Gravel in the gut? Cold-blooded? Gritty?
There were plenty of ways to characterize the Chargers as they rallied for a 23-20 victory Sunday over the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium. Here’s what we learned, what we heard and what comes next after they completed a three-game sweep of their AFC West opponents:
BEST FOR LAST
Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Cameron Dicker and the rest of the Chargers will receive plenty of credit over the next few days for pulling out a victory over the Broncos after trailing 20-13 with 5:08 remaining in the game. But they couldn’t have done it without two key defensive stops in the fourth quarter.
In fact, a glance at the fourth quarter statistics reveals how effectively the Chargers halted Bo Nix and the Broncos’ offense in their tracks when the game was on the line and it mattered most. The Chargers limited the Broncos to two first downs and 61 total net yards in the fourth quarter.
Denver was 0 for 4 on third down conversions.
The Chargers stopped the Broncos cold on their final two possessions in the fourth quarter, after Wil Lutz capped a 10-play, 51-play drive that carried over to the fourth from the third with a 26-yard field goal with 12:21 remaining in the game for a 20-13 lead for Denver.
The Broncos’ next drive ended at their own 29-yard line. The Chargers then drove for the tying score, Herbert’s miraculous 20-yard touchdown pass to Allen with 2:37 left. Denver’s final drive ended at its own 22. The Chargers then drove for Dicker’s winning field goal as time expired.
“Gritty, spectacular, that’s about the best word(s) I can come up with to describe it,” said Coach Jim Harbaugh, who went on to use a great many words, including “gravel in the gut,” “cold-blooded” and “gritty” (repeatedly). “That’s about all I got. Never giving up. Finding a way.
“Just a tremendous performance by so many.”
DEFENSE (PART 2)
Here’s veteran cornerback Tony Jefferson speaking about the relentless, sideline-to-sideline play of All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr., who led the Chargers with 10 solo tackles (12 overall), including one sack of Nix and four tackles for losses, while playing all 52 defensive snaps:
“Derwin being Derwin. Dynamic. Disruptive. Leader out there. Keeping us calm, collected. I haven’t played with a player like that (before) in my career. Just always willing. Just willing, bro. Willing to throw his body around. Doesn’t give a damn about his body. He’s all-in for the team.
“He just makes you want to play harder for him.”
NOW THE BAD NEWS
Running back Najee Harris’ Achilles tendon injury was the third serious injury suffered by a key player since training camp began, and that doesn’t include the superficial eye injury he sustained during a July 4 fireworks accident several weeks before the Chargers reported.
Outside linebacker Khalil Mack sat out the first of a minimum of four games while on injured reserve because of a dislocated elbow suffered in the first quarter of the Chargers’ victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 15. He wore a heavy sling while congratulating his teammates after Sunday’s game.
Left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending knee injury during a drill in training camp, forcing a significant restructuring of the offensive line. Joe Alt moved into Slater’s spot as Herbert’s blind-side protector from right tackle and Trey Pipkins III shifted from a backup’s role into Alt’s spot.
Plus, right guard Mekhi Becton suffered a concussion in the first half Sunday and was placed into the league’s protocol program. Becton, a key to an effective ground game, was replaced by backup Jamaree Salyer in the second half, and the Broncos increased their pressure considerably on Herbert.
Additionally, wide receiver/return specialist Derius Davis was forced from the game because of a knee injury. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey returned the final two punts in relief of Davis, who fumbled on a third-quarter kickoff return that set up Lutz’s 42-yard field goal.
WHAT COMES NEXT
The Chargers can match the 4-0 start by the 2002 team, then based in San Diego, with a victory Sunday over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey. That Chargers team ended the season with an 8-8 mark, finishing in third place in the AFC West and missing the playoffs.