Jim Harbaugh called. The Chargers responded.
Needing to bounce back quickly from a blowout loss last Sunday to not only save their playoff seedings but also reinforce Harbaugh’s first-year turnaround of the much-maligned franchise, the Chargers delivered a thrilling second-half comeback against the Denver Broncos, winning 34-27 at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night.
The Chargers (9-6) clawed back from a near-disastrous first half to secure their first season sweep over the Broncos (9-6) since 2010, backing up a Week 6 win in Denver that was the team’s first road win in the series since 2018.
“This is a challenge and the challenge is how you’re going to respond,” Harbaugh said. “I knew how our guys were going to respond and they did.”
While the Broncos missed an opportunity to clinch their playoff berth, the Chargers moved back into the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff standings. They can clinch their first playoff spot since 2021 on Sunday if the Miami Dolphins lose or tie and the Indianapolis Colts lose or tie.
Still in firm control of their playoff destiny with road games remaining against the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders — teams already eliminated from the playoff contention — the Chargers aren’t waiting to activate their personal playoff mode.
“We emphasized all week, ‘Hey, this is a playoff game to us,’” said quarterback Justin Herbert, who threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-31 passing. “It’s the environment, it’s the team. They’re obviously a very talented and incredible team, so for us to be able to pull away with one there, I thought it was awesome.”
The Chargers recognized Thursday’s AFC West game was their most important of the season. They were just blown out for the first time under Harbaugh, allowing 40 points to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They had only four days to reset. Early on, they played like a team shrinking under the pressure.
The Broncos, who had won four straight games before Thursday, sliced through the Chargers defense for touchdowns on each of their first three drives. Herbert had a pass intercepted at the one-yard line late in the second quarter.
Later the Chargers received an unexpected boost from kicker Cameron Dicker, who cut the lead to eight points on the final play of the second quarter with an unorthodox 57-yard field goal on a fair catch free kick. It was an obscure setup because a 15-yard penalty for interfering with Derius Davis’ catch put the Chargers in kicking range with no time left.
Dicker is the first NFL player to connect on a free kick since 1976, when Ray Wersching made a 45-yard kick for the San Diego Chargers. No one had even attempted one since 2019.
Dicker recalled the exact year Joey Slye attempted the last fair catch free kick because, he said, special teams players review the rule every week on Fridays with special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken.
Harbaugh, who had Phil Dawson attempt a fair-catch kick for the San Francisco 49ers in 2013, said it’s his favorite rule in football. He’s been waiting for one his entire career.
The wait was worth it. The three points also breathed some life back into the home team.
So did safety Derwin James Jr., who addressed the team at halftime in the locker room, telling Harbaugh not to speak.
“I feel like, as players, we need to take this upon ourselves,” James said. “It’s our team too. I feel like my message was simple, man: It’s time for us to play ball. And I feel like, as a team, we just came out and did that.”
The Chargers answered in the third quarter by holding the Broncos to a field goal on their opening possession, then forcing a three-and-out. After their fast start to the game on offense, the Broncos were held to two field goals on their final seven possessions as the Chargers scored touchdowns on three of four drives.
“We were kind of riled up going into the game,” cornerback Kristian Fulton said. “That wasn’t like us. But coach [Harbaugh] always told us we just have to be our best when our best was needed.”
The offense that has struggled with consistency this season roared to life just in time as Herbert led consecutive touchdown drives, capped by a 19-yard touchdown throw to Davis with 12:29 remaining. Herbert escaped the pocket to his left and slung a pass while falling away as defenders beared down.
When he got back to his feet and realized Davis had scored on the laser throw, Herbert held his arms out wide and stared at his offensive linemen with equal parts surprise and confidence as the Chargers went ahead by one.
Every bounce seemingly went toward the Broncos in the first half. In the second, they were falling to Joshua Palmer.
The receiver corralled a tipped pass for a two-point conversion by batting the football to himself and tapping his feet in the back of the end zone to put the Chargers up 27-24.
After struggling to find any momentum in the rushing attack since leading rusher J.K. Dobbins suffered a knee injury, the Chargers closed the game with an explosive run of 43 yards from running back Gus Edwards to set up the final touchdown to Hassan Haskins, who took a short pass from Herbert and ran 34 yards into the end zone.
As the Chargers kneeled out the clock, outside linebacker Joey Bosa held both fists in the air on the sideline. He punched his right hand toward the sky, his loud shout of “yes” being drowned out by the even louder cheers from Chargers fans. At the final whistle, James ran into the field and whipped a towel through the air.
