Chargers rise up in second half against Broncos, move closer

• Kris Rhim

• Jeff Legwold

  Close

  Jeff Legwold

  ESPN Senior Writer

  Jeff Legwold is a senior writer who covers the Denver Broncos and the NFL at ESPN. Jeff has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years, joining ESPN in 2013. He also assists with NFL draft coverage, including his annual top 100 prospects. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999. He has attended every scouting combine since 1987.

Dec 19, 2024, 11:20 PM ET

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In a game that saw something that hadn’t happened in the NFL in 48 years, the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers ended Thursday night’s game in the same place they started — on the verge of making the playoffs.

The Chargers overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to beat the Broncos 34-27 at SoFi Stadium, delaying Denver’s playoff return for at least another week while clinching the head-to-head tiebreaker in case the teams have the same record at the end of the season

Quarterback Justin Herbert threw for 284 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdown passes for the Chargers, whose defense gave up three first-half touchdowns but stiffened in the second half. Meanwhile, the Broncos were plagued by ill-timed penalties and are still waiting to clinch their first playoff berth since 2015.

Source