INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on before the game against the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Denver Broncos fall to the Chargers 23-20 and a 1-2 record. Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
Broncos won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense took the field and got their initial 1st down by pass interference on Talanoa Hufanga. Weird play as Herbert hit Quinton Johnston over the middle and the defense seemingly had him bottled up but then let him go and he ran up the right sideline for 37 yards and LA was quickly in field goal range. Even with the momentum, the Broncos defense stalled out the Chargers and they settled for a 32 yard field goal, taking an early 3-0 lead with 11:54 remaining in the 1st quarter.
So, trailing by 3, the Broncos offense went to work but couldn't muster a 1st down on their first attempt, punting it back to Los Angeles quickly.
The Broncos defense forced a 3 and out on the next drive but Nik Bonitto lined up in the neutral zone giving the Chargers a first down but fortunately they didn't do much with it after a holding call on Mehki Becton backed them into their own territory.
A great return by Marvin Mims set the Broncos up with their best field position of the game at their own 39 yard line but a holding penalty on Adam Trautman immediately backed them up. The offense couldn't do much from there and after a few plays, punted it right back to LA who would start their next drive from their own 18 yard line.
Nik Bonitto and Jonathon sacked Herbert on 1st and 3rd down forcing the Chargers offense to quickly go 3 and out. Marvin Mims had another good return and the Broncos were set up in Chargers territory at their 46 yard line.
The Broncos offense, unfortunately, couldn't do much with the momentum swing and went 3-and-out for the 3rd straight time, punting the ball to LA who would start from their 12 yard line with 1:40 remaining in the 1st quarter.
As we began the 2nd quarter, Justin Herbert hooked up with Ladd McConkey for a 1st down and then Oronde Gadsden and the Chargers were now in Denver territory. Gadsden caught a 17 yard pass and LA inched closer to FG range. On 3rd and 9, Riley Moss tipped a Herbert pass over the middle and Brandon Jones intercepted the pass and the Broncos swung the momentum immediately!
Starting from their own 9 yard line, Bo Nix found Courtland Sutton down the right sideline to get the initial 1st down of the drive. Nix hit Sutton for 19 yards and Broncos offense was finally finding some rhythm but on the next play, Derwin James sacked Bo Nix and the Broncos were behind the sticks. On 3rd and long, the Broncos tried a flea flicker but the ball went JUST off of Marvin Mims hands and fell incomplete. After a 33 yard punt return, the Chargers would have excellent field position on their next drive starting from their 46 yard line with 5:50 remaining in the 1st half.
Najee Harris was injured on a non-contact play fake on the next drive but Herbert worked the ball into Denver territory. Justin Herbert connected with Quinton Johnston on a 21 yard play and the Chargers were set up at the Broncos 2 yard line as we hit the 2 minute warning. A couple plays later, Omarion Hampton walked in off the right side for the first touchdown of the game, Chargers extend their lead 10-0.
Nix and the offense moved the ball to midfield and on 4th and 2, Bo faked a pitch to the right side and found a wide open streaking Courtland Sutton for a 52 yard touchdown!!! Broncos pull within 3, 10-7 with 38 seconds left in the first half. Chargers would eventually punt and Nix took a knee to send us to halftime.
Broncos offense started with the ball out of halftime on offense from their own 35 yard line. On the first play, JK Dobbins took a handoff from Nix around the left side for 43 yards and then two plays later, took a lateral to the house for 19 yards!! Broncos take their first lead of the game 14-10.
On the kickoff, Jonah Ellis forced a fumble by Derius Davis and JL Skinner came up with it to give the Broncos the ball at the Chargers 30 yard line! Unfortunately, the Broncos couldn't advance the ball much and were forced to settle for a 42 yard field goal, extending the lead 17-10 with 12:02 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Starting from their own 25, the Chargers offense got their 1st opportunity of the 2nd half. A couple of ticky tack penalties aided their drive as they moved into Broncos territory as they worked near the Red Zone with Omarion Hampton catching passes out of the backfield. On 3rd and 6, Herbert converted a pass to McConkey for a 1st down to get the Chargers down to the Broncos 13 yard line. On 3rd and 10, Johnston converted a huge first down and now LA was goal to go. On 3rd down, a pass intended for Keenan Allen was broken up and the Chargers were forced to settle for a 24 yard field goal, pulling within 4...17-13 with 5:35 remaining in the 3rd quarter. It was a 14 play, 69 yard drive.
Denver's offense went back to work from their own 34 yard line but went 3 and out, again. Nice punt by Jeremy Crawshaw though, pinning the Chargers inside their own 14 yard line.
On 1st down, Nik Bonitto raced around Joe Alt and got his 2nd sack of the game on Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense never recovered. Broncos defense forced a critical 3 and out and gave the ball back to the offense after the punt at the Denver 41.
Bo Nix scrambled for 7 yards and JK Dobbins ran it for 10 to get the Broncos into LA territory. On 3rd and 10, Nix targeted Sutton and the ball was batted up in the air and fell into Lucas Krull's arms for a 9 yard gain. On 4th and 1, Nix hit Sutton over the middle for a 22 yard gain (with a face mask) and the Broncos were now set up at the Chargers 5 yard line. Unfortunately, a Troy Franklin offensive pass interference call backed the Broncos out of the goal line and Denver would ultimately settle for a 26 yard field goal, extending the lead 20-13 with 12:21 remaining in the 4th quarter.
The Chargers methodically moved into Denver territory with quick completions to Keenan Allen and Omarion Hampton that helped move the sticks. On 3rd and 4 from the Broncos, 41 yard line JFM and Nik Bonitto combined for a huge sack to force a Chargers punt. The ball skipped into the end zone for a touchback.
The Broncos had a couple brutal penalties on the next drive that ultimately sunk their chances to advance much. Bo Nix looked like he scrambled for a 1st down on 3rd and 11 but he came up just short, so the Broncos punted it back to LA who would start their next drive at their own 24 yard line with 5:15 remaining in the game.
Talanoa Hufanga got called for a personal foul on a 3rd down catch by Keenan Allen and the Chargers were quickly to midfield. From the 20 yard line, Justin Herbert made an absolutely insane play to find Keenan Allen for a 20 yard touchdown to tie the game with 2:37 remaining in the game.
As we hit the 2 minute warning, Bo Nix and the offense was facing a 3rd and 10. Bo Nix's deep attempt to Courtland Sutton down the left sideline fell incomplete and the Broncos were forced to punt.
Chargers started their drive from their 32 yard line with 1:43 remaining in the game. Gadsden caught the first pass for 9 yards and then Herbert connected with him again for 6 yards and the Chargers were near midfield. Herbert and the Chargers worked the ball all the way down to the Broncos 25 yard line and Cameron Dicker converted a 43 yard field goal at the buzzer to beat the Broncos 23-20.
The next broadcast will be on Monday, September 29th as the Broncos host the Bengals on Monday Night Football. Coverage starts at 12pm on KOA.
Postgame interview with Bo Nix and Mike McGlinchey below