Denver Broncos (5-12) – Los Angeles Chargers (10-7): 31 – 28
Brandon Staley’s ears may be ringing. The Ravens’ loss on Sunday had guaranteed fifth place in the AFC in Los Angeles, giving the coach the comfortable possibility of affording a form of BYE by resting the starters. The latter has however decided to align his best team, even leaving Justin Herbert (25/37, 273 yards, 2 TDs) on the ground most of the match, before taking him out in the last quarter. No rest, no win, and a back injury for Mike Williams plus the limping out of Joey Bosa: that choice didn’t really pay off.
Opposite, the annus horribilis ends well for the Broncos. For its second post-Hackett game, Denver confirmed the improvement seen despite the loss at Arrowhead last week. Russell Wilson (13/24, 283 yards, 3 TDs, 1 interception) finally showed his ability to make big plays, and he was able to rely on a high-performance Latavius Murray on the ground (15 races, 103 yards, 1 Touchdown ). What can we hope for the best for next year, even if there is still work to be done.
A vintage Russell Wilson, a Jeudy record
It was probably in the first half that the Chargers missed the boat, even if their interest in the case was very meager. Twice, they took a touchdown lead over their opponents, first by opening the scoring by Keenan Allen on their first possession (7-0), then by taking advantage of a bad punt at the end of the first quarter- time to score by Gerald Everett (7-14).
But, for the second time in a row, Denver had an offensive responder. First on the ground to equalize immediately by Latavius Murray (7-7), then to bring everyone back to the locker room tied before the break (17-17), on an express drive led by Wilson and marked by a bomb from 57 yards for a Jerry Jeudy record (5 receptions, 154 yards).
Back from the locker room, a new drive concluded by Tyler Badie (24-17) then Courtland Sutton’s touchdown following a new long pass from Wilson for Freddie Swain, this time from 52 yards, put the Broncos on the line. shelter (31-20).
Make way for the Jaguars for Los Angeles
It must be said that opposite, the Chargers were (logically) not really there, especially in terms of physical intensity in defense. In attack, Herbert & co only scored a field goal in the second period thanks to an interception by Sebastian Joseph Day (24-20). The last drive of the day for Herbert ended on a fumble, before Chase Daniel ended the match with a touchdown which was not enough (31-28).
In this match without stake, Los Angeles will remember especially the injury of Mike Williams, left touched in the back in the second quarter and then seen being led to the locker room. The extent of the injury remains to be determined. Joey Bosa also limped out, without it looking too serious. A week before the wildcard match against Jaguars in form, it’s a bad operation and above all a choice that is difficult to understand given the injuries suffered by the workforce, and this when Denver had nothing to play for either. The Broncos finally stop the costs, and start an offseason that promises to be difficult to maneuver. Because their first choice, the fifth of the draft, will go to Seattle.
