Justin Herbert threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Los Angeles Chargers to a 34-27 victory over the Denver Broncos. Herbert connected with Derius Davis for a crucial 19-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Chargers the lead. Cameron Dicker also made history by successfully executing a fair-catch kick from 57 yards, a rare feat in the NFL. The Chargers now stand at 9-6 and are on the verge of securing a playoff spot pending results from other games. Denver, with a record of 9-6, saw their four-game winning streak come to an end but still have a strong chance of making the playoffs. Bo Nix had a solid performance for the Broncos with 263 yards and two touchdowns. The game saw several lead changes and dramatic moments, ultimately ending with the Chargers emerging victorious.
The defending team must stand 10 yards away as per the rules. The Chargers had the opportunity to attempt a free kick due to Denver’s Tremon Smith committing fair-catch interference on what would have been the final play of the first half. This occurred when Los Angeles’ Derius Davis tried to field Riley Dixon’s punt at the Chargers’ 38-yard line. Consequently, the penalty advanced the ball to the Denver 47 for an untimed down. Notably, the Chargers were the most recent team to successfully execute a free kick when Ray Wersching converted from 45 yards for San Diego on November 21, 1976, against Buffalo.
In terms of injuries, the Chargers faced setbacks with the ankle injury of Safety Marcus Maye and Linebacker Denzel Perryman’s hamstring issue in the first half. Unfortunately, both players were unable to return to the game.
