Justin Herbert led the Chargers on a 90-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes to put the game away against the Denver Broncos on Thursday in Inglewood, Calif. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Jim Harbaugh spent nine seasons away from the NFL. It takes much less time than that for the NFL to completely turn over. The personnel had almost totally changed since Harbaugh went to Michigan. Schemes evolved too as coaches moved in and out. It should have taken at least a season to readjust to the pros.
But through all of that change while he was at the college game, one thing remained constant: Harbaugh knows how to coach.
Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Charges didn’t clinch a playoff spot with a 34-27 win over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. They’d need a little bit of help on Sunday to do so in Week 16. But it’s getting closer. The Chargers fell behind 21-10 to the Broncos, who are likely also heading to the playoffs, but kept battling. Harbaugh helped his team by getting a fair catch free kick, invoking a seldom-used rule at the end of the first half. The defense tightened up, the offense started moving the ball and the Chargers came back for the victory.
Harbaugh returned to the NFL after winning a national title at Michigan and took over a Chargers team that had talent but plenty of holes and seemed like a less-than-perfect fit for his style. They’re 9-6 with two regular-season games to go and likely at least one more in the postseason. The main lesson is Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in football, regardless of what level.
Rare NFL play in the 1st half
The Chargers struggled last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, allowing 40 points, and that continued to start Thursday night’s game.
The Broncos scored three touchdowns in the first half. Denver QB Bo Nix had two passing touchdowns and Audric Estime ran for another. When Chargers QB Justin Herbert threw an interception in Broncos territory in the final minute of the first half, it seemed the Broncos would go into halftime with a 21-10 lead. But the Broncos weren’t able to run out the rest of the first half and punted in the final seconds. They had a fair catch interference penalty called, and the 15 yards from it led to Harbaugh utilizing a rarely used rule. He had kicker Cameron Dicker try a fair catch free kick with time expired in the half, and Dicker hit it from 57 yards out. It was the first made fair catch free kick in the NFL since 1976. The last time a team even tried one was 2019.
That cut the Broncos’ lead to 21-13 going into halftime. The Broncos shouldn’t have been anywhere near the returner to get a penalty, and punting it out of bounds would have been a better strategy. It cost Denver. It’s hard to say that momentum for the Chargers carried over right to the second half, because the Broncos got a field goal on the first possession after halftime, but the extra three points certainly helped the Chargers stay in it. And then they started playing like the Chargers have for most of Harbaugh’s first season.
Chargers take lead in 4th quarter
The Chargers started to warm up in the second half. They scored on Gus Edwards’ second touchdown run of the night, then Herbert had a great throw rolling to his left as he fell down, hitting a dart to Derius Davis for a 19-yard score. Josh Palmer made a fantastic juggling catch for the 2-point conversion and the Chargers led 27-24.
The defense that was shredded by the Buccaneers last week in a 40-17 loss and in the first half by Denver suddenly found some much-needed answers. The Broncos had three touchdowns before halftime and didn’t get a touchdown after it. Nix went from a comfortable quarterback to looking more like an inconsistent rookie. Denver head coach Sean Payton didn’t have a great second half either, punting twice near midfield, including once with less than five minutes left on a fourth-and-5. After that poor decision to punt, Herbert had a first-down run on third-and-10, Edwards broke a 43-yard run and then Herbert shoveled a check-down pass to Hassan Haskins, who ran for a 34-yard score. That’s why punting was the wrong move.
The Chargers can clinch a playoff spot on Sunday with a Dolphins loss or tie coupled with a Colts loss or tie. It probably doesn’t matter. At some point in the next couple weeks, the Chargers should clinch a wild-card berth. And it seems like just the beginning of good things for Harbaugh and the Chargers.
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Chargers score 21 unanswered points in 34–27 win over Broncos
Broncos
Total offense: 355 yards Bo Nix 29-40, 263 yards, 2 TDs Audric Estime 9 carries, 48 yards, 1 TD Marvin Mims Jr. 3 catches, 62 yards
Chargers
Total offense: 380 yards Justin Herbert 23-31, 284 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Gus Edwards 14 carries, 68 yards, 2 TDs Ladd McConkey 6 catches, 87 yards
FINAL: Chargers 34, Broncos 27
The Chargers have to run a play with four seconds left and 4th-and-32 after three kneeldowns by Justin Herbert. Herbert just throws it down the field as time runs out.
Denver got a good hop on the onside kick attempt by Wil Lutz. But Nick Niemann recovers for the Chargers.
L.A. can kneel it out with 57 seconds remaining in the game.
Denver field goal makes it 34–27
On 4th-and-3, Bo Nix completes a pass to Lucas Krull for four yards.
Denver follows that up with a 11-yard pass from Bo Nix to Javonte Williams.
From the Chargers’ 37, the Broncos opt for a field goal with 57 seconds left. Wil Lutz hits a 55-yarder to make it 34–27.
