The Broncos — who will clinch a playoff berth with a win — dominated the first two quarters of Thursday night’s game against the Chargers and enter halftime with a 21-13 lead.
Denver scored three touchdowns on its first three possessions, with a sack on the fourth putting the club behind the chains to eventually bring up a punt.
But before that, rookie running back Audric Estime opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown. Then Bo Nix connected with fullback Michael Burton for a 1-yard touchdown and hit fellow rookie Devaughn Vele for a 6-yard touchdown.
Los Angeles matched Estime’s touchdown with Gus Edwards’ 1-yard score to make it 7-7 late in the first quarter. But after Burton’s touchdown, the Chargers settled for a 37-yard field goal to make it 14-10. Vele’s touchdown increased Denver’s lead to 21-10.
The Chargers got deep into Denver territory on a two-minute drive. But while looking for Joshua Palmer in the end zone, Justin Herbert tossed an interception to cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine to keep Los Angeles off the board.
The half ended with a rare fair catch, free kick attempt after the Broncos committed kick catch interference on a punt that should have run out the second quarter. Instead, after the 15-yard penalty on an untimed down, Cameron Dicker hit the attempt from 57 yards right down the middle to cut Denver’s lead to eight points.
It was the first successful fair catch, free kick attempt since 1976. The last attempt had been in 2019.
Herbert finished the first half 12-of-15 for 140 yards with an interception. Ladd McConkey leads with 57 yards on three catches.
On the other side, Nix was 15-of-21 in the first half with two touchdowns. The Broncos outgained the Chargers 236 to 181. The club has 16 first downs to Los Angeles’ nine.
The Broncos will receive the second-half kickoff.
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