In a dramatic Week 16 Thursday Night Football clash, the Los Angeles Chargers staged an incredible comeback to defeat the Denver Broncos 34-27, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Quarterback Justin Herbert led the charge with 284 passing yards and two touchdowns, including a decisive 19-yard strike to Derius Davis early in the fourth quarter.
The victory pushed the Chargers to 9-6, giving them a 97% probability of making the playoffs, per the NFL. They can clinch a postseason berth as soon as Sunday if both Indianapolis and Miami lose. The Broncos, meanwhile, fell to 9-6 and saw their four-game winning streak snapped. Despite the loss, Denver maintains an 85% chance of making the playoffs but faces daunting matchups at Cincinnati and against Kansas City in the final two weeks.
The game was defined by a series of pivotal moments, none more historic than Cameron Dicker’s 57-yard free-kick field goal to close the first half. The rare play, executed after a fair-catch interference penalty on Denver, was the first successful free kick in the NFL since 1976.
The Chargers’ use of the fair-catch kick marked a historic moment. After a penalty for fair-catch interference on the final play of the first half, Dicker stepped up and drilled a 57-yard field goal, pulling Los Angeles to within 21-13.
“It’s a play you rarely see, but it gave us a huge lift going into halftime,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said.
Denver seemed poised for victory early on, scoring touchdowns on their first three drives to jump out to a 21-10 lead. Running back Audric Estime opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run, followed by quarterback Bo Nix’s touchdown passes to Michael Burton and Devaughn Vele. Nix was efficient in the first half, completing 15 of 21 passes for 155 yards.
The Broncos extended their lead to 24-13 midway through the third quarter on Wil Lutz’s 41-yard field goal, but the Chargers’ resilience turned the tide.
The comeback began with running back Gus Edwards, who rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Edwards scored on a 5-yard run late in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 24-19. Although the two-point conversion failed, the Chargers had momentum.
Herbert then delivered a signature moment early in the fourth quarter. On first-and-10 from the Denver 19-yard line, he scrambled to his left and, off-balance, found Davis in the end zone. Joshua Palmer’s spectacular one-handed grab on the ensuing two-point conversion made it 27-24.
The Chargers sealed the game with 2:27 remaining when Herbert connected with Hassan Haskins for a 34-yard touchdown. Lutz’s 55-yard field goal pulled Denver within a touchdown, but Los Angeles recovered the onside kick to secure the win.
Herbert’s precision passing stood out, as he connected with 10 different receivers, including Ladd McConkey, who had six catches for 87 yards. On the other side, Denver’s Estime and Nix led a balanced offensive effort, but the Broncos were undone by missed opportunities and the Chargers’ second-half adjustments.
The Broncos will look to rebound on Saturday, Dec. 28, when they travel to face the surging Cincinnati Bengals. The Chargers, meanwhile, head to New England for another crucial matchup the same day as they eye a return to the postseason for the second time in three years.
This game will be remembered not only for its playoff implications but also for the Chargers’ remarkable resilience and a rare piece of NFL history.
