sunday at SoFi Stadium, and Los Angeles found a new way to lose. The Chargers were up 17-10 in the fourth quarter before Justin Herbert and the offense stalled on a fourth-and-1 try, and Denver took it from there, scoring the final 13 points of the game. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said the fourth-down call was his. "It was the wrong decision," he said. The loss drops LA to 0-5 for the first time since 2003.

Herbert went 14 of 24 for 121 yards with a touchdown and an interception, getting sacked five times behind a line that included four rookies. He put the failed conversion on himself. "Got to find a way to get a yard," Herbert said.

How the fourth quarter flipped

LA led 17-10 after Kimani Vidal's 42-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, which came right after Hayden Rucci's touchdown catch from Herbert had tied the game at 10. Denver answered in the fourth. Courtland Sutton caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix with 8:53 left to tie it at 17. Wil Lutz kicked a 19-yard field goal with 5:07 remaining to put Denver ahead for good, then added a 36-yarder with 1:08 left for the final margin. Lutz also opened Denver's scoring with a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter and did not miss.

The stat sheet

Denver had fewer total yards than LA, 224 to 237, but took better care of the ball, turning it over once against three Chargers turnovers. J.K. Dobbins ran for 68 yards and an early touchdown for Denver, and Evan Engram caught four passes for 55 yards. For LA, Vidal's 57 yards and a score on just 8 carries stood out, and tight end Charlie Kolar led the receivers with 37 yards on 3 catches. Herbert has now turned the ball over in five straight games, tying his own career mark.

Walking wounded on both sides

Denver won without two starting cornerbacks, Pat Surtain II (ankle) and Riley Moss (ribs), both out. The Chargers were missing safety Derwin James Jr. (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring), receiver Quentin Johnston (chest) and receiver Brenen Thompson (quadriceps). Head coach Sean Payton called the plays for Denver, a job he took from offensive coordinator Davis Webb earlier in the week, and it marked the Broncos' first division win with Payton calling the game. Nix called the switch smooth. "It was a collaboration," he said. It was also Denver's first win at SoFi Stadium since 2023. Rookie lineman Jake Slaughter, one of four rookies protecting Herbert, said the group is not folding. "We're just going to keep swinging," he said.

Facts per ESPN box score. Opinion is the taproom's.