Chargers improve to 3-0 vs. AFC West in thrilling

The Chargers are still determining how to run the soccer — a purpose that will only get harder — but they’ve efficiently run one thing more important.

The desk.

For the first time in franchise historical past, they’ve began the season with consecutive victories over all three AFC West opponents, finishing the job Sunday with a 23-20 comeback victory over the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium.

Cameron Dicker clinched the victory with a 43-yard discipline purpose as time expired, bettering his document to eight for eight on successful kicks.

The Chargers got here into the sport with wins over Kansas City and Las Vegas, but needed to top Denver for their first 3-0 start since 2002 and a clean sweep of the first half of divisional video games.

It was a acquainted mixture that introduced the Chargers back from the sting of defeat: Justin Herbert to Keenan Allen.

Those two linked on a 20-yard landing in the waning minutes, tying a home opener that had been steadily slipping away from the Chargers in the second half. During one stretch, they have been outscored, 17-0.

Herbert accomplished 28 of 47 passes for 300 yards, with a landing and an interception. Quentin Johnson made six catches for 89 yards and Allen had seven receptions for 65 yards.

Running the soccer will only get harder for the Chargers, who misplaced operating back Najee Harris to an Achilles tendon injury in the first half. The severity of that is unknown, but it seemed unhealthy on replays and he had to be helped from the sector.

For the bulk of the first half, it seemed as if the Chargers have been heading for a lopsided victory, but Denver had one thing to say in response: Nix that.

Second-year quarterback Bo Nix jump-started the Broncos with a enormous play at the end of the first half that shocked the Chargers and had hundreds of orange-clad followers at SoFi Stadium erupting in cheers.

It was a 52-yard, fourth-down landing cross to a wide-open Courtland Sutton with 38 seconds remaining in the second quarter — Denver’s longest fourth-down landing cross since 1978. Nix completed with 153 yards on 14-of-25 passing.

Cameron Dicker kicks the successful discipline purpose as time expires in the Chargers’ 23-20 win over the Broncos on Sunday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Broncos (1-2) have been wanting to spoil a pristine season start for the Chargers.

With the injury to Harris, the majority of Chargers ball-carrying duties trip on the shoulders of rookie first-round decide Omarion Hampton, who ran for 70 yards — including a landing — and caught six passes for 59.

After being stymied by the Chargers protection throughout the first half, the Broncos broke through with Sutton’s landing and would go on to tip the scales with 17 unanswered factors.

Broncos operating back J.Ok. Dobbins, who performed for the Chargers last season, had a painfully slow start with minus-seven yards on his first 4 carries. Like his group, he would come alive. Early in the second quarter, he caught a screen cross, did a tightrope run down the Los Angeles sideline and dived into the end zone for a 19-yard landing.

Chargers linebacker Troy Dye (43) tackles Broncos large receiver Troy Franklin in the third quarter Sunday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Denver followers will long bear in mind the landing to Sutton in the waning moments of the first half. Some would possibly call it the most artistic and impactful play call by coach Sean Payton in his short tenure with the group. Facing a fourth-and-two from their 48, the Broncos made it seem like they deliberate to run for the first down.

After a Chargers timeout, the Broncos got here out in a different line configuration that included proper deal with Mike McGlinchey lined up at proper guard, tight end Adam Trautman lined up at left deal with, and large left deal with Garett Bolles at tight end. Everything pointed to Denver operating to the appropriate.

But Nix rolled proper, and threw across his physique to an uncovered Sutton streaking down the sector for a landing.

It was a sensible play, but one decreased to a mere footnote in the wake of a come-from-behind victory by the Chargers.