The Denver Broncos began the second quarter at the Los Angeles Chargers 33-yard line with a first and ten. Back to back passes to Courtland Sutton to open the quarter got Denver down to the 11.
Audric Estime broke through inside for another nice gain for nine yards on first down. A quick throw outside to Marvin Mims Jr. got the first and goal at the one. Nix then rolled out and threw it to a wide open Michael Burton for the touchdown to put Denver back out in front.
Broncos 14, Chargers 7.
Justin Herbert immediately found Ladd McConkey for a 27-yard gain on a short crossing route to open up their next drive. They’d drive into field goal range and had a third and inches, but Zach Allen dominated the snap and tackled the runner for a three yard loss to force the field goal.
Broncos 14, Chargers 10.
Denver opened up their next drive with a short pass outside to Javonte Williams for a four yard gain, but that was wiped out by a false start from Ben Powers on the next play. After an incompletion, Nix was looking deep but tossed it quick in the flat to Williams who had real estate to drive forward across the first down marker to keep the drive alive.
On the very next play a short pass to Marvin Mims Jr. got loose outside for a 54-yard gain down to the Chargers six yard line.
Two plays later, Nix hit Devaughn Vele for a touchdown to put Denver up by two scores midway through the second quarter.
Broncos 21, Chargers 10.
After a quick three-and-out by the Chargers, the Broncos offense would have five minutes to work with before halftime knowing they’d get the ball back to start the second half.
Bo Nix started out with a nice scramble for a first down, but was immediately sacked for an eight yard loss on the next play. Nix would hit Courtland Sutton across the middle for a 12 yard gain to make it a third and six. They would not convert for the first time in the game and were forced to punt it away with just under three minutes left.
It looked like the Chargers would steal a score before halftime after converting a third and short inside scoring range. Herbert fired a deep pass down the middle of the field to the end zone where rookie Kris Abrams-Draine stepped in front to pick it off to save the touchdown.
Denver would run out the clock into halftime from there, but John Harbaugh called a timout to force them to punt it away. A dumb special teams penalty put them at the Broncos 47-yard line for a ‘free kick’ at 57-yards.
The last time a fair-catch kick has been converted was 1976 per @schube13.
We may witness history.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) December 20, 2024
Broncos 21, Chargers 13.
