DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 31: Jarrett Stidham #4 of the Denver Broncos warms up prior to a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field At Mile High on December 31, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Denver Broncos beat the Los Angeles Chargers 16-9 to improve to 8-8 on the season but were eliminated from the playoffs with the rest of the outcomes today. Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
Broncos won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half. Russell Wilson was one of the captains out for the coin toss.
Easton Stick and the Chargers offense started their first drive of the afternoon at their own 25 yard line. After a couple of handoffs to Austin Ekeler, Easton Stick's 3rd down pass went through the hands of his WR and was almost intercepted by PJ Locke. After a 47 yard punt, Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos offense took over with the Chargers going 3 and out.
Stidham and the Broncos were able to convert their first 1st down of the game with a short completion over the middle to Samaje Perine but 3 straight incompletions, saw the Broncos punt the ball right back to Los Angeles.
Riley Dixon with a huge punt, pinned the Chargers inside their own 20 yard line at their 15 yard line with 11:21 remaining in the 1st quarter. On first down, Jonathon Cooper worked to get his 8.5 sack of the season as he tackled Stick for a big loss that would prove too difficult for the Chargers offense to survive. A quick three and out and LA punted the ball back to Denver who would start their 2nd drive of the day from their own 34 yard line.
Stidham and the offense went back to work with an aim at getting an early lead in the game. A nice completion to Jaleel McLaughlin on a screen pass got the drive going as the Broncos were quickly to midfield. Javonte had one of his strongest runs of the year as he took several Chargers for a ride down to the 16 yard line with a 17 yard run. Mike McGlinchey left the game with a rib injury. The drive stalled at the Chargers 8 yard line and, after a delay of game penalty, Wil Lutz converted a 32 yard field goal to get the Broncos the lead 3-0 with 3:55 remaining in the 1st quarter.
The Chargers, on their 3rd drive of the day, finally got something going as Stick found Erickson for a 15 yard gain to get the Chargers to midfield. Austin Ekeler got the Chargers barely into Denver territory but the drive ended abruptly after two incompletions, LA punted the ball back to Denver who started their next drive at their own 10 yard line with 2:41 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Jaleel McLaughlin took what should've been a TFL for a 10 yard gain to start the drive. After a 9 yard completion to Adam Trautman, the Broncos got another drive off to a solid start. The drive stalled after Ben Powers was called for holding that negated a Stidham scramble for a first down followed by Powers giving up a sack to Khalil Mack. After a 44 yard punt, the Chargers would have their best start of the day at their own 40 yard line with 13:14 remaining in the 1st half.
Easton Stick executed a solid drive into Denver territory that included a pass to Alex Erickson for 27 yards. The drive stalled at the Broncos 18 yard line and, following a 36 yard field goal from Cameron Dicker, LA tied the game at 3-3 with 9:43 remaining in the 1st half.
Now in a tie game, Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos offense went back to work as they continued to feature the running game. On 3rd and 8, the Chargers blitzed with 6 and, as Jarrett Stidham climbed the pocket and found Lil'Jordan Humphrey down the right sideline who had one of the best run after catch of the season and got to the goal line for a 54-yard touchdown! Broncos regain the lead 10-3 with 6:37 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
Chargers started the next drive at their own 25 yard line and, after getting a quick first down, a Rashawn Slater holding call put Los Angeles far behind the sticks. On 4th and 1 at midfield, the Chargers attempted a fake punt but Drew Sanders blew it up and the Broncos got excellent field position, starting at the Los Angeles 42 yard line. Stidham found Lucas Krull on a screen pass that helped the drive get going but unfortunately, the Broncos stalled out at Chargers 25 yard line. Denver settled for a 43 yard field goal, extending their lead 13-3 with 1:53 remaining in the 1st half.
With 24 seconds left in the 1st half and starting their drive from their own16 yard line it would've been easy to see Denver just kneel out the ball but Sean Payton went aggressive as, after a 1st down gain by Samaje Perine, Stidham found Jerry Jeudy wide open for a 41 yard gain down the right sideline. Denver worked their way into field goal range quickly but Wil Lutz's 48 yard attempt sailed wide right at the buzzer so the Broncos took a 13-3 lead into halftime.
Denver started with the ball in the 3rd quarter and on 3rd down, Stidham found Lil'Jordan Humphrey for a 15 yard gain to keep the drive alive. On 3rd and 2 at midfield, Javonte Williams was stuffed for a 3 yard loss and the Broncos punted it to the Chargers, who would start their next drive from their 10 yard line trailing by 10.
Easton Stick and the LA offense found some rhythm with a quick completion to Gerald Everett on a screen for 22 yards. A nice mix of run and pass moved the ball into Denver territory but the drive stalled at the Broncos 32 yard line. Cameron Dicker converted a 50 yard field goal and Los Angeles cut into the Broncos lead 13-6 with 6:20 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
On the next Broncos drive, Javonte Williams converted a 4th and 1 from their own 34 yard line to keep the drive going. Williams then added an 11 yard carry to get the drive to midfield but after a failed flea flicker, Stidham was sacked on 3rd down by Derwin James. Broncos forced to punt the ball back to LA who started their drive from their own 12 yard line trailing by just one score.
The Chargers offense started to get another drive going before DJ Jones forced an Austin Ekeler fumble and Josey Jewell came up with it at the Chargers 38 yard line!
The Broncos drive looked like it was going to end at the LA 29 yard line but a Jarrett Stidham pass attempt near the goal line was called for defensive pass interference, setting up Denver at the 1 yard line. Unfortunately, back to back false starts killed the momentum of the drive. Wil Lutz converted a 20 yard field goal and the Broncos extended their lead 16-6 with 11:19 remaining in the 4th quarter.
Los Angeles began its next drive from their own 25 yard line and Easton Stick with several quick hit passes moved the ball into Denver territory as the 4th quarter clock started to wind. The drive got all the way to the Denver 32 yard line but Cameron Dicker's 50 yard attempt fell short and the Broncos got the ball back at their own 40 yard line with a chance to close the game out with 6:19 remaining in the game.
Stidham and the offense ran 3:20 off of the clock but couldn't quite close the game out and punted it back to LA with just under 3 minutes remaining in the game, leading 16-6.
The Chargers were able to put together a quick drive that ended in a 52 yard field goal but, after a failed onside kick, the Broncos took over and knelt out the ball to win 16-9 and improve to 8-8.
The next broadcast is TBD vs the Las Vegas Raiders next weekend.
Below are the postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Jarrett Stidham, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Alex Singleton