INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Denver Broncos had an 11-point lead halfway by the third quarter Thursday night time as they closed in on a win that might punch their workforce’s tickets again to the playoffs after an eight-year absence.
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Nearly every part fell other than there within the Los Angeles Chargers’ 34-27 comeback victory.
After getting outscored 21-6 within the second half, the surprised Broncos had been left to attend one other week earlier than they get their second shot to clinch their first journey to the postseason since profitable all within the 2015-16 season.
The wait is extra-long after a Thursday sport — however it was already going to be an uncomfortable vacation break for the Broncos, who had been stung by their incapability to complete at SoFi Stadium.
“I just feel like the frustration comes from the fact that we knew we could have won this game, and we started the way we knew that we wanted to,” linebacker Jonathon Cooper mentioned. “We just didn’t finish the way we wanted to. … Everybody is hurt. It’s a tough loss, a very tough loss. But we’ve just got to learn from it and come back next week stronger and focus on getting our 10th win.”
The Broncos gave the impression to be headed for a blowout win late within the first half, and blame for his or her second-half flop may very well be assigned to the offense and the protection — and even particular groups, which gave up three factors on the NFL’s first profitable fair-catch kick in 48 years to finish the primary half.
Denver drove for 219 yards and three touchdowns on its first three drives, however managed solely 136 yards and two area targets the remainder of the night time. The Broncos transformed their first three third downs, however went 2 of 10 from there.
Bo Nix handed for 239 yards and two touchdowns in a gradual efficiency, however the passing sport could not make up for the Broncos managing solely 46 yards speeding within the remaining three quarters.
The Broncos sacked Justin Herbert twice, including to their league-leading sacks complete, however the elusive quarterback went 11 of 16 for 144 yards and two touchdowns within the second half. Los Angeles made three landing drives of a minimum of 70 yards within the second half, repeatedly breaking down the Broncos’ usually stout protection with a operating sport that had been nonexistent earlier.
Coach Sean Payton hid neither his disappointment nor his confidence after watching his workforce’s dismantling by Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers.
“It was disappointing because there was a lot at stake, and we know that,” Payton mentioned. “We had a fast start. I was encouraged by that, and then uncharacteristically this season, we didn’t finish or play nearly well enough in the second half, both offensively and defensively. Time of possession. The third-down numbers. Our rushing numbers fell off in the second half. Credit Los Angeles for fighting their way back in, and we didn’t make enough plays in the end. So we go from there.”
The Broncos can nonetheless wrap up a playoff berth with yet one more victory, however they missed their first likelihood to finish the longest playoff drought for a franchise following a Tremendous Bowl victory. The Broncos additionally had been swept by the Chargers within the season sequence for the primary time since 2010.
They go to Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, for a sport that may very well be important for the Bengals’ at present faint playoff hopes. Denver’s season finale is at house towards defending Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Metropolis.
“We can’t allow ourselves to relax throughout quarters,” Broncos security Patrick Surtain II mentioned. “I think today was definitely a moment where we realized that we let that one get away towards the end of the second half.”
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