Denver will now attempt an onside kick.
Broncos going for it on 4th down
Bo Nix hits Lucas Krull for a 10-yard pass on 3rd-and-13. The Broncos are going for it on 4th down at their 48-yard line with 1:26 left. Los Angeles calls time out.
Broncos commit 2 penalties on 1 play
Bo Nix throws an illegal forward pass to Javonte Williams after running for a first down. But that penalty is declined in favor of a holding penalty on Garrett Bolles.
That leaves the Broncos with a 2nd-and-13 at their 38 with 1:54 remaining after the 2-minute warning.
Chargers with the dagger
The Chargers may have put this game away. Hassan Haskins scores a touchdown on a 34-yard catch and run.
After the extra point, the Chargers have a 34–24 lead with 2:27 remaining in the game.
Gus Edwards 43-yard run
After Quentin Johnston drops a catch on 2nd-and-10, Justin Herbert gets a big 16-yard scramble to the right for a first down.
Gus Edwards follows that up with a 43-yard run that might put the Broncos in trouble.
Bud Dupree sacks Bo Nix
Bo Nix is sacked by Bud Dupree on 1st-and-10 at the Denver 45. The Broncos can’t recover from that 10-yard loss, despite a seven-yard rush by Austin Estime and seven-yard catch from Lucas Krull.
Riley Dixon punts 41 yards and the Chargers take over at their 10-yard line with 4:29 remaining in regulation.
Broncos blitz gets to Justin Herbert
The Chargers give themselves some breathing room on an 8-yard catch by Hayden Hurst.
But three plays later on 3rd-and-9, the Broncos get to Justin Herbert on a blitz up the middle by Drew Sanders. That results in an 11-yard loss.
The Broncos take over on their 45-yard line after a 46-yard punt by JK Scott with 6:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.
How close was Joshua Palmer’s 2-point conversion catch?
Broncos have to punt
Denver gets a first down on a 13-yard pass from Bo Nix to Michael Burton. But Nix can’t connect with Marvin Mims Jr. on a deep throw. (Mims probably committed offensive pass interference, which wasn’t called.)
After a two-yard run by Javonte Williams, Nix throws incomplete to Blake Watson and the Broncos have to punt.
Riley Dixon kicks it 46 yards to push the Chargers back to their 4-yard line.
Chargers take the lead
Following an offsides penalty on Denver’s Zach Allen, Quentin Johnston makes a six-yard catch. Then Justin Herbert hits Ladd McConkey for a 17-yard gain.
That leads to a 19-yard pass to Derius Davis for a touchdown. Joshua Palmer makes a one-handed catch along the back line of the end zone for a 2-point conversion and the Chargers now lead 27–24 after trailing up until this point.
Ray Wersching, the last kicker to get a free kick field goal
Broncos called for horse collar tackle
Denver’s Jonathan Cooper is called for a horse collar tackle penalty bringing down Justin Herbert on 2nd-and-6 from the Chargers’ 38. The flag advances Los Angeles to the Denver 47-yard line.
3rd quarter: Broncos 24, Chargers 19
Javonte Williams’ third-down catch meant Denver had to punt, rather than the Chargers getting an interception.
Los Angeles took over at its 22-yard line following a Riley Dixon punt.
As the third quarter ends, the Chargers have a 2nd-and-6 at their 34 after a 12-yard catch from Joshua Palmer and four-yard run by Gus Edwards.
Javonte Williams wrestles catch away from Derwin James
Javonte Williams wins a wrestling match with Derwin James for the ball on a one-yard pass from Bo Nix.
It initially appeared that James had the interception, but Williams had the ball after the scuffle was over.
Derwin James and Javonte Williams lock up with the ball on third-and-6, but it’s ruled a catch rather than an INT. Gives the #Broncos the chance to punt rather than turning the ball over.
After Justin Herbert is sacked for a 10-yard loss by Dondrea Tillman, the Chargers’ drive appears to be stalled.
Yet two plays later, Justin Strnad is called for an unnecessary roughness penalty, hitting Herbert after he gives himself up for a slide. The penalty moves Los Angeles to the Denver 5-yard line.
Gus Edwards then scores on a five-yard TD run. The Chargers go for a 2-point conversion, but Herbert can’t get into the end zone.
Chargers on the move
Justin Herbert gains 18 yards on a scramble up the middle. He follows that up with a 10-yard pass to Tucker Fisk and 19-yard throw to Stone Smartt.
Los Angeles has 1st-and-10 at the Broncos’ 15.
Field goal: Broncos 24, Chargers 13
It wasn’t as exciting or historic as Cameron Dicker’s fair catch free kick field goal, but Denver’s Wil Lutz nailed a 41-yard kick to end the Broncos’ first possession of the second half.
Denver converted a fourth down earlier in the drive with a five-yard pass from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton on 4th-and-2. But the Broncos couldn’t get another first down after that and they settled for a field goal.
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