The Chargers’ third scoring drive against the Broncos did more damage to the game clock than the scoreboard. But it still hurt Denver quite a bit.
Los Angeles started the drive with 1:50 to go in the first quarter when running back JK Dobbins ran up the middle for a 9-yard gain. It didn’t end until the 6:24 mark of the second quarter when kicker Cameron Dicker booted a 33-yard field goal attempt to take a 13-0 yard.
Twenty plays, 76 yards, and 10 minutes, 29 seconds, taken off the clock.
“It’s not ideal,” Broncos defensive end Zach Allen told The Denver Post, incredulous himself at the amount of time that had flown by.
It was expected the Chargers would rely on the run game to control the time of possession, and they did just that to beat Denver 23-16 at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday.
The Chargers controlled the ball for 37:23, putting more pressure on the Broncos, whose time of possession was 22:37, to score points with fewer opportunities. Dobbins played a big part in that, rushing for 96 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
Los Angeles out rushed Denver, 128-110, and had 69 rushing yards in the first half. During the Chargers’ long scoring drive, which put the Broncos in a 13-point hole, Los Angeles ran the ball 11 times, opening the door for quarterback Justin Herbert to find open targets in the middle of the field.
Herbert threw a pair of 14-yard passes to wideouts Josh Palmer and Simi Fehoko before finding tight end Stone Smartt for a 10-yard completion to Denver’s 36-yard line. The Chargers signal-caller went 21 for 34 with 237 passing yards and a 38-yard touchdown pass to running back Kimani Vidal in the first quarter.
“They had some good concepts and put players in tough positions (by) tricking your eyes. (Chargers offensive coordinator) Greg Roman and (head coach) Jim Harbaugh are some of the best at run concepts,” Allen told The Post. “I think they did a really good job today. We will be better.”
Another part of Denver’s issues on that drive and throughout the afternoon was third-down defense. During that particular scoring drive, Los Angeles converted on third down five straight times before a sack split from Allen and outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper forced the Chargers to settle for three points.
The Chargers went 11 for 18 on third down and 8 for 10 in those situations in the first half. Herbert was efficient in those situations, completing 7 of 7 passes for 89 yards. On the following offensive drive, the Chargers faced a third-and-9 when Herbert connected with rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey for a 12-yard completion. Seven plays later, Dobbins powered into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown on third-and-2 to extend his team’s lead to 20-0 with a minute left in the first half.
“(Los Angeles) was getting into third-and-short a lot of times. And in pass situations, we didn’t execute the way we wanted to,” Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian said.
On Sunday, Los Angeles didn’t do anything that caught the Broncos by surprise. Denver knew the Chargers were a run-heavy team. Given Roman’s offensive scheme, head coach Sean Payton told the team on Friday how important it was for them to limit turnovers and be sound on defense.
Denver’s first drive of the afternoon ended with quarterback Bo Nix throwing his fifth interception of the season. Midway through the second quarter, running back Javonte Williams fumbled the ball near midfield. Both turnovers resulted in points for the Chargers and more time taken off the clock.
“We did all the things that you cannot do in a game like that,” Payton said. “We knew what type of game it was going to be.”